The V8 Owners Forum -

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

smokeonthewater wrote: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

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.

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.

smokeonthewater wrote: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.

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

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