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Quote:
Benn
I've seen alot of cages for oval lap race cars, alot of them have a x in the roof.
If you are referring to the Rookie rods / Speedworth / Autograss Class 2 / Class 6, then they have extra roof bars as they are liable to be crashed into when led on their side, Mine is just a track car, Should the worst happen it wont be anywhere near as bad as a full throttle impact.
Take a look at the Leading manufacturers designs, you wont find twin roof bars on any of them unless built from T45.
Ah ok.
Hey there Craig,
Nice looking motor mate. What did you do with the alternator to fit the twins. I am in the middle of doing mine now so any advice on re-siting it would be great help please.
Thanks. Regarding the carbs i just made a square bracket with 4 holes in. The lower two had the alt mounted to, and the top two were used to sequre it to the block.
Bit more done today, Im just chipping away at it every time i get a few hours, so progress is slow.
Lots still to do, Really do want to start on the turrets, but might stay in the car for a bit longer doing the tunel and rear pick-up points.
Really enjoying it at the moment too.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps50c6eab9.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa60b9c6c.jpg
Cheers for that I will look into mine today. Im lucky in the sense that work is quiet and my mate owns his own car garage business so some of the time I can put the motor on the lift too. If I can get the alternator sorted today it may be time to link up battery. Nervous or what I have been pootering at the car for 4 years so its a big day LOL. Cheers mate. I will also try and get some pics up on here too.
hi great thread, do you still have the rubber bush/cup/circlip off the original linkage?
Thanks. Im not quite sure what you are reffering to though?
Did a bit more today. Would have been a lot more productive if i hadnt had to do it all twice though.
Not quite sure why i put the rear stays in like this......
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc47087f9.jpg
But after getting both sides finished, the more i looked at it the more i hated it.
Already had one cage i wasnt happy with, so just got on and fixed it. Much cleaner lines now.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps89e014e9.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf166523a.jpg
That was it for today really. Still on target though.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps43534aad.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps74329d6d.jpg
Most importantly its all nice and square, so again, well pleased with it.
Very nice cage you've built there
Thanks, Lots more to come yet though. Will be picking up the tunnel, triangulating to the front turrets, "X" Door bars, a dash bar and gusseting / swaging down the A and B pillars.
You'll be amazed the difference it makes
Have you thought about adding a harness bar across the hoop or on the X section so they are pulling straight back rather than a slight downwards angle?
http://motormavens.com/emAlbum/album...cage%202WM.jpg
I have thought long and hard about it, But i really dont like the ones in the "X" as they ruin the lines of the cage, plus the inside harness sometimes doesnt quite pull straight.
Also dont like the main hoop brace, as it reminds me too much of a stock car (plus the back of the seat is level with the hoop anyway).
I think im going to go right back to the rear brace. My Sabelt's are long enough, and its just a prefference of mine.
Fair enough you don't like how they look, but you wouldn't have problem with them "pulling straight".
Agreed, i dont think any of my available seating positions would be a problem, but have seen some quite shocking installations before. Like this one....
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9d83ee0b.jpg
Did a bit more this afternoon. Only because i had to work next to it and something was bugging the hell out of me though.
Moved the rear stay up about 2", as i wanted the door bars higher, so chopped that one out on both sides and made alterations.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1b28da3e.jpg
Some nice upgrades your making should make a difference on track.i use to have my belts going to the rear brace on my old cage.Quote:
Originally Posted by 8valve-craig
http://Imageshack.us/a/img191/8268/imageupw.jpg
Did a bit of work on it today, Managed to get the drivers door bars finished, which sadly meant loosing the standard fuse box position.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa27d0aa1.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7be245b1.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7d16335f.jpg
Then i realised that i couldnt really do any more on the cage until the passenger seat rails were fitted, as otherwise it would be a right mission getting in and out to measure, cut and weld.
Then...... realised the passenger seat rails couldnt be done until the handbrake was moved back, So started on that. Decided it needed to move 110mm, so hatched a plan to re-use the old hole, which would also give me a mounting point.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse19b67b7.jpg
So cut out the first square, then measured up a hole to re-weld it in further back
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psddef005c.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps43d4f645.jpg
In an ideal world i could have just swapped the 2 squares over, but unfortunately that didnt work out, so had to fashion a new piece for the front hole.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse4318dab.jpg
Once happy, seam welded it all in.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps84f55f32.jpg
Then started cutting tabs to hang the old handbrake mount in place, as usually it sits on the side of the original seat rail, which has now been binned.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps57ee8076.jpg
Made a fillet for the end, which did stiffen the handbrake mounting up, but it was still a little bit flimsy.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7c9500ec.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps592fe8f8.jpg
With that done i started measuring up for the seat rails, but instantly hit a stumbling block, as the rear passenger rail would have been in the way of the handbrake mechanism.
It needed a spreader plate anyway, which would have been an asshole to fully weld, so instead i boxed the new handbrake bracket in with 2mm. which worked a treat, and in my opinion looks neater anyway.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8b4b6d35.jpg
The handbrake works fine now, as i cut the same amount out of the metal linkage bar just before it joins the cable, then re-welded that too. The guide didnt need moving and it still sits nicely on the beam, so was quite a result.
I did then get one of the seat rails in, but called it a day around 7pm.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd3419e5b.jpg
Still hoping to have the cage completed by the end of the month, but in my defence i did forget that Febuary only has 28 days.....
I love the attention to detail you put in Craig! Instead of making it work, you make it right!!!
Like it ! Cage looking good to !
Thanks, And cheers Paul. I lie in bed at night thinking about the bits im not happy with, and convince myself that they can stay put, but always find myself grabbing the grinder in the morning and making changes.
Spending this morning welding all of the metal discs into the floor, as that too would be a mission to do once the passenger door bar goes in.
Cage is done. Right on schedule, (If Feb was a normal month). Finished the passenger seat rails, then welded in all of them discs to replace the rubber bungs.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0fa7eee6.jpg
Cut out the upper firewall, drilled the holes and plated the turrets, Then started on the forward triangulation.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb5b14cbd.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1bfe8234.jpg
Measuring the angles was a bit of a pain, but got there in the end,
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8259154e.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps55e923e1.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6667c40f.jpg
Did the same for the other side, and managed to re-use the angle guides which made it a little quicker.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaabce9a5.jpg
Then as access with the tools was no longer required went on to finish the straight bars.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps291c32e1.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaaedbde1.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4cdfbdce.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps83315f1f.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5c7e90dd.jpg
Very happy with it all. My OCD is satisfied, as everything is straight, everything is symmetrical, and im happy with all of the joints.
Hopefully getting fully welded on Weds by a proffesional (Adam Dewis). Mines ok, but from a safety point of view i will be much happier knowing it is welded properly.
Loving the cage!
Amazing bud !
Thanks again. I quite like it too.
Stripped the rest of the crap out of the bay yesterday, and cut off all of the unused brackets.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2130548c.jpg
Then moved inside, but stupidly i forgot to take the steering wheel down there, so was mostly guess work based on another steering wheel which was quite different, but i think im somewhere near, despite it being horrible and 385mm
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdb751faf.jpg
Mounted the steering columb about 5" over to the right, and nice and straight. Hung it off the dash bar for now using part of the old upper mount, and also re-used the lower mount, but its only tacked, and once its confirmed to be in a good place will get fully welded with some extra bracing.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9a11be2e.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5f22e3c4.jpg
Just where it should be now. Right in front of the driver, and straight, unlike the piss poor version the factory gave it.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb1b41990.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3bbedab2.jpg
With that done i cut the dash to fit it, and trial fitted a stalk. Il be using corsa stalks, simply as they are slightly closer to the driver, but got very lucky indeed as i never even considered their placement when moving the columb.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf845c2d9.jpg
Admittedly that picture is of it pushed back into the rear wiper on position, which it never will be, but still lucky.
Trouble is though i would have quite liked to have mounted my bias control in that sqaure blank behind it, but theres not much chance of that now.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8e22f34a.jpg
Cut the dash roughly, then tidied it up with a file, so not far off the point where it can be flocked now
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf9b676cf.jpg
Then measured up for the pedal box, which i can get into a comfortable position with a little bit of a raised plate in the footwell, which again im pleased about.
Actually starting to look like a car again now
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0fce8b54.jpg
A then good bit of progress today. Met Adam down the unit at around 1pm, ready to fully weld the cage for me. All went quite well, despite having to use my 150amp hobby welder and he got done just on time.
(Secret photo)
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8c7536f3.jpg
5 hours, and it was done.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb2dda9ec.jpg
A lot better than i could have done myself. Very happy with it,
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdc76d497.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse32fdc25.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5fc90149.jpg
Also got home to a nice heavy package today. Which was a used, but great condition Helix paddle clutch, Cover and Paul Exon flywheel.
Im in 2 minds wether to use the cover or not, as despite being a Helix item it is from the "12-4626" range, which they quote as standard, but its my own fault for not checking, as it was simply sold to me as a Helix cover, no Mention of heavy Duty (60-4626).
Helix do say a standard cover can handle a 15% increase in torque, which i dont expect to gain any more than, so it's one to think about, but if truth be known i will most likely go to QED for a new one.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps02169799.jpg
150amp is enough for even 2MM wall thickness; looks good.
I have an adjustable rake column that'll more or less bolt straight up to what you're doing there, bring the wheel closer to you and put it at a straighter angle if you're interested.
Cage is 2.64mm.
Not quite sure what you mean about the columb, Mine will be custom, so can go anywhere it wants. Its already straight and in front of the driver, im not using the original mounting points
Just out of interest though what do you have?
Nice welding by Adam, love what youve done with the coloum.
Yours will be custom? So the one in the pictures isn't going to be what you'll run?
While the column is now inline with the driver, from the pictures above due to the mount relocation, the wheel won't be straight horizontally (like say a race car) which is why I mentioned the adjustable rake item I have lying around.
...Not the best picture below; the rake comes from the ball joint on the column (obscured by the gear knob)
http://sadpanda.us/images/1455463-H2UC250.jpg
I understand now. I mistook your reference to the angle as being how they are standard, as in, pointing towards the middle of the car, but you of course meant the top to bottom angle.
It would certainly help with a quick rack fitted, as when i tried my angle out i found it a little awkward to cross my arms into the 3 / 9 position, which will be amplified when harnessed in.
I reffered to mine as custom as i will be chopping the bottom half off to fit 2 UJ's and cutting the top off to extend and weld on my lifeline quick release boss, leaving only the nylon bearing, centre section and mounting point original.
Maybe PM me regarding the columb. Im interested.
Not updated this for a while, but have been chipping away at it.
Recently took the above advice and fitted an adjustable rake columb from another Vaux, which seems to have gone well.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1b9314b0.jpg
Then did a bit more work around the steering rack mounts, tieing the area into the cage and triangulating back to the turrets.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psacca61c8.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps38e800bd.jpg
And since gathering all of the Stack gauges the other month decided not to use them, and instead went out and bought this
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5435cffe.jpg
Couldnt resist trial fitting it, and as i had to drive past the unit on the way home i popped in, tacked a nut onto the back of the boss and fitted the steering wheel so i could get a feel for its position.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaac16bb4.jpg
Not quite right, as i want it in the middle of the steering wheel, so will be chopping a bit more of the dash out yet.
Would you not want to have it directly above the column just behind the steering wheel?
Alright mate, how's things? Ill be rebuilding the Nova this year too, got myself another shell to start with. My old beast is getting very crispy, but still may make it out once more. Was excellent fun the last time we went out at Combe together till my car did another CV joint and nearly put me in the wall just after the pit lane. Ive got bigger shafts now so its starting to pull other things apart lol. You going to be doing ant of the action days this year?
Oh, and that cage looks serious!
Thats what i have been looking at this weekend. Will be making a bracket now to have it above and in front of the stalksQuote:
Originally Posted by BRoadGhost
Hi Dan, Long time. I only tend to see you at Castle combe. Mine wont be out again until mid summer, but will still go along at the end of this month so will pop over and say hi. Had a lot of trouble with fueling last time we went out and it wasnt much fun, was able to nail it in the corners but at high revs down the straights it was running bad so had to back off. Turned out to be one of the nuts and thackery washers on the carbs worked loose, so one cylinder drew in a lot more air.Quote:
Originally Posted by MiniManDan118
Didnt actually notice until the end of the day as i was convinced it was the fuel pump.
Hopefully next time im out it will be a completely different car.
Well glad you worked it out and it was a free fix! They're always the best. If all goes to plan ill be out in a white Nova too at somepoint...Quote:
Originally Posted by 8valve-craig
Despite it probably looking like i havent done a lot over the last few weeks, i have been chipping away at it in my spare time and got a bit done.
First up decided to go with a few suggestions regarding the instruments, and cobbled up a rough frame to mount the dash behind the steering wheel
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2ae62200.jpg
Main objective was to keep the dashboard removable. Looks very rough in this pic, but has been tidied up since and looks fine
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps66e2ce9c.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0144460d.jpg
Once happy got that primed,
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psee04182c.jpg
Then moved onto the steering columb, and got the steering boss as good as sorted. I started with a selection of thick wall steel tube, to sleeve the Lifeline slug, and then down sleeved that to mate with the columb.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa0df6858.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps96c0c3f9.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6948f091.jpg
Obviously it will need to be dowelled and proffesionally welded, but at least its straight
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4b0354cb.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps87e149c7.jpg
A few days later i moved on to fitting up the columb properly, using a modified Corsa double UJ.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps53e81b8a.jpg
And today went about sleeving the seat rails and getting them fitted properly. Got some good penetration then ground them flush and re-drilled the tube.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc8fd49d6.jpg
Seat where i want it, and finally got to test out the driving position.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2625c2ed.jpg
So moved onto the pedal box. This was a bit of a nightmare, as i have leant the seat right back for the most comfortable driving position, but this pushes my ass forwards and means the furthest away the box can be on the floor isnt far enough to be comfortable.
So instead decided to lift it up a few inches, so that in turn it could go a few inches further towards the firewall. The parrallel bars also have forward facing braces like the seat rails to stop them twisting under heavy braking, but forgot to take a picture if that,
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa7778c11.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd6f397fd.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0768c053.jpg
And thats about as far as i am. Im at a point where i can now sit inside and make driving noises, turning the wheel and stamping on the pedals.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps76a4917e.jpg
The only problem is that there is only a limited ammount of room in a Nova, and fabricating the cage / steering columb the way i have now means that the steering wheel i bought isnt ideal, as it has a big dish which pushes it towards the driver. Its ok, but in an ideal world could do with an inch or 2 less, as sometimes my elbow hits my stomach when turning.
Will probably get an OMP WRC this week to see how that feels
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps78996929.jpg
My view from behind the wheel. Just what i wanted, everything dead centre
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps26884a4c.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps81039f2d.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb71dc215.jpg
Next job. Fit the Gearbox and sort out the internal shifter.
Hi Craig, some great work going on there mate, keep at it, it will definitely be worth it.
Keith
like that cage a lot, one day ill put one in mine
Thanks guys. Its getting there slowly
Did a bit more on it this afternoon. Went go-karting at Wessex Raceway first (which i won), then came home with loads of enthusiasm so cracked on with the drivers footrest.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps64440d42.jpg
Wasnt keen on welding captive nuts under the pedal box then plating over the whole lot, as i wouldnt have been able to get a good weld on a few of them, so instead have constructed two rails which i can bolt / rivet an alloy plate to, which when removed gives easy access to get a spanner on the nuts underneath. The area in front of the stitch welds, directly under the pedal box will remain unplated.
Made a template, but then realised i had no ally plate, so that was that.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps53e7b93c.jpg
So just zinc'd it and went home. That still took a couple of hours though, as it was a right nightmare getting that 3rd piece of box level to the front 2 with only a 2ft level.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1fbfff5d.jpg
Also been looking at steering wheels. 99% sure il be going for an OMP Targa in suede now, which is a flat 330mm wheel with no dish atall.
A bit of an update here, not a great deal but have been chipping away at it
A-pillar gussets cut and punched
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps79b345d0.jpg
Fitted and primed.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc6d0e702.jpg
Then built a tower for my direct shifter.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps518fc3aa.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc3659671.jpg
Gusseted the B pillars
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6d5e49aa.jpg
Then took a bit of a backwards step last week. I kept sitting in the car with trainers on trying to work out if i liked the pedals or not, and once the doubt was there in my mind thought it best to re-think their positioning. I know it sounds silly, but its me that has to drive it, and i couldnt stop thinking that my knees were a little too close to the bottom of the steering wheel, and that the brake pedal when depressed was too close to the steering knuckle. I had already sent the footplate back to Dewis for an alteration which would have allowed my heels to be an inch lower, but that was meaning that at full throttle / clutch depress my toe was 3/4 the way down the pedal.
So, started searching for an alternative. Took some measurements, and realised that i could steal some space from inside the front cross member.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf562530d.jpg
Then very bravely made a cut in the bulkhead, and once happy with the height chopped out the work i had previously done in the footwell.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3f6b204d.jpg
No photos of the process unfortunately, but its pretty obvious what has happened. A few cardboard shapes, a bit of bending, welding, hammering etc and have ended up with this....
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps37fee782.jpg
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps30e930b2.jpg
The idea is that now with a much simpler flat floor section in the front, the pedalbox can be mounted much lower and a little further forward, as the front of the master cylinders will now sit in the recess, hopefully just needing some swept 90's and the already planned remote resevoirs.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps84db1e9e.jpg
Wasnt going to upload until it was all finished and in place, but thats the main bit of fab sorted, and found it hard to explain to a friend on the phone so thought i might as well.
Then moving on, Went out yesterday to collect this lot.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps050ec3b0.jpg
Thought id snap it up while i had the chance.
Also got the rocker cover as its ready converted, but will be trimming that and changing the colour, which is a shame as its an ok job.
Had these delivered today too. I couldnt decide which steering wheel to go for, so bought a few of the ones i liked. Il try them out then sell on the ones i dont need.
http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8fcfb481.jpg
All were bought used, but are in great condition, so hopefully il end up with the one i want for free. Saying that though only one of them has ever actually been fitted to a car, so the OMP and the larger Sparco are like new.
Not been getting a great deal of spare time just recently, but will try and get a bit more work done on it maybe this weekend.