Building a working rally tribute car

Blagave · 07:30 AM

After receiving some help from other members along with a little persuasion from Paul at (Braid wheels) and a searching a ton of information in the forum, I thought I would go outside my comfort zone and share my build, which hopefully gives a little back to the forum.

I purchased a 1980 911SC coupe with 3.0 motor. The car has 172,000 miles and is a rust free California car. I bought the car and drove it straight home and started tearing the car apart. My goal is to turn this car into a daily driver Rothman's tribute rally car with race suspension, cage and look, but have a nice interior with upgraded A/C for CA summers.

End result

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 07:45 PM

Pulled motor and trans and stripped interior for start of roll cage

Car is leaving for start of roll cage

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 07:49 PM

Steven at SMP-Fabworks is building the cage.

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 07:54 PM

More cage and front strut / winch mount

Dueller · 10-13-2014, 08:00 PM

Beautiful welds...looking forward to this build. I'm doing something similar myself.

JV911SYDNEY · JV911SYDNEY's Garage

subscribed!

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 08:02 PM

cut the holes in the bumpers and mounted front winch guide. Had to plug and weld up some holes int the rear bumper to get my layout to work.

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 08:06 PM

Purchased light Pod from TRE and bought some old school Hella lights. Cut the lights in and just sat on hood for now.

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 08:21 PM

Chuck at Elephant Racing sent over the front and rear coil over shocks and sway bars. Cut in front sway bar and welded in front and rear stiffeners

Charles Freeborn · Charles Freeborn's Garage

Great platform to work from (SC) and fun project. Not sure if the cage will be street legal in CA, though.
-C

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 08:29 PM

Hi Charles....not sure I follow you on the cage and being street legal?

dicklague · dicklague's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

Great platform to work from (SC) and fun project. Not sure if the cage will be street legal in CA, though.
-C

I am curious about this too. I have a good roll bar system in mine and have never heard of CA street legal problems.

What are they?

Blagave · 10-13-2014, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dicklague

I am curious about this too. I have a good roll bar system in mine and have never heard of CA street legal problems.

What are they?

Never heard of any laws relating to roll cages and have had cages in numerous cars over the years. I also know a few police officers and have an LAPD motorcycle officer as a brother N law and have never heard of anything related to roll cages.

Evan Fullerton · 08:40 PM

Nothing in the California vehicle code prohibiting a roll cage. I daily drove a 914 with a full cage for a while, never an issue. Had a friend have to have a vin check/safety inspection on his street legal Boxster Spec Race car at the DMV, they took no issue with no windows, gutted doors, and a full FIA legal cage. They only cared that the 6pt. belts were DOT approved, SCHROTH makes special ones for this, that all the lights functioned and were DOT approved, that the horn worked via a button on the dash (removable steering wheel), and that it had a functioning windshield wiper. Those are the only required items to be street legal besides SMOG laws.

The project looks great, good to see someone doing something different with a 911.

Bill Douglas · 10-13-2014, 09:22 PM

Steven must have done a night class in welding

those are beautiful welds.

Your project sounds fun

joe payne · joe payne's Garage

We just assume everything has become illegal here in California.

Charles Freeborn · Charles Freeborn's Garage

It very well may be legal, but not necessarily smart unless you plan to wear a harness and helmet all the time.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/495705-roll-cage-legal-ny.html#post4869709
-C

Blagave · 10-14-2014, 09:32 AM

The cage was built with clearance for padding and a nice wrap and is well out of the way of ones head. I have Sparco Melano race seats (purchased from a member here) and will have harness's.
Just for the record, you can hit your head on the door frame, glass etc. on a car without a roll cage.

WANNA930 · 10-14-2014, 09:47 AM

Hitting your head on a cage is a lot different then hitting a padded interior panel and obviously is the reason all interior parts are padded to some degree.

A cage in a race car is designed with safety equipment in mind. Just make sure you have that harness on when you go for a ride. Also your seat should have a mount tied into the cage. I do not think most people understand the amount a person moves around in an accident. Without a seat brace a seat can recline. This should be taken into account when considering if your head will hit a tube.

Great build and understand the look and function of a cage but they can be very dangerous when not designed or used with safety equipment. I have had Pro Street cars and every time I hit my head getting in and out I would think damn what would that feel like at speed.

Rich Lambert · Rich Lambert's Garage

Subscribed...this will be cool