Retrofitting Roll Cage
WallerZero - 16/12/15 at 08:30 AM
Hi all,
With planned winter upgrades hiking the power, I am looking into getting a roll cage retro fitted to my GBS Zero. Custom Cages have already been
struck from the list due to various poor reviews and what not.
Caged in Frome have been recommended and as they do a lot for Caterham, a good shout as well.
Does anyone have any recommendations for any other places around the midlands to enquire with? Also, for anyone with experience, what should I be
expecting to pay for this? Obviously you can't put a price on safety but it is a factor to consider.
Cheers,
femster87 - 16/12/15 at 08:54 AM
Why not use GBS's Cage?
redturner - 16/12/15 at 09:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by WallerZero
Hi all,
With planned winter upgrades hiking the power, I am looking into getting a roll cage retro fitted to my GBS Zero. Custom Cages have already been
struck from the list due to various poor reviews and what not.
Caged in Frome have been recommended and as they do a lot for Caterham, a good shout as well.
Does anyone have any recommendations for any other places around the midlands to enquire with? Also, for anyone with experience, what should I be
expecting to pay for this? Obviously you can't put a price on safety but it is a factor to consider.
Cheers,
Custom Cages are currently supplying cages to all the racing car teams that matter and are in the list of MSA approved suppliers. There is a one man
vendetta going on against Customs so dont be put off. He is publishing photos of some shitty welded tubes and saying that Custom put them together. I
would add that I have never bought a cage or am likely to do so. So dont write them off...
WallerZero - 16/12/15 at 09:36 AM
GBS are also an option I'm considering.
I've seen a few things about custom cages and feel they seem to focus on the bigger customers or race teams. Having not seen a Zero there I
reckon they'll want a fair bit for development work too potentially. However as said, cost is a factor and whilst planning to do this whilst the
car is off the road, transportation will also come into play so open to things if anyone has some positive feedback.
Last thing I want is to end up arguing over quality, especially if I'm expecting to hit the £1000 mark for a fully fitted cage plus transport
etc.
Rosco86 - 16/12/15 at 10:32 AM
give http://www.tube-bender.co.uk/ a try, hes not far from you either
Doctor Derek Doctors - 16/12/15 at 10:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Rosco86
give http://www.tube-bender.co.uk/ a try, hes not far from you either
Tom the Tube Bender did the hoops for my single seater. Very happy with the service.
nick205 - 16/12/15 at 02:50 PM
I've heard good things about caged myself.
Are you thinking bolt in or weld in?
My preference would be weld in for strength, but that would mean a lot of strip down to achieve well.
CosKev3 - 16/12/15 at 04:09 PM
MK's cage is one of the nicest looking ones available IMO,and they will do custom fits as they had a Mac1 in the workshop having one fitted when
I was there one day.
Spud1985 - 16/12/15 at 09:03 PM
SA Motorsport / SA Fabrications installed a custom full cage for my Mac1 earlier in the year, top bloke and great service.
They're in Hinckley, LE10
theduck - 16/12/15 at 09:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by redturner
quote:
Originally posted by WallerZero
Hi all,
With planned winter upgrades hiking the power, I am looking into getting a roll cage retro fitted to my GBS Zero. Custom Cages have already been
struck from the list due to various poor reviews and what not.
Caged in Frome have been recommended and as they do a lot for Caterham, a good shout as well.
Does anyone have any recommendations for any other places around the midlands to enquire with? Also, for anyone with experience, what should I be
expecting to pay for this? Obviously you can't put a price on safety but it is a factor to consider.
Cheers,
Custom Cages are currently supplying cages to all the racing car teams that matter and are in the list of MSA approved suppliers. There is a one man
vendetta going on against Customs so dont be put off. He is publishing photos of some shitty welded tubes and saying that Custom put them together. I
would add that I have never bought a cage or am likely to do so. So dont write them off...
There is far more negative comments about custom then just the guy posting pictures of the welds. Lots of people complaining about poor service.
TimC - 16/12/15 at 11:21 PM
Procomp in Birmingham.
nick205 - 17/12/15 at 02:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by TimC
Procomp in Birmingham.
Again, heard good things about Procomp!
gaz_gaz - 17/12/15 at 04:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by CosKev3
MK's cage is one of the nicest looking ones available IMO,and they will do custom fits as they had a Mac1 in the workshop having one fitted when
I was there one day.
Beauty most definitely in the eye of the beholder
Not a fan of the MK cage at all.
CosKev3 - 17/12/15 at 08:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gaz_gaz
quote:
Originally posted by CosKev3
MK's cage is one of the nicest looking ones available IMO,and they will do custom fits as they had a Mac1 in the workshop having one fitted when
I was there one day.
Beauty most definitely in the eye of the beholder
Not a fan of the MK cage at all.
Each to there own 
Suppose you like the pencil thin ones that sit 6 foot above your head?!?!?
WallerZero - 18/12/15 at 08:18 AM
Thanks for all the replies guys 
I've had a look at the MK cage and agree it looks good, but as with everything everyone sees things differently. I'll give some of these
guys a call in the new year to see what they say.
I'm planning a complete strip down with this engine build so having it back to pretty much the chassis is not an issue, just transporting the
chassis is lol. Will be going for weld in for strength. Bolt in would be nice to take on and off at will but tbh I think I'd rather have it there
and know it is all a single unit rather than hope the bolts hold as well! Spent a lot on time trying to figure out a retrofitted cage for a project at
uni which gave a lot of headaches as they wanted it to be adjustable!?! Only option was bolt in and have several cage designs/aero add-ons! But
I'd rather leave my safety to professionals lol.
I need a couple other bits addressed with the chassis in regards to extra bracing and strengthening/stiffening so may look to include that as well
Rosco86 - 18/12/15 at 10:52 AM
quote:
Originally posted by WallerZero
aero add-ons
please tell me more!!
MikeR - 18/12/15 at 12:19 PM
Before you fit a cage, decide what you want it for & what you might be interested in doing in a couple of years.
Some cages may not pass scrutineering if you decide to sprint / race.
Its also important to make sure they join the chassis in a sensible place - putting a join in the middle of tube isn't clever (i have seen
luckily only a few do that).
I've not dealt with any supplier in years but did have a very good experience with ProComp in the past and hence rate them.
WallerZero - 18/12/15 at 12:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rosco86
quote:
Originally posted by WallerZero
aero add-ons
please tell me more!!
It was only simple things like a top mounted rear wing/flap and potentially looking at using the roll cage to essentially be a frame for a hard top.
It was quickly just switched to a bolt in design as the crash safety work would take up a lot of the project time.
Well to be honest I think with the car as it is, I don't fit any regulations for any race series and for the idea of a doing sprints or hill
climbs I think are more than just a few years off but would probably want to use a single seater and maybe look at that route for competitions.
I've only just started planning Christmas! Don't stand a chance planning for competitions in 5+years haha
stevec33 - 28/12/15 at 11:34 AM
Has anyone ever heard of existing rear rac type cages being converted to a full cage? Ive thought about this but not sure if its been done or is
possible
foggy@smr - 25/1/16 at 06:50 AM
Westfield welded in rear roll bar with Caged bolt on front section. Ex BARC Westfield race series car.
Westfield Linky Pic