Roll Cage Wanted

[944 man]

Roll Centre. Economically priced, although not as good as a Safety Devices part. At this sort of price a used one would be false economy, I think. Speaking of which, Ive seen one sell on eBay (from Buttercup), for virtually the new cost...

 

[chrisg]

Dear All

Having just got back from the Ring, I've decided to take the plunge and fit a bolt-in cage for safety. Anyone know of a second hand available or failing that recommend a good supplier ?

I have on-hand my brother who is handy at welding so installation and fitment isn't an issue.

Yours

Chris

 

[Paz]

EMC in B'ham are an authorised Safety Devices agent and they know their front4's well. http://www.emcmotorsport.co.uk/parts-shop/

 

[944 man]

They should be the only supplier in the UK. The SD cage is a good deal better, but its a damned sight dearer. That said; Kev isnt enthusiastic about any bolt in cage.

 

[CarreraRSR]

ORIGINAL: 944 man They should be the only supplier in the UK. The SD cage is a good deal better, but its a damned sight dearer. That said; Kev isnt enthusiastic about any bolt in cage.

Thats true. Kev refused to fit a bolt in cage in to mine, but also didn't want to weld one in as mines a street car first and didn't want to ruin it. Suggested Roll Centre as the place to go for a bolt in. Finalising a buy [link=http://www.porsche924.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5908&start=20]here[/link]

 

[edh]

Chris - why are you thinking about a cage? you're a has-been racer, not a wannabe racer [] - Or are you planning a full-on, stripped out track special now all the oily bits are working? I know this is a well worn debate, but is a cage in a road/occasional track car with 3 point belts & standard seats a good idea? If you do go for it, I'd definitely recommend the 2 part padding you saw in my Honda.

 

[chrisg]

Ed having been reminded of the joys but also potential pit falls of the Ring, I've decided to do two things: 1. Get the wheels and tyres sorted out so I'm running matching tyres and wheels all around on the Porsche and have appropriate spares without having to lug sets of wheels around Northern Europs 2. Improve the saftey of the car, a. Install a cage (min. rear half, possible full cage) with padding b. Race seats and harnesses. In this order, I will not be fitting 3/4/5 point harnesses until the seats are swopped Yours Chris

 

[edh]

245's on 9" all round? There's been debate on here about the limited value of a half cage in a 944 - with the suggestion that the most likely damage in a rollover is to the a-pillars. I can't say I felt any safer in my caged/harnessed Honda this year compared to the standard 944 last year. Maybe that has more to do with one being a solid German machine & the other a flimsy tin box []

 

[chrisg]

Ed, Ref. the wheels tyres at present my track day tyres are 205/55's on 7" and 225/50 on 8". I have the CS wheels that came with the car 7.5" and 9" but not keen on using them due to failure issues. Where possible I'd like to go 225/50's all around but not sure/ not convinced they'll fit on 7" front rims - D90's in 8" are very rare and very expensive ! My experience of handling is that the car is better balanced on 225's all round, but the front Goodyears kept going off half way through a lap at the ring. Do you know if 7" rear wheels will fit on the front of a 944 turbo ?

 

[edh]

I'd have thought you could pick up a set of S2 wheels (7 and 8) quite cheaply. I reckon £100-150 per set if you don't mind them being a bit tatty. Keep the 8's & sell the 4 x 7's to a 924/924S or 944 2.5 driver. AFAIK all the 7" D90 wheels were 52.3 offset Your clubsport wheels would sell for good money as well. I don't think failure is a big issue (I was there when Kurt's went) if the wheels are original & have not been refurbed. Did you see the pics on here recently of the ones where the front faces had been worn flat? [:-] I was very happy with 225/50 all round with p zero C's - the balance was very nice and I had loads of grip. You may get more traction issues with a road tyre like the T1-R Maybe the V70a is a good option - Craig had those on his 328. Depends on how much wet weather use you are planning...

 

[chrisg]

I'd have thought you could pick up a set of S2 wheels (7 and 8) quite cheaply. I reckon £100-150 per set if you don't mind them being a bit tatty. Keep the 8's & sell the 4 x 7's to a 924/924S or 944 2.5 driver. AFAIK all the 7" D90 wheels were 52.3 offset I already have a pair of 8" rear D90's with Yoko S306's on. and a pair of Teledial 7" ET55 ones for the front. I've now got 1 x 7" D90 for the front (actually a 964 part) and about to get another one. Your clubsport wheels would sell for good money as well. I don't think failure is a big issue (I was there when Kurt's went) if the wheels are original & have not been refurbed. Did you see the pics on here recently of the ones where the front faces had been worn flat? Fair comment, but for somewhere like the ring or spa I don't want to risk it either the car spinning off or not having a wheel to get home on ! I was there when Kurt broke his and ended up lending him one of mine to get home with !. I have thought about selling mine and just running the car on D90's for Road and track usage. I was very happy with 225/50 all round with p zero C's - the balance was very nice and I had loads of grip. You may get more traction issues with a road tyre like the T1-R Maybe the V70a is a good option - Craig had those on his 328. Depends on how much wet weather use you are planning...

Yeah I was looking at those as an option - they're (for my budget) quite pricey at ~ £500 for a set.

 

[rickware]

I have a roll centre cage and it's easily fitted but if you have a sunroof you need to either cut the roof lining or fit some spacers on the hoop as it needs to go further forward than it is was designed to. very cheap though I paid £350 for mine

 

[chrisg]

Rick thanks for letting me know about this, luckily my 951 has no sunroof so the spacing won't be an issue. The £350 you paid was that for a half cage or a full cage ? Does yours have the removal diaganol bar ? How much does it intrude into the rear space ? Yours C

 

[CarreraRSR]

ORIGINAL: rickware I have a roll centre cage and it's easily fitted but if you have a sunroof you need to either cut the roof lining or fit some spacers on the hoop as it needs to go further forward than it is was designed to. very cheap though I paid £350 for mine

Any pics of the install?

 

[944 man]

A rear only costs about £160 (ex. VAT) for 'National' spec tube IIRC: the FIA 'big hoop spec about £230 ex. A complete 'National spec cage with door bars and fitting kit will be about £370 plus VAT.

 

[rickware]

its a full cage, go here for video that shows roll cage quite well. (now on silver 964 turbo wheels as orange ones are for track use!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLvW5hcj4XI

 

[CarreraRSR]

Seen that video before. Real nice car and the arch extensions are spot on. You said you tilted the rear hoop forward. Does this clear the catches on the sunroof (not sure if you have them of the 951?) I guess the top bar now sits a 1/3 into the sunroof space. Did you ask Roll Centre if the top bar could adjusted to avoid the sunroof space?

 

[944 man]

Id be interested to hear how exactly the rear fitted, because I bought a cage when I didnt have a sunroof, but the part will end up in a car that does...

 

[rickware]

there isn't much to add as it just fits with a sunroof car and on the hoop ends you just have to make up a 4mm plate, weld that to the floor and then weld the hoop to the plate. I haven't welded mine yet as not got round to it but it is all prepared. the alternative is to fit it with the sunroof open so it all sits where it is supposed to and then grind about 2 inches at the sides of the sun roof where it hits. If you dont want to grind a gully then it does shut enough to keep it water tight if you don't mind it not being flush with the roof but i suggest a plate. Only thing to add is take a seat out when fitting the rear as it is miles easier.