picked up the cage today

[freightdriver]

went down to chassisworks today and picked up a 8pt cage 


anyone have suggestions for a tubing notcher and such? this is my first go around with building cages i'll be fitting,tacking everything and having a good friend use my lincoln 250 to burn it in...

mounted a pair of alum rci's with sliders in last week so far so good the further i'm getting into this thing its turning into one big snowball 

[Crazy68Dart]

If you don't want to invest in a tubing notcher, you can use a grinding wheel on an angle grinder.  That is what I have been doing.  It takes a little more time I suppose, but you can tweak in the notches pretty nicely.

[Capt Jack]

the further i'm getting into this thing its turning into one big snowball 

I think that could be the motto of our chosen hobby   

good luck.
pics for sure

['73Dusta]

If there's a Harbor Freight near by, check them out.  They sell one that mounts to a drill or drill press that looks like it would do the trick.

[mopowers]

If there's a Harbor Freight near by, check them out.  They sell one that mounts to a drill or drill press that looks like it would do the trick.

That's the one I used.  Here is the link:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42324

I actually bought it used off craigslist for $15.  It worked fine.  I did have to modify the clamping mechanism in order to hold the tubing perfect square to the hole saw.  Just make sure you use good hole saw and some oil.  And I like to grease the shaft/bushing before every cut.  Oh Yeah, I didn't even use a drill press.  I just clamped it horizontially into a bench vise and used my heavy duty electric drill.  Just make sure you hold on to that son of a bitch so it doesn't twist you arm into a pretzel. 

[Prodart]

If it's the 'old' Lincoln 250 stick welder then it won't certify if that matters to you. 

[bOb shingler]

notch 'em with a table band saw. you'll need some magnets to hold the tubes.

[jet-taz]

i trick i used to make fish mouths was to take some masking tape and wrap the out side of a tube with the sticky side up then wrap some more over that with the sticky side down. to make a template of the od of the tube then cut out a fish mount on the temp.piece, and then you just slide over any of the tubes and trace out the fish mouth on the the piece your cutting. save a lot of time

[freightdriver]

thanks for the tips guys next weekend i'll build some frame connectors and outriggers... was going to do it today but went snowboarding instead


the welders a lincoln WireMatic 255 Mig

[abqdart]

 Just make sure you hold on to that son of a bitch so it doesn't twist you arm into a pretzel. 

Ain't that the truth!!

[freightdriver]

worked on my 2x3 connectors yesterday should finish em up sometime today    prolly start fitting the main hoop afterwords going to need alil persuasion with the hydraulic bender but its relatively close...

so as far as the main hoop goes
-6inchs from seat max
-how much clearance will i need to put the headliner back in?

main bar
- 4inch's below shoulders max?

i've got a rulebook handy just making sure my interperetations are correct


i'll try and snap some pics as a i go along today car looks funny as all get out stock with the alum seats 

[Scamp 408]

How many pages does the rule book have on a 6 pt bar ?Still waiting on my book.

[mopowers]

How many pages does the rule book have on a 6 pt bar ?Still waiting on my book.

A roll bar is required in any convertible running 13.49 seconds or quicker in the quarter mile, and in other cars beginning at 11.49. The roll bar is accepted in vehicles running as quick as 10.00 second e.t., provided the stock firewall and floorboard is intact, other than for installation of wheel tubs. The rollbar must be constructed of minimum 1 ¾ inch o.d. x .118 inch wall mild steel tubing, or 1 ¾ x .083 chrome moly tubing, and must conform to the following diagram:
NRHA Roll Bar

If the floor and/or firewall has been modified, then a full roll cage is required beginning at a 10.99 e.t. A full roll cage is required in any vehicle running 9.99 seconds or quicker, and any vehicle running 135 mph or faster (regardless of e.t.). The roll cage must be constructed of minimum 1 5/8 o.d.x .118 mild steel tubing, or 1 5/8 x .083 chrome moly tubing, and must conform to the following diagram:
NRHA Roll Bar
The roll cage of any vehicle running 9.99 or quicker, or 135 mph or faster, must also be certified by NHRA every 3 years, and have a serialized sticker affixed prior to participation.

[A13Dart]

I put an Alston roll bar in a road runner years back.  The main hoop was a great fit.

I bought a Dale Wilch tubing notcher, don't remember what I paid but it works great.  Need to use good quality hole saws and keep the drill speed low.

[freightdriver]

pretty much completed the frame connectors cut out alil bit more of the floor then i should've but for the first time doing anything close to this they turned out great. took out the headliner, rear window and door panels today maybe tommarrow i'll make some outriggers and see about this cage ordeal 

[Scamp 408]

Got started today and I got another ? for you guys .Do all the 1/8 plates have to be 6x6 or just the main hoop? I see in some of the pics that the rear plates look smaller.

[freightdriver]

figured i'd give y'all alil update ended up saying fuck it and the cars at a friends fab shop... the main hoop chassiswork's gives  is too wide and hits right below the windows  so we bent up a new main hoop and made outriggers today hopefully by monday it'll pretty much be finished and i'll take some pictures... up till now everything's pretty much the same as anyone else's except for me having a 1/8th in gap in the cuts i made for the connectors  lesson learned though


round 2 2marrow going to be one long ass day...

note to anyone buying a cage kit chassisworks kit looks like it was designed for a duster/demon....   

[abqdart]

Good luck even though it may be slow going at least it's going. Mine is getting close to running and driving, been 10 years in the making.....it will happen, just like the Giants say, perseverance!

[freightdriver]

aslong as the money keeps coming in its not a big deal i've been stripping most of the body lately all windows,trim,interior are already gutted and my motor and tranny are ready to drop in when the time comes. only two things that i can foresee holding me back is the paint shop and building the truck dana 60...


hows bout them patriots  we've got a diehard patriots fan in the house and its been halarious givin him shit nonstop...

[mopowers]

note to anyone buying a cage kit chassisworks kit looks like it was designed for a duster/demon....   

Chassisworks has a cool little worksheet to fill out for a custon cage.  That's what I used in my 66.  This thing fits like a freakin glove.  I know it's too late for you, but maybe to people reading this, it's definitely the way to go.

[Scamp 408]

My s/w kit was a good fit with little mods.

[montanamopar]

I welded my front and main hoops directly to outriggers welded to subframe and bodysubframe