Roll Cage

KBird · 07-30-2000, 05:36 PM

I am looking for a ROll Cage to "Weld" into my 72 914. I would like to purchase one already fabricated. Any suggestions, best one to purchase?

------------------
keith bird

John Rogers · 07-31-2000, 08:51 AM

There are several companies, but AutoPower in San Diego CA makes pretty good stuff, both weld-in and bolt-in. Their number is 619-297-3300. Make sure to order the cage from "DOM" or drawn over mandrel tubing since some organizations such as SCCA won't accept the welded tubing, but it does cost a tad more. Good luck..

oredith · 07-31-2000, 09:31 AM

hey john..
can you elaborate on "a tad more"?.. i'm going to be going through an overhaul of my car soon.. i figure if i have to pull the motor anyways.. i'm going to take the time to go all out and paint the car at the same time.. long story short.. i want to add in a roll cage while everything's out..
do you know if the autopower cage goes through any of the firewall to brace against the struts or something?.. or do they stay completely within the cabin?..

TIA,

Jeff

John Rogers · 07-31-2000, 10:09 AM

About $180 or so I think? Don't remember for sure since I don't have my order here at work and I will pick it up this week. The cage is only inside the driver's compartment and I don't know of any pre-fab units that go through the front and rear bulkheads. Those are generally custom made units and there are a couple of guys here in San Diego and the cost to build a cage and tie it to the front and rear shock tower points is about $1500 to $2000. It almost gets to be a better deal to buy a tub from someone that has decided to get out of racing.

JTB · 07-31-2000, 02:52 PM

I put a Safety Devices cage in my car and love it. It is a bolt in, but could be welded together if you wanted. I got what is called the 6 point cage. It bolts to the longitudinals at the front and back of each door, and then has to diagonals from the top rear corners to the middle of the firewall. It does limit seat travel some, but I assume you are going to put a race seat in, so that should not be a problem.

jmcleod · 07-31-2000, 04:33 PM

since you guys have investigated cages, do you have any info on roll bars? i would like a roll bar like those in the 914/6 GT. it's like a loop in back of the passenger & driver and a bar down to the right front passengers footwell.

John Rogers · 07-31-2000, 06:46 PM

Well I just happen to have a roll bar that I removed yesterday! Give me a call at 619-691- 8640 eves or 619-544-7513 days and we can talk about it. It is an Autopower and one of the early designs that sits on the floor pan so you can still have the hood release and it is possible to use the emergency brake but without the balance beam. It has all bolts and plates that go under the pan.

oredith · 07-31-2000, 06:50 PM

looks like i was too late?.. if he doesn't want the bar.. let me know john.. i can pick up.. 8^)

Jeff

[This message has been edited by oredith (edited 07-31-2000).]

roadtrp204 · roadtrp204's Garage

JTB,
Where did you get your Safety Devices Cage from and about how much did it go for?
Thanks,
Chris

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Keep in mind that the floorpan is not necessarily the strongest place in the world to mount a protective structure. I have heard stories of cars that landed on their top, only to have the roll bar punch through the (relatively-thin) floor.

If you are only getting the roll bar to satisfy the rules, then the extra convenience makes the floor-mounted ones very attractive. If you think you might actually *need* the bar (particularly if the car lands on its top), it might be worthwhile to consider one that attatches to the longitudinals instead.

No offense, John!

--DD

jmcleod · 08-01-2000, 06:41 AM

re: roll bar- feel free to sell to oredith if he wants it, i'm not ready (read $$), looking for info at this time. is your roll bar the same or different than 914/6 GT? better or worse? sounds like better since you still have access to necessary pulls and levers

oredith · 08-01-2000, 07:56 AM

thanks DD.. i was actually thinking about that before you wrote it..

and i wrote the thing before i really took in what john had..

part of the reason for the roll CAGE is to give myself some re-enforcement after i get done with my little body work (from the ditch).. i doubt the roll bar will give much of that..

JTB.. can you elaborate on the 6 point?.. the part about the two that come diagnally from the top corners to the middle of the firewall.. does it make a V at the center tunnel?.. or does it make an X?..

Jeff

roadtrp204 · roadtrp204's Garage

Jeff,
Take a look at the pictures in this link, the guy is building a 914/6 and shows step by step of installing a Safety Devices roll cage. http://home.hiwaay.net/~jonlowe/MyGT.html
Chris

JTB · 08-01-2000, 06:34 PM

I got my cage through Stable Energies in Garfield, New Jersey. They advertise in Pano. I would check Pelican first though. Email me if need their phone number or pictures of my installation.

The handbrake works without modification and the top is still functional. The front tubes do press up against the dash though.

roadtrp204's link does show some pictures of the install. The two tubes that mount on the firewall form a v. They mount at about the same height as the interior light. Be sure to get a harness bar as well. The cage does not have provisions for mounting harnesses, so they must be mounted to the firewall (like the original GT's) and run over a harness bar to protect your spine in an accident. I also agree with Dave, the floor pan is probably not the best place to mount a cage. The Safety Devices cage mounts to plates that weld to the longitudinals.

As for the cost of the bar, I forget what I paid and since I just moved, all of my paperwork on the car is in a box somewhere.

John