Building a Roll Cage

[smokeonthewater]

Hi
Does anyone have any advice about building a roll cage, I need advice on everything really like tube diameter and wall thickness, how to join the cage together and how to fix it into the car.

I have been looking on tinternet and havn't found many pics or diagrams to get a good enough idea of where to start.

I dont want it to weigh to much, it needs to be quite strong, but not going to be going 200mph or rallying into trees (I hope), but also I wont be able to afford hugly expencive hightensile carbon steel or anything else fancy
Many thanks
Ed

[Coops]

have you not looked into buying a pre made one???
may work out cheaper in the end as they mass produce them,

[kev_the_mole]

Like Helmets (i.e. if you've got a $20 head buy a $20 helmet) you get what you pay for.

A professional cage has got to be the way to go unless you have all the skills and equipment in the first place.

[smokeonthewater]

Dont really know where to look but I doubt they make them for '65 Austin Cambridges as they were hardly designed as a performance car
Can you buy std parts and just sort of mix and match till you get one to fit

[kev_the_mole]

What are you using the car for? Hope it's not banger racing!

[smokeonthewater]

No I wouldnt do such a thing
Its my only car that I use it for everyday duties, but Im slowly changing it into a sort of v8 powered road going rally car.

The main reason I want the roll cage is to offer me & my passenger (only 2 seats) a bit of protection should it all go wrong, because I dont realy trust its ability to suvive a crash

[kev_the_mole]

Have a look on http://www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk/.

They've done an Austin A35 and there's some good pictures which would give you an idea for a home-brew cage. All you'll need to do is scale it up and then you'll need some seamless tubing, a big pipe bender, a decent welder, some floor plates and various other brackets. I'd ask them for a quote and then you'll know the sort of build budget you'll have to beat.

If it was me I'd be sh1tting myself every time a wheel lifted because i know how bad my welding is!

[smokeonthewater]

Nice one thanks
Ill prob get in touch like you say.
Looks like it might cost more than I was hoping (Im not tight just skint ) but looks top stuff
Ed

[IainB]

Nice one thanks
Ill prob get in touch like you say.
Looks like it might cost more than I was hoping (Im not tight just skint ) but looks top stuff
Ed

Budget around £125 / £150 per corner though, not cheap but worth it if you do have an off

Actually John is closer for you... http://www.john-sleath.com

[GreenV8S]

The MSA Blue Book has a lot of information about roll cage design and construction. You may not need to comply with the Blue Book if you aren't planning to race/sprint it, but there's a wealth of information about how to make it safe, which I assume is your goal.

[ian.stewart]

Give Dave a ring, @ http://www.retroford.co.uk/ He is in Corby or try Northants Motorsport, both can probably make or supply a box of bends for your requirments.

[Paul B]

Nice one thanks
Ill prob get in touch like you say.
Looks like it might cost more than I was hoping (Im not tight just skint ) but looks top stuff
Ed

You could always start with just a simple basic roll bar, welded to two pads bolted solidly to the floor. Then fit a diagonal. Then expand on that, but you'll need a tube bender, and some tube that can be bent without distorting.

Retrocar magazine did an article on building a roll cage a year or two back too. Check their website, see if they have a back-issue reference section.

[diamond dave]

I'm sure Safety Devices do "one off" roll cages at a reasonable price.

[ian.stewart]

If you decide to go for a SD cage read this, and if you were not aware, all SD cages are now made in POLAND,
http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115889
and before you say gary dosent know how to fit a cage, he builds top notch race, rally and road car for a living
Ian