I Need Help From the Community

[rustomatic]

Hi Rob,

First off, thank you for your service. My normal response would be that you should take up welding and every other part of automotive work on this car for the hobby to really serve you right, but I know that as a soldier, it is probably nearly impossible for you to find the time. With that said, the real problem is not really clear with the installation (short of missing what you thought was an ideal installation point).

Yes, the MIG welds may have been cleaner, but they don't look too bad from the pictures. As for placement, it looks like the installer chose the most logical place in the floor to land the main hoop (given landing points--he landed the tubes where they would have the most metal for support and resistance to pushing through); additionally, you do not want that thing closer to the seats, if that was your aim. Even if you're using fixed-back seats, your head and possible needs for adjustment will be happy for any extra space between seats and bar; the crossbar will be plenty close for belt wrapping and a seat back brace (if you plan to install one).



As for burning through sheetmetal, it is very easy to do, especially with "vintage" sheetmetal. A very good pro will still do it, even if he/she says it never happens. Welding is literally melting metal, or more specifically, controlling a molten pool of metal. This is why the angle grinder is the #2 tool in the welding process. I am by no means an expert, however, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Remember that it's a hotrod, and that perfection is out of the range of most of our budgets. Perfection is out of the range of any machine, really, and it's for sure out of the range of any person operating a machine . . .

Step away and aim for perspective from multiple angles. Compare to other cars. My Falcon is on its second cage . . .

Edit: It looks like the dude welded non-clean metal (too much burned crud, meaning paint/dirt). That's a huge wrong, but it's not necessarily going to kill the integrity of the welds.

[badazz81z28]

Hi Rob,

First off, thank you for your service. My normal response would be that you should take up welding and every other part of automotive work on this car for the hobby to really serve you right, but I know that as a soldier, it is probably nearly impossible for you to find the time. With that said, the real problem is not really clear with the installation (short of missing what you thought was an ideal installation point).

Yes, the MIG welds may have been cleaner, but they don't look too bad from the pictures. As for placement, it looks like the installer chose the most logical place in the floor to land the main hoop (given landing points--he landed the tubes where they would have the most metal for support and resistance to pushing through); additionally, you do not want that thing closer to the seats, if that was your aim. Even if you're using fixed-back seats, your head and possible needs for adjustment will be happy for any extra space between seats and bar; the crossbar will be plenty close for belt wrapping and a seat back brace (if you plan to install one).

As for burning through sheetmetal, it is very easy to do, especially with "vintage" sheetmetal. A very good pro will still do it, even if he/she says it never happens. Welding is literally melting metal, or more specifically, controlling a molten pool of metal. This is why the angle grinder is the #2 tool in the welding process. I am by no means an expert, however, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Remember that it's a hotrod, and that perfection is out of the range of most of our budgets. Perfection is out of the range of any machine, really, and it's for sure out of the range of any person operating a machine . . .

Step away and aim for perspective from multiple angles. Compare to other cars. My Falcon is on its second cage . . .

Edit: It looks like the dude welded non-clean metal (too much burned crud, meaning paint/dirt). That's a huge wrong, but it's not necessarily going to kill the integrity of the welds.

Yeah, from a functionality stand-point the roll bar will do it's job. The issue was if that was just what I was going for, I could have bought a $150 universal kit. I really wanted the DSE bar mainly for the show stand-point and application specific. The DSE bar allows the installation of the stock side panels and the top of the hoop follows the B-pillar for an expert looking custom fit. I don't want it closer to the seats, the lower hoop feet move forward a couple inches and the bar leans more back. Then it will be perfectly aligned.

That's what I was looking for spending $700 on Detroit Speeds stuff. I would really like to learn how to weld, but like you mentioned I just don't have the time and moving a lot keeps my tool inventory to a minimum. I have managed to learned and do nearly everything else on my car...I just don't trust myself for things like welding structural even if I did have a welder.