Nicolas, I believe Jack was implying that his cage doesn't need the suspension tied in due to the car's dual usage(correct me if I'm mistaken Jack). Tying a cars' suspension doesn't reduce the safety, it just adds more tubing and stiffness which is overkill for a street car.

Cheers, James

There used to be a place north of Boston (maybe Malden or Somerville) called Cadillac Plastics. It might still be there. Nice progress and nice job on the car. Nice job on the cage also

what's the color code for the interior...I think I want my exterior that color...

I love it.

sjd

Jack,
I stand corrected.;) Awaiting pix of your car.....:D

Really, really nice cage, Shaun. Good choice on the color too!

Thanks! All you need to do is go to Home Depot and grab a can of Light Machine Gray. Any point shop should be able to match it. Either that or you'll have a sore index finger!

Having the cage tied to the suspension points makes the car marginally louder, and -- since the chassis is significantly more rigid -- makes it a little less comfortable for street driving. Neither is a huge deal, really. And the trade-off is a very easy decision if it's a dedicated track car.

A cage tied into the suspension points makes a street car safer, in some ways, and actually less safe, in others. By reducing the car's ability to crumple in an impact, you'll subject the driver and passengers to a more abrupt deceleration in a front or rear impact. In a track car, you'd presumably have a Hans or Isaac to address this, but in a street car you're losing some of the car's crumple zone, which is (marginally) less safe.

It's important to note: none of these factors present an overwhelming reason not to do the full cage in a mixed-use car. They're all small factors. In my case, the added time and cost of squeezing the extra few Nth's of rigidity out of the chassis didn't make sense, to me.

But to say it's 'incorrect' is silly. That's like saying the only 'correct' approach to racing a Porsche is to build a tube-frame car, simply because it will perform better. It may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that there is a whole range of steps between that and a bone stock car, all of which might be appropriate based on what the driver is looking for.

Shaun is racing his car, and I think he's building it just about perfectly. :)

I have to admit that having a cage in a street car in some ways is attractive, as it would seem to provide protection from a t-bone, although an suv's bumper is right between the lower and upper bars. But isn't there reinforcement in the door at that point?

I suppose we could weld the doors shut too, and jump in Dukes of Hazzard style...

btw, beautiful work.

LOL

what brand?

sjd

The best reason for not doing a full cage in a mixed use car is having the cage ahead of the seats when not wearing a helmet.

Thanks Jack. and yes, this will be a dedicated track car: DE for one or 2 years and then GT-3S here on the East Coast. BTW, once I get the Mercedes MC hooked up and brake line routed, the motor goes in, maybe as early as weekend after next!

Great work Shaun...cant wait to see the updates!

It's Rustoleum Enamel, Lt. Machine Gray.

Same color as I used on my cage and it is a nice look. The tech guy liked it in that he could scratch if off for testing the tubes in certifying the chassis. I wasn't so amused :(

Where is week 11-300 ? :)