Got cage installed

#1

I’m in a hurry so can’t go into detail. Tell me if you think the cluster will clear the dash bar.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jchaynieii/RollCage

John

#2

Hard to tell if cluster will clear the bar without the dash installed as a reference point…

#3

Yeah,hard to say. It looks like the bar is sitting right on top of the two extrusions, which is correct. My bar, I think, sits a little farther forward than yours, and I think also has two bends so it more closely follows the shape of the bulkhead. I do know that the center of mine sits right on top of the heater box defroster flappers, because I had to trim these away to be able to keep even minimal defroster functionality.

But, I suspect you’re OK. It doesn’t look like it could have gone any lower, and I think there’s enough room behind the cluster than you should be OK.

Put the dash in and find out!

#4

Is the sun roof attached to the cage? Not that it really matters but that could be considered another attachement point or 4.

Michael
#36

#5

Attachment points?

If you think about it, the sunroof is not actually attached to the car.

Regarding the dash bar, mine is more forward so that it as close as possible to the bulkhead. There’s plenty of room for the gauges on mine so you may still be ok. As everyone else said, throw the dash up there and see what it looks like.

#6

I’ll be putting the cage in mine soon. I hope the pic of the way the sunroof is mounted to the cage is legal. I like that a lot. Clever idea.

#7

Its debatable, but you can just as easily weld the tabs to the roof structure behind the cage. That’s what we did.

As long as the sunroof panel is “hovering” and not attached to the roof at another point it can not be considered another attachement point.

#8

The panel is just floating. Currently you can see daylight all the way around, so I’ll be putting some red “racing” tape around it.

I haven’t figured out how to get the dash in yet. I’ve been scratching my head on that for a couple days. I hate to start making cuts I can’t undo. I open to ideas for sure, but I know it’s hard to tell what’s going on in a picture.

John

#9

Here are a few things we did with our cages that may help you out.

Sunroof- tape the gap well from the inside of the car and then get some black (or whatever color you like) silicone from Lowes and fill the gap from the outside of the car, smooth with your finger and let set, water tight and looks clean.

Dash board- when I put my dash back in I made a template of the dash out of cardboard, just the top profile actually, so I could see where to make cuts for the tubes on the A-pillar. Then laid the template over the top of the dash and marked the dash accordingly and made the cuts.

You can do the same for the sides as well but I just trimmed it as needed as I was fitting it.

HTH,

Brian
Beer Tech Racing #380

#10

Well it took me five weeks to get it done (or get around to it.) Cage is painted and dash and cluster are all back in, wired, and good to go. I’ve got to get the seats and harnesses in now. Any tips on harness bolting points?

I also realized that I had left out the 1/2" bar that bolts from the top left of the transmission tunnel to the steering column bracket. It’s “L” shaped, I’m sure everyone is familiar with it. I really dont want to have to take everything back apart to install it. Is it a necessary feature? I can’t even tell what it does unless it is for safety or something.

I updated the photo album. Only a few new pics to share.

John

#11

My only advice about the harness mounting would be to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. I’m updating my safety systems and my Scrhoth harness came with very specific geometry to follow.

Sasha

#12

Thanks Sasha, I’ll do that.

Nobody knows what that bar is for?

John

#13

Since no one knows what the bar is for I elected to leave it out.

Anyway, I got both seats mounted and harness hardware all installed tonight. That may not seem like a big deal, but it took me the better part of a week. I’ve never had to install and uninstall something so many times in my life. I guess that’s part of never having built a racecar before.

Special thanks to Chuck for all the telephone tech support. Now all I have to do is put the windshield and rear side windows back in, bleed the brakes, make a small change to the rear sway bar, and be ready for Savannah. :slight_smile:

John

#14

Way to go John. :slight_smile: