Cage to floor interface

[Damn True]

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.







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]

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]

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.