Thread: roll cage tubing

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i am attempting to build a tube chassis for my anglia. i am about to pull my hair out on what type material to use for the cage. i am wanting a mild stell chassis for the simple fact i do not own a tig welder for chromemoly. i have been told d.o.m. is best, and then carbon steel is the best, and then h.r.e.w. 10-20 is the best. are these just personal prefenence by an individual, or is one actually better than the rest? i just learned that a pipe bender will not bend tubing, of coarse i had to buy one to learn that. i just dont want to buy 700.00 worth of scrap steel. any input is greatly appreciated, THANKS.

Chrome moly like what is used in bicycle frames is the best, it's very springy and has a high tensile strength. I think it's 4130.

Oh, nm, I didn't read your whole post.

Hot Rolled Electric Weld is easy to obtain, best price and easy to work with. Use 11ga. (.120 wall). That is what my Anglia chassis is made of.

Could you do an oxy acetylene weld on ChroMo?

thanks for the great advice everyone, and yes richard i would like your input on a design for my chassis. i am a good fabricator and a real good welder, so i am not worried about that aspect of my project. but i have no idea what will pass tech, i will only run a few times a year at an ihra track. they are not to picky as to what is runat this particular track. i had a 225" comp dragster and they never got any closer than 50 feet away at tech. but i do want it to be as safe, and correct as i can get it. i am looking to be in the mid to upper 9.00 second bracket, and still be able to drive on the street. i am on a extreme budget and tig welding is out. i already own a mig welder. as far as resale value, the car has been my fathers for 25 years, i will have it the rest of my life.
thanks again!

I got the SFI Foundation Inc. Specs. for my car through this site
http://www.sfifoundation.com
I called them, told them what kind of car I was building, how fast it might go, and they sent me a book. It has roll cage specs. Tubeing size and wall thickness requirments, Color coded cage designs and other usefull info.

Like this tech ?

Let me try this again

O.K. I guess you mean the DRIVERS left, not the picture's left

Last time I but in on a drawing

Naw it was my fault, I'm jumping around on three boards, left or right is always from drivers seat.

...the pre made kits they sell use .134 wall tubing just to make sure that your on the safe side when it comes to being .118 on the bends.... Bill....

I would like to add that I would like to see that bar mounted about 6 inches to the right where it intersects the the front of the cage,although any triangle adds lots of stiffness, I feel that this bar is nothing more than cockpit penetration protection in a rollover,In a right side impact your head can & will move enough to impact this bar and I can tell ya from first hand experiance that it hurts. I would also like to see this bar with an arch in it,enough that it contacts the roof skin to gain ya as much head room as possible....

Originally posted by DennyW
Thanks Viking for the drawing make over.

NP, good luck with it and keep us posted with pics