Bolt On Roll Cages

[Richo]

I have a bolt on cage (cusco) on my r32 and I was wondering if it would be worth modifying by

welding more members to them, ie a bar across the main loop to reinforce it.

Have any of you have done this? any pics of your handy work?

Cheers

Ric

[t01-100]

I personally wouldn't spend too much on a Cusco cage if adding bars, if you wanted something better, particularly the front legs I would sell that one and buy a Bond one (under $1500 for R32). They do a harness bar and diagonal in the centre hoop and are CAMS approved.

The removable Bond ones are constructed of mild steel and Cusco are chromoly from memory.

I had a bolt in one from Maitland Fabrications in my GTR... would always weldin now, but thats not practical for some people.

Edited July 20, 2007 by t01-100

[Richo]

thanks for your comment,

I didnt spend that much on the cage, i bought it second hand, and weld a bar through the main loop and perhaps a harness bar between the rear legs is not going to cost much at all, about $150 for both.

But I though id ask if is going to help strenghten the cage or is just a waste of money and time.

Cheers

Ric

[t01-100]

a diagonal in the centre hoop will certainly help stiffen the car and would be handy if the car was turned over.

the R32s that I've seen doing track work with R tyres without front legs usually highlight front chassis flex by popping dash vents and or cracking windscreens!

[MBS206]

I personally wouldn't spend too much on a Cusco cage if adding bars, if you wanted something better, particularly the front legs I would sell that one and buy a Bond one (under $1500 for R32). They do a harness bar and diagonal in the centre hoop and are CAMS approved.

The removable Bond ones are constructed of mild steel and Cusco are chromoly from memory.

I had a bolt in one from Maitland Fabrications in my GTR... would always weldin now, but thats not practical for some people.

Gimme Chromoly anyday over mild steel for a roll cage.

Chromoly can be a bit of a bitch to weld sometimes.

[Beer Baron]

actually nearly all the cusco/safety 21 cages are steel, not chro-mo. though they do have some models available in chro-mo.

I have a cusco 8 point which has a horizontal bar between the rear legs (above the strut towers) and has a diagonal bar running from the top of the hoop to the strut tower.

[GUN_METAL_GTR32]

chro mo is way lighter than steel but. and if u know how to weld u will have no probs.

[Richo]

I have a cusco 8 point which has a horizontal bar between the rear legs (above the strut towers) and has a diagonal bar running from the top of the hoop to the strut tower.

Mine is the same but doesnt have the horizontal bar between the rear legs (harness bar), thats one of the thing I was planning to do to it.

Is it better to weld a horizontal bar through the midle of the main loop? , or is it better to make it a diagonal from one top corner of the loop to the bottom of the opposite corner? If that makes sense..

Cheers

Ric

[R31Nismoid]

I would have it inspected to be honest.

Its highly likely the Jap cage is more dangerous than not having a cage at all

[Beer Baron]

Mine is the same but doesnt have the horizontal bar between the rear legs (harness bar), thats one of the thing I was planning to do to it.

Is it better to weld a horizontal bar through the midle of the main loop? , or is it better to make it a diagonal from one top corner of the loop to the bottom of the opposite corner? If that makes sense..

Cheers

Ric

Mine has the diagonal from the top corner to the bottom of the opposite corner (but going from hoop to strut tower. So the rear half has the main hoop, two straight legs going back to the strut tower, horizontal bar between those two legs, diagonal from hoop to strut tower.