Body removal and refit

B.M.B.C · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 04:06 PM

Does anybody know what is involved too remove a body from a kirkham 427 and then refit at a later time?

thanks

cobred · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 04:54 PM

I think the body is mounted like the originals, the alum. skin is folded over the round tube framework and riveted. You would have to drill out the rivets and unfold the alum.to remove it and reverse the process to reinstall. Would probably do more harm then good. Why do you want to?

B.M.B.C · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 05:20 PM

Im not a kirkham owner, just out of interest really. I had seen pictures of the body work in two pieces, i thought they would have to be either split or joined depending!?

thanks

Tom Kirkham · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2009, 10:19 PM

Almost as difficult as making the body in the first place is mounting it to the frame. The body is wrapped around the steel tubes and rivited on. Yes the two clips are put on separately but then they are welded together (typically under the door). When the body is being wrapped around the tube it distorts... When the body is being welded it distorts... For this reason there are very few original Cobras that have frame off restorations, unless something really bad happened to the car.