Who builds cages in the DFW area?

[MoonieGT]

Starting my research on caging my '99. Who builds cages around here? Anyone not to use?

Also, I would love to hear any advice regarding configuration. This car will not be a spec miata. I want to increase safety and I would like working windows if possible.

Thanks

[shanem]

do yourself a favor and whoever builds it for you, be sure they build it so you can still use the dead pedal. having that blocked is the most irritating part of the cage in my track car. As for suggestions on who to use, i can't help you there. Good luck!

[HudsonHawk]

Call Baertrax in Dallas. They are a 4x4/offroad vehicle shop. But they have extensive experience building custom cages.
Josh is the owner and likes a challenge. I would and have trusted my life to their work.

www.baertrax.com

[MoonieGT]

Thanks Hudson, I'll look into that.

[HudsonHawk]

I just talked to Josh. He is interested in doing the work.

Tell him John Stone recommended him. BTW:I do not get anything out of this. This is just a great place to get exceptional work done at a fair and honest price.

[MoonieGT]

I'll give him a call sometime soon to talk about it. I'm not sure that I'm ready to drop the car off this week or anything. Just trying to see what my options are. I do appreciate the recommendation.

[HudsonHawk]

I understand. I just wanted to make sure he was interested.

[MoonieGT]

For comment: see my thread at the pointy board http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=486975

For a car that will be driven to/from events, this, or at least something that employs the center support like the one in post #6 of the linked thread, seems to be a safer solution than having bars at the corners of the roll bar. Any thoughts on a "street" cage? With a setup along those lines while wearing a harness in a proper seat, I can't see how that would be unreasonably dangerous on the street on the way to an event?

[HudsonHawk]

I like the cage in the pics. Useful and stout enough to protect the occupants.

[HudsonHawk]

How does it attach to the floor and door sills?

[MoonieGT]

That cage is welded in at all points.

[HudsonHawk]

The one issue I would be concerned about would be folding of the bar at the corners of the windshield. It is unsupported and will be weaker than an edge supported cage. The center beam and rear bar would still protect the occupants in that case. It is attached to the A-Pillar on the windshiled so it will be arguably stronger then just the windshield frame so will be safer than no cage at all.

[MoonieGT]

Agreed. At least the X-bar in the door attaches up the vertical support a bit.

[TexasStig]

Matt Lemons @ Lemco Motorsport did the cage in our CRX. Awesome job:

http://www.lemcomotorsports.com/

[modernbeat]

Starting my research on caging my '99. Who builds cages around here? Anyone not to use?

Avoid Taylor Motorsports / Taylor Rotorsports. This cage was built by Chris Taylor. Cage Pics

[ken o]

Avoid Taylor Motorsports / Taylor Rotorsports. This cage was built by Chris Taylor. Cage Pics

So much fail.

[HudsonHawk]

Avoid Taylor Motorsports / Taylor Rotorsports. This cage was built by Chris Taylor. Cage Pics

Wow. I can weld better than that and I can barely weld. That is scary.

[SirHustlerEsq]

This is one of the best cages I've ever seen. Note the stand-offs for the floor mounts in the front, the bracing around the driver's head, and the door bars are window compliant.









There's also this thread on Andrew Kidd's car. You can see how tight the cage fits on the A pillars, the general load path, and some other little tricks. The only additions I'd make are 3 attachment points from the door bar to the door sill.

Good luck finding someone to do this kind of quality work in Dallas. I see more bad cages than good ones.

[SirHustlerEsq]

For comment: see my thread at the pointy board http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=486975

For a car that will be driven to/from events, this, or at least something that employs the center support like the one in post #6 of the linked thread, seems to be a safer solution than having bars at the corners of the roll bar. Any thoughts on a "street" cage? With a setup along those lines while wearing a harness in a proper seat, I can't see how that would be unreasonably dangerous on the street on the way to an event?

If you put the car on the roof, that front bar will bend.

[SirHustlerEsq]

Whoa, Lemco does good work. the only additon I'd like to see is a bar from the base of the a-pillar to the fire wall to help save your feet. Edit: He did that on the white Porsche. Go to that guy.