Anybody used the Competition Engineering roll cage?

[bus]

I am fixing to put a cage in my car, and i have found the Competition Engineering 8 point roll cage made for the 89-84 DSM's. I was wondering if anybody has used it, and have any pics of their install. For those of you that have not see it, here is the linkhttp://www.competitionengineering.com.

 

[gritsak]

up..ide like to know too

 

[bus]

I have switched to another cage, a cutom cage. I am gonna start tommorow on it. The shop that is currently letting us use there space is gonna build it. I plan on takeing lots of pics along the way if some of you would like to see what we are doing.

 

[gritsak]

I have switched to another cage, a cutom cage. I am gonna start tommorow on it. The shop that is currently letting us use there space is gonna build it. I plan on takeing lots of pics along the way if some of you would like to see what we are doing.

yeah definitely...how much total is the custom going to run you? theres a few places around here that do custom cages so thats another option i was looking into

 

[bus]

Well I find out the pipeing price in the morning(50 to 100). The guy is gonna charge around 300-400 on labor, which equals the labor charge and price on shiping for the roll cage. I have decided to dump the rear seat, and seat belts in favor of a 4 point harness. We are gonna start in the morning due to him being so busy today. I stripped the interior today and will be pulling the seatbelts tommorow. Im very happy today after seeing and measuring what the cage will look like. This is a big pic, so 56k im sorry. I just striped it today. clicky for pic

 

[gritsak]

Well I find out the pipeing price in the morning(50 to 100). The guy is gonna charge around 300-400 on labor, which equals the labor charge and price on shiping for the roll cage. I have decided to dump the rear seat, and seat belts in favor of a 4 point harness. We are gonna start in the morning due to him being so busy today. I stripped the interior today and will be pulling the seatbelts tommorow. Im very happy today after seeing and measuring what the cage will look like. This is a big pic, so 56k im sorry. I just striped it today. clicky for pic

nice, im looking forward to the final product...heres a pic of my interior, already stripped asking for a cage

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[bus]

Well, we have started on it. We have the main hoop in, and the two rear bars put in. We are gonna finish up the door bars monday. Here are some pics, you can look at my last post to see how it looked before we started.

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Pic 5

I will take more when we get farther along. Hope ya like.

 

[neuralracing]

I like... I like.

Can you give details as to what tubing your using (size, material, etc.)? I may just print this out and go to a local welder and have them cook something like this up for me. I considered buying a pre fabbed Roll cage but shipping to Puerto Rico would kill me. Did you guys use a chrush bend machine (used for exhausts) to make your bends?

 

[bus]

Its 1.75 inch .090 wall, it came from a race tubing shop, so I forgot what it is called.
And yes we did use a crush bender to fab up the tubes, they look great with no creases. The guy who is doing this is taking his time making sure everything is just right. He is proud of his work and it shows in his craftsmanship. Im much happer with this route, im 6ft tall and I can sit comfortable in the car with plenty of "pimpin room" if ya know what I mean. Also the door bars will be alot lower as not to be in the way of entrance and exit.

 

[neuralracing]

How would you paint that once its in though? Wouldn't make more sense to paint it before welding it to the car? Also... if I plan on retaining the OEM carpet... I will probbaly need to present the cage in the car as to know where to cut the holes in the Carpet... then set it in place.... lift it so as to weld the cage then set it back... correct?

 

[bus]

How would you paint that once its in though? Wouldn't make more sense to paint it before welding it to the car?

Its to tough to build it and take it out and put it back in. We are just gonna mask everything, do prep work, and then paint it in the car. If you paint if before welding the paint will have to be cleaned around the weld, and if you dont go far enough the paint will burn and peel off.

if I plan on retaining the OEM carpet... I will probbaly need to present the cage in the car as to know where to cut the holes in the Carpet... then set it in place.... lift it so as to weld the cage then set it back... correct?

I an gonna cut it when I put it in. I have a buddy that does that kind of stuff so hes gonna help to make it look nice. You can do it that way but im would guess that the cost of labor would go up. To remain in the street classes I have to have all the back area carpeted.

 

[Twizzle]

how does the strip determine how fast you can go with a rollcage like that. i know that one you were originally looking at is only good for 11second+ passes, or as dsmparts.com states...

 

[bus]

Size is the most factor, also it has to be welded in, some kits are a bolt in. The guy that built mine was tellin me how dirt track cars would build it out of exhaust tubing to save some weight. So the track used sonic testing to test the thickness of it. The dirt track guys started to use expanding foam to throw off the sonic testing tho.

 

[Twizzle]

any ideas on what yours will be rated to? it seems like pretty big tube.

 

[bus]

any ideas on what yours will be rated to? it seems like pretty big tube.

Ya know, I have yet to ask. It is over built, but that is a good thing. We finished it today, and will begin panting next week Here are a few more pics of the finished thing.

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Pic 5
Pic 6
Pic 7

 

[bus]

any ideas on what yours will be rated to? it seems like pretty big tube.

I asked today what it should be rated at and he guessed 9.90s in the 1/4 for the size. Which is faster than I think I can drive the car anways.

 

[girlieracr4g63]

I have heard of them drilling to check for thickness.

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Also there is NHRA and IHRA specs for cages. The cage looks great btw..Alot like mine

 

[bus]

The cage looks great btw

Thanks, now I just have to put the tabs on for the belts and make now mounts for my seats. Hopefully this will help some others out on their quest for a cage. There is very little information out there on this for our cars.

 

[gritsak]

damn i forgot about this thread..ive been working on my car trying to get it ready for the shootout.

looks really good man. im gonna save some of the pics so when i finally get a cage i can refer to yours for help

 

[bus]

cool, you gonna have to get some pics up when you start. I was gonna try to make it to the shootout this year. But my slow ass still dont have all the parts I ordered yet.

 

[Kevin Doe]

Bus,

That cage will NOT pass NHRA tech inspection. The door bar is too low. In the cage section is says that the door bar must cross your arm between the shoulder and elbow. I know you were probably just trying to keep it low for easy access though. But that bar is nearly prallel with the floorpan, which is far from ideal (nearly useless). Also, the plates you welded to the floorpans look a little small. They also have to be 6"x6" squares.

Kevin

p.s. - sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[bus]

This is only a toy for me. So its no big deal. I knew about most of that when I built it. It will do for what I use the car for, local tracks and making fools of local ricers. But thanks for the info.

 

[neuralracing]

Bus,

That cage will NOT pass NHRA tech inspection. The door bar is too low. In the cage section is says that the door bar must cross your arm between the shoulder and elbow. I know you were probably just trying to keep it low for easy access though. But that bar is nearly prallel with the floorpan, which is far from ideal (nearly useless). Also, the plates you welded to the floorpans look a little small. They also have to be 6"x6" squares.

Kevin

p.s. - sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

I agree... the side bars are pretty much useless being that low. Other than that the cage looks awesome.

 

[bus]

You guys act like im gonna be using this as a race car. This is my street toy, thats it. It will see lots of track use at the local tracks which dont require that much. I bet it could of bolted it in and still pass tech. I do understand what you guys are saying. But this is gonna be daily driven and I am more worried about comfort. Bolt in bars are worse off that what I have built now.