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Damn True
01-13-2006, 11:01 AM
In a unit body cage installation there are essentially two methods of attaching the cage to the body.

Floor plates: A 6"x"6" or so plate hammered to fit the contour of the floor and welded in place. Cage tubing is welded to the plate.

or

Outriggers: A section of 2"x2" or 2"x4" stock is welded in place between the welded in SFC and a plate welded to the rocker assy. Then the cage tubing is welded to the outrigger.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/01/rb10-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/01/rb11-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/01/rb6-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/01/rb13-1.jpg



Any thoughts on this outrigger system? I don't see it used very often, but it seems like it might do a better job of tying the cage to the actual structure of the car than a plate merely welded to the unit-body sheetmetal flooring.

rockdogz
01-13-2006, 04:23 PM
I used the plate method for the main hoop, and then welded the two smaller bars off the main hoop (sorry don't know if they have a name) to my subframe connectors through holes in the floor.

Matt@RFR
01-13-2006, 09:17 PM
That's essentially how full tube frame chassis' are designed; A series of outriggers that the cage picks up, which also makes up the floor/seat mounts/harness mounts. The attached picture isn't the greatest to show this, but you'll get the idea. The frame rails on this car are 24" apart.

Personally, I believe the frame rails are there for a reason (rigidity), and the rest of the chassis should make use of them as much as possible.