Protege03ak46's Build Thread

[Protege03ak46]

Its wrapped up and in the my teachers office now

A little update...

The design I chose for my cage will be the basic 4 point and is made of 1.5"x.120" DOM tube. The idea behind all the work is to shift as much weight as I can behind the drivers seat. Currently the car scales in at about 2450lbs with a F/R Balance of 54/46. So hopefully when I scale it at the end of next week it'll be a little closer 50/50! the Cage is almost complete, need to make harness bar and diagonal brace for the main hoop tomorrow and then it just needs to be finish welded. Also got my roommate reinforcing the Rear sub-frame by stitch welding the seams. Also gonna have him make a new brace that will be welded into the body and bolt into the sub-frame for serviceability.

Should be pretty sick all painted white to match the links!

About 6 months ago I attempted to get the heims off the prototype links and they just weren't budging, Vice + crescent wrench + 6ft piece of DOM = game over.

Gonna be interesting driving with a cage.

 

[Sleezer1533]

cool!

 

[ajkulish]

nice work

 

[Protege03ak46]

Thanks guys!

All that's left is the harness bar! Ill post pics of the rear sub frame brace in a bit. Its like the AutoEXE brace but more permanent. LOL.

 

[ajkulish]

that cage is killer. how much did all of this run you

 

[Protege03ak46]

$154.49 for everything. Although that doesn't include welding consumables.

Also forgot to add, cage meets and exceeds 2012 SCCA rules.

 

[ajkulish]

im sure it does, thing looks sturdy. i might like to take a swing at this. did you just mig weld?

 

[Protege03ak46]

It's all tacked in as of right now. I'll wait till metal fit is perfect and then finnish weld. It will be stitch welded using the MIG process which will look good and be very sturdy. I would of loved to TIG it but at this point in time I'm not 100% confident with my abilities on tube. The biggest hurtle is making the pads. Metal fit has to be 100% spot on otherwise you will blow through the thinner body. The biggest tip I have is to buy a proper tube bender, not a harbor freight pipe bender. Also buy some tube and practice making copings with a grinder. Practice welding the tube too, settings should be at about 21v and 220 wire speed for stitch welding tubing

 

[ajkulish]

thanks for all the heads up, my goal will probably be to make a cage similar to the autopower cage. kind of a half cage in a sort. im gonna try and keep the rear seats in while i do this... might be next year though.

 

[Protege03ak46]

This is my solution for Mazda's terribly designed sub-frame. The pads you see on top will be welded onto the hat channel that runs right above the sub-frame. Its bolted into place using the holes already drilled into the sub-frame. ill get a better picture when its welded into place.

 

[Protege03ak46]

thanks for all the heads up, my goal will probably be to make a cage similar to the autopower cage. kind of a half cage in a sort. im gonna try and keep the rear seats in while i do this... might be next year though.

For sure man. I got TONS of literature on cage design, LMK if you need any help...

 

[ajkulish]

thanks, i appreciate it. ill be hitting you up for sure.

 

[Protege03ak46]

As promised, pics of sub frame.

The brakets arnt even to account for the various Evap and Fuel lines

 

[ajkulish]

wow thats a pretty cool idea. how long did that take?

 

[Protege03ak46]

Thanks man! I can't wait to drive it.

It can be done with a 120 mig, grinder, cut off wheel, 1/2" drill and some hole saws. Was made with leftover metal from the cage.

 

[ajkulish]

id like to see some pics installed when you get it in

 

[rar40941]

Now you should paint the inside of the car some sick ass color and paint the engine bay that color and keep the car black. that would be cool

 

[ajkulish]

ftfy

 

[Protege03ak46]

Looks so ******* good underneath the car. Gotta get the pics from my buddy.

The cage is done, alignment is set right where I want it. 2.3 degrees of camber front and 1.2 rear. Just amazing. About to take every useless item out of the car and go for a drive.

 

[Lewis7789]

How was I not subbed to this yet?