OK, I've solved the problem. The door armrests were the problem. I will just take them out when I put in the door bars for track use.

New problem:

I've already burnt through 2 titanium drill bits drilling the holes for this thing. Does anybody have any recomendations for bits that will hold up to the task of drilling these things?

 

M42 cobalt drill bits will last much longer. For this application, the Titanium Nitride coating does nothing.

 

Excelent. I was going to buy some cobalt bits. Do you know any stores that would carry that?

 

Stores? I get them online, from MSC, Enco, J&L Industrial, or even McMaster-Carr, to name a few. Fastenal might also have them. AceHomeDepotLowes might have some (perhaps the Bosch brand, or Vermont American).

 

I'm going to check at home lowes today. Hopefully I can get what i need. The instructions are telling my to make a 1/4" pilot hole and then bore it out with the 3/8" bit. Is this what you would recomend, or should I go to something smaller and work up from that?

 

drill the two holes. also use some cutting oil to keep the bit cool. they will stay sharper and will last longer. i also used a 1/2" drill with side handle. it will help a lot when drilling over your head. a 3/8' drill will work, but take a bit longer. hope that helps.

Chad
Detroit Tuned

 

All done.

 

Let us check it out !

Some photos please

 

I still have to clean up the mess inside my car and put my seats back in...

 

Pics of the cage w/o the interior reinstalled...

 

Nicley done . Those rear side pieces are a beaaatch to get back in but get another pair of hands in there and use force

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Hey guys I just picked up one of these cages today for $290.00 shipped off of ebay. I have some modding to do becuase it has the nascar style door bars and I am just using it for auto x and track days.

 

Good deal on a nice product. The only real variable would be if it was for a sunroof or non sunroof equipped car and how that fits your application.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I am not sure, but don't mind. There is a good fab guy in my area that can take care of that problem if it arises.

 

Well you have at least a 50% chance it's the right one for your car. You got a screaming deal on that cage.

 

Yes I did. Crashton, where is Hooterville, Ohio? I live in Defiance and go to BGSU.

 

Ya know, where Sam Drucker has the General store and Post Office near the train station. Close by are Pixley and Crabwell Corners.

 

Ohhh ya, I know where it is now. Thanks Nate.

 

If you have any issues give Rick a call at Autopower 619 297 3300 and he can give you the proper mod measurments to make things even easier.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

by death cage do you mean people overestimate it on the track? and will a rear bar make the car safer on the street as far as roll over so long as it doesnt effect the airbags?

 

I don't see how a rear bar, or just a roll hoop triangulated behind the seats will allow for the side curtain to fully deploy. It will stiffen the rear of the car. Addition of a harness bar to the roll bar adds a safe mounting point for harnesses.

A full cage for the street could be dangerous. If not padded correctly one can do some real damage to their head. In a side impact your leg could hit the front downtube and try to wrap around it. For street use a full cage IMHO is a bad idea. At the track you have a safety crew thats there in minutes to extricate you in the event of an incident. The street is a lot different.

I'd not hesitate to install a properly engineered roll bar with harness and cross bars for a street driven car that sees a fair amount of track use.

Of course there are exceptions, my Ruf Porsche (from lottery winnings) will be speced with the Ruf fully upholstered cage installed.

 

Nate you win the prize. An all expenses paid night at the Shady Rest.

Hooterville's zip is 43081.....

 

- Thanks Randy

-Nate, I wish that I could hit the lottery and buy myself a Ruf Porsche!

-Thanks Crashton.

 

3 things regarding this statement:
1-I hate you
2-Can you post some pics?
3-I hate you

 

I dont think he won the lottery yet? whishful thinking I thought.. if NOT gnaster you live in dallas right?