Cage Mock Up, Pics

[Crazy68Dart]

This is what I did for my floor plates.  Got the main hoop trimmed to size and tacked into place.  Working on getting the kickers fitted up to stabilize it some more before moving on.

[440dstr]

lookin good

[HB69DART]

Looks very good. Excellent fabrication and welding. Continue to take your time on the rest of it..... It looks like something you will be proud of when it's done 

[abodyjoe]

nice.

[Bakaruda]

I looked at all the pics in your folder. The work looks great.

[johndart]

   Man does that look good. Where is he folder with other pictures? 

[4spdfury]

nice welding. you should have made  the floor plates go onto the inner rocker it ties the body ito the sytem and it is alot stronger

[Ciscodog]

Looks good Andy!

[70 Dustpan]

Yes, nice work Andy.

[Capt Jack]

gah!  youre doing that all wrong!!!!!!.....it's supposed to be in MY CAR!!! 

joshin ya...looks awesome! 

[Gospel Runner]

That looks awsome. Are you migging or tigging? Why does welding to rockers make it stronger? Putting them further out would create a funky angle, no? Explain or show a pic of what you are talking about! Keep up the good work and keep the pics coming. Thanks!!!

[Crazy68Dart]

I appreciate the comments.  I am not quite sure what he was saying about the rocker deal either.  There will be the kickers out to the frame rails, which will make it plenty strong.

Just MIG,  Lincoln 175.  I would love to get TIG welder some day, but I just can't justify it right now, unless a deal of a lifetime came about.  It could have much been better, but not bad for a guy that writes code all day.  The one corner needed some fill as the floor was slightly thin and I blew a hole in it.  That is why it is sort of buggered up looking in the top left corner.  No matter, I don't think it is going anywhere.

[fasttcars]

that's a pretty clean mig job..

[69 GTS Clonvertible]

Looks good, but I thought that the cage was supposed to tie into the frame or sub-frame connectors? Maybe if you took a picture of the underside connection. Is there a frame or subframe outrigger, that the plate is above? Or is the plate just welded to the floorpan? Just wondering.
OH! I just read your last post you are putting kickers or what I call outriggers under neath to support the plates.

[jamesdart]

the only way to tie it inot the rocker is by running an outrigger from the frame connectors to the rockers and plating the rocker with a 1/8 plate. generally you would use the same material as the frame connectors, 2x3 with the 3" side being verticle.  the plates will  work just fine and im sure no tech guy will have a problem with it.

[Gospel Runner]

What is an outrigger? Do you have any pics of this so I can visualize this? Thanks!!!

[Crazy68Dart]

They are talking about adding some stock between the frame connector and rocker, directly under the floor plate.  I really didn't think this was necessary with the addition of the "kickers" from the main hoop to the top of the frame connectors inside the car.

[Gospel Runner]

In my 70 Dart race car my cage is welded directly to my tube frame. The inspector didn't even look under my car. Your welds look as good as any in my car which was professionally done. Thanks again for sharing.

[69 GTS Clonvertible]

They are talking about adding some stock between the frame connector and rocker, directly under the floor plate. I really didn't think this was necessary with the addition of the "kickers" from the main hoop to the top of the frame connectors inside the car.

OH! I believe I understand what you are going to do. Sounds like you are going to tie the hoop that is welded to the plate with kickers or tube gussets to the sub-frame connectors at an angle inside the car above the floor pan. sort of like;
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[jamesdart]

yeah the outriggers would tie the rocker to the frame connector and they would penetrate the floor too.  the main hoop would sit right on top of the outrigger. it just is one more way to help stiffen things up. it works good since the rocker is somewhat of  a structural member in a unibody car.

[A13Dart]

yeah the outriggers would tie the rocker to the frame connector and they would penetrate the floor too.  the main hoop would sit right on top of the outrigger.

I have seen it done like this except the outrigger had holes cut in it with a hole saw. The main hoop slid into these holes and was welded on top and bottom, rather than the hoop sitting on top of the outrigger. Probably overkill though.

Nice work Crazy68, the floor plates are plenty good for the nhra.

[the340man4ever]

I really appreciate you posting the pictures of your plates. They look really nice. I was having a little trouble with mine until I saw how you welded yours. It looks like you spot welded it all the way aroud? Is that how you did it? I admire your work. Hope mine looks as nice as yours. Thanks again.

[Crazy68Dart]

Hey, thanks.  Yes for the most part.  To run a solid bead on the floor is tough, just because it gets so hot that it wants to blow through.  I also always move around when I do any welding, just to not overheat any one part too much (at least try not to...).

The plates are rolled a little on the side to sort of roll up the side of the pan into the rocker.  You cannot really tell that, but I used my vise as a "break" and contoured the plate to fit the floor pan on the outsides.

[440dstr]

I really appreciate you posting the pictures of your plates. They look really nice. I was having a little trouble with mine until I saw how you welded yours. It looks like you spot welded it all the way aroud? Is that how you did it? I admire your work. Hope mine looks as nice as yours. Thanks again.

welcome to                                           BBDthe340man4ever