Pre-Cut Roll Cages, Is there such a thing? |
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Pre-Cut Roll Cages, Is there such a thing? |
soloracer |
Mar 16 2007, 04:53 PM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 793 Joined: 7-April 03 From: Calgary Member No.: 538 |
I know that Autopower makes bolt in cages but is wondering if there was such a thing as pre-cut, pre-bent and weld it yourself cages. Anyone ever heard of such a thing? If so, where would I find one?
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r_towle |
Mar 16 2007, 05:02 PM
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#2
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Custom Member Group: Members Posts: 24,588 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Taxachusetts Member No.: 124 Region Association: North East States |
If you do a search here, I think at one point, long time ago Tony C offered them.
So, he has the patterns to do this, and he can cut one up and send it up to you. I am sure that McMark knows how to get in touch with him, he is in that area,,,norcal area that is... Rich |
Aaron Cox |
Mar 16 2007, 08:13 PM
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#3
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: OC Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
autopower ALSO makes bre bent YOU weld it kits...
www.ioportracing.com |
roadster fan |
Mar 17 2007, 03:50 AM
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#4
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Project Frankenstein !!!!!!!! Group: Members Posts: 1,009 Joined: 24-November 05 From: Aptos, CA Member No.: 5,184 Region Association: Northern California |
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BigD9146gt |
Mar 17 2007, 04:44 AM
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#5
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OCD member Group: Members Posts: 376 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Sydney, Australia Member No.: 3,502 Region Association: Australia and New Zealand |
If your looking for simple and cheap, Autopower is the ticket. First of all let me say Autopower makes quality products, I've always made them a consideration when quoting roll cage jobs. However, from everthing I've seen, everyone I've talked to from supplier to consumer, I've come to this conclusion: Autopower and every other pre-bent kit has one downfall... they over-compensate tolerances, resulting in a cage that makes an already small cockpit smaller... I have two problems with this. One serious and the second annoyingness. No matter how much you spend on SFI approved, top of the line rollbar padding, simple logic still applies: Put the tubing as far away as possible. Roll cages serve two purposes; they keep other cars, trees, hard objects, etc. from entering into your personal space. In any case, steel tubing is still harder than you no matter what object its attempting to counteract. So the closer you are to the tubing the higher the odds that your going to do more damage to yourself. The annoying thing about the pre-bent kits is that they physically suck to get in and out of.
I've made everything from bolt in 914 & 911 hoops to full 8pt cages like the one in my 9146gt clone. If you can afford to spend a little more, I recommend finding a local off-roading shop or race shop and see if you can get some side deal going. Heck, even a 16yr old kid whos been making sandrails in his backyard works... as long as he has the right dies in good shape and doesn't waist half your expensive material on wrong bends, your good to go. Fallow PCA, POC, SCCA, etc's rule books for tubing size, and sketch out dimensions of the tubes you need bent up, then weld it yourself. Good luck on your project. Don. |
rick 918-S |
Mar 17 2007, 05:09 AM
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#6
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 20,492 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region |
Read up on this. There have been several discussions on the pro and cons of cages in street cars. Also you will want to be sure the design and materials meet local sanctioning if you plan to race anyplace in your area.
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BMartin914 |
Mar 17 2007, 08:04 AM
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#7
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||| Group: Members Posts: 1,408 Joined: 30-May 04 From: Oregon Member No.: 2,128 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Safety Systems roll cages are much better than Autopower.
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soloracer |
Mar 17 2007, 11:19 AM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 793 Joined: 7-April 03 From: Calgary Member No.: 538 |
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soloracer |
Mar 17 2007, 11:28 AM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 793 Joined: 7-April 03 From: Calgary Member No.: 538 |
Don: Thank you for the advice. I was quoted $4k for a 4 point cage that extended to tie in the suspension points. So I thought I would see what my other options were. No doubt the custom cages are built to tighter tolerances. A friend of mine has offered to do it for the cost of materials and I might take him up on it. Only problem is he uses a conduit bender and I'm not sure if that makes proper mandrel bends. He built a rally cage with it but I was told that the scrutineering is more thorough in road racing here.
Jim: I've been to his website before but it doesn't say anything about providing a weld in kit. He has pictures of a custom cage he built for a 914 though. Rick: I searched the forum before posting and I didn't find much on pre-built cages other than Autopower. Our local race organization follows the SCCA rules fairly closely. |
Van914 |
Mar 17 2007, 02:48 PM
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#10
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Van914 Group: Members Posts: 698 Joined: 5-January 03 From: Cincinnati, Ohio Member No.: 90 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Try this it's Saftey Devices. I have on in my car and I like the fact it attached to the rear firewall. The drawback is the bar at the top of the windsheld makes it hard to get the top on and off. I have seen this bar moved as not to interfear with the top.
Van914 Here is the site >http://www.safetydevices.com/content/section/8/50/ |
Aaron Cox |
Mar 17 2007, 08:16 PM
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#11
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: OC Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
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BigD9146gt |
Mar 17 2007, 09:22 PM
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#12
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OCD member Group: Members Posts: 376 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Sydney, Australia Member No.: 3,502 Region Association: Australia and New Zealand |
solo,
My initial reaction to $4K is also a bit steep, but I would also need to know more details about what materials quoted and workmanship... cause the latter unit (99% of the time) will make or break the bank. However, you do have one key asset... your friend with the pipe bender. If you trust his skills as a fabricator, I would suggest you buy a cheap ratchet style tubing bender (JD2 "model 3" bender is what I started with and still have for doing jobs on site. Give these guys a call, they're really helpful... http://vansantent.com/tube_bending_machines.htm ) pick one up new or used from Evilbay, get the die you will need for your cage tube diameter, then sell it when your done and get a few bucks back. Shop around, figure a safe $1000 on material and a good bending tool (you should be able to pick one up for less than $600), a few six packs and pizza for your friend, your on your way. Cheers, Don. |
TimT |
Mar 17 2007, 09:27 PM
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#13
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retired Group: Members Posts: 4,033 Joined: 18-February 03 From: Wantagh, NY Member No.: 313 |
Even if you do get a Safety Devices stick cage.. you have to fit every single piece..
You have to measure and cut the fishmouths for every piece of tubing.. I have a Safety Devices cage in my 914 .. its nice .. |
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