Cost for fabrication

#1

I am getting ready to have a Kirkey full containment seat mounted in my car. I have heard that the safest mounting is to actually mount it to the cage by way of a U shaped bar on the floor pan that attaches to the door bars.

This particular seat needs braces fabricated: one to attach head restraint to cage, and one to attach shoulder restraints to cage.

Presently, there is nothing except the factory mounting points in the floor.

I’m just trying to get a ballpark figure of how much this might cost. I’m ignorant when it comes to this kind of thing and I’m using a local shop that has a great reputation in the drag racing world called Autofab in Elkridge, MD. I just want to make sure that I’m not getting ripped off financially.

Any help is appreciated, also any other shops that might be recommended.

Jason

#2

Please, can anyone give me an idea of what it should cost to put in my seat, attach it to the cage, and also attach the head and shoulder restraints to the cage.

I’m not looking to hold anyone accountable for this. I just want to know if I’m looking at $100 or $1000 or somewhere in the middle. Just a ballpark.

Thanks,
Jason

#3

Jason, it might be hard for folks to give you a ballpark without some very detailed drawings. My recommendation is blow that off and just get this done. Ask for recommendations from the NASA community for a cage builder in your area. Then give him your car and credit card and ask him what he thinks needs to be done for your seat. The guys with good reputations worked hard to gain and keep those reps. If the guy has a good reputation he will treat you reasonably.

#4

Thanks Ranger. I guess what I’m asking for is a bit unreasonable. I’m wishing someone will just throw out a number and kick me out of the nest so to speak.

Plan B: Does anyone have contact info for a fabricator that they trust in the Baltimore area?

Jason

#5

No idea what fabrication mounts for the seat will cost and I don’t know anyone in the Baltimore area. My immediate thought was why use a Kirkley seat? Aren’t they alumimum? There are much better seats out there for our application. I would suggest looking at Racetech.

If you are just starting your build, you might consider buying the #43 listed on this forum. If you think you can build it cheaper, think again.

#6

I have already built the car. I have sat in every seat out there. This seat is literally the only one I tried and fit. I’m 6’5 and 230. Tall and relatively thin.

As for the #43. I bought 1 prepared car and am building another. After safety equipment, it is looking like the build will end up around $12,000. I bought the prepared car for $11,000 and will end up putting in $1500 getting it so I can fit in it. So $16,000+ seems a little steep. I bought a 2 year old 24’ enclosed trailer for $4,500, so even the free trailer deal on an open trailer doesn’t make it all that great.

There have been several cars lately for sale out of the midwest, one for $6,000 and one for 8. It would be a lot cheaper to get one of those and pay to have it shipped across the country if I were going to go that route again.

Thanks for the input, but I’ll just leave the fabrication question out there.

Jason

#7

Recommend that you create another thread “Cage builders in mid-Atlantic area?” That will get attention to the issue. I’d also post it at NASAForums/Mid-Atlantic.

#8

It looks like there are a few in your area on the cage builders map…

Good luck.

Matt

#9

Thanks for the help everyone.

Jason