Hello All,
I'm new here. I'm currently building a '69 Triumph GT6 vintage race car and I'm to the point where I need a roll cage fabricated. Does anyone have any race shop suggestions near the Milwaukee, WI area? I am not opposed to driving a reasonable distance either. I preferably would like to find someone that has experience with the GT6.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
In reply to GR5 :
You might want to get a Mod to put your location in the thread title.
In my experiences you first want someone who has experience in building road race roll cages. Knowing where to locate the mounting points (for safety and performance), and being a very good welder are first. Finding a GT6 specific person may be a unicorn.
In reply to GR5 :
Most of the circle track guys who have been doing it for a decade or more do really good work. They completely understand keeping it light and yet strong . It will help if you print out the regulations. Since each little kingdom has its own set of rules.
While you are doing that find out what tubing the regulations call for. DOM, ERW, chrome moly, etc. realize the rules don't care what car it is but how much it weighs.
I once built a cage in a GT6 for a broad shouldered six foot guy . Finding room for the tube, the driver, and his helmet was a bit of a challenge. 1 1/2 inch tube with a tight radius bending shoe made it possible.
I'm in Saskatoon, which is a mere 1500 miles north west of you... However, you are in the dead center of a vibrant super late model part of the world, and I bet there's a dozen guys within a hundred miles of you who can build what you need.
In reply to GR5 :
I know of a WI shop that has done numerous sportscar cages as well as full tubeframe cars, and if it makes you feel better has restored a couple Triumphs too! It's about 1.5 hours North of you though. If you want to discuss, offline may make more sense so contact info?
There is a shop In Beloit, Wi that runs ads in GRM named "Advance Motorsport" . Their a Spec Miata prep shop but they can make cages for any car. I know the owners personally and they do very good work for a reasonable price. Not sure how busy their are this time of year but you can give them a call.
Raw speed is in milwaukee, you could try giving them a call. If they aren't intrested in the job, they'd be able to point you to someone who can.
I don't know about shops in your area, but you can save a significant chunk of dollars if you fab a pattern from PVC pipe. Pay attention to which couplings you have to take apart to remove it and have a shop fab it in pieces for you to install.
Even if you still have them install it, getting the heavy work done first makes it easier to get exactly what you want and hopefully negotiate a lower price.
Do you know what you want and need or are you looking for a supplier who will also deal with that end of the project?
There might be some ergonomic issues that you want to consider by looking at similar cars and seeing how they sorted the cage.
2 second google search came up with this
http://www.britishracecar.com/ScottJanzen-Triumph-GT6.htm
With the door bars, you are essentially crawling in and out via a gap with dimensions similar to the side windows. That has to be interesting.
In reply to NOHOME :
If the door still opens, using Nascar door bars makes access so much easier. If you've never tried, you should. My Neon IT car has regular old road race door bars, inner door panel and an aluminum Kirkey roadrace seat. My ministock Neon has bent door bars, a gutted door and a more restrictive seat, and it's way easier to get in and out. The biggest difference is that the bars are outside the plane of the roof, so there is a nice spot to sit as you are halfway in or out.
I highly recommend gutted door, unless rules make that a no-no.
jimbbski said:There is a shop In Beloit, Wi that runs ads in GRM named "Advance Motorsport" . Their a Spec Miata prep shop but they can make cages for any car. I know the owners personally and they do very good work for a reasonable price. Not sure how busy their are this time of year but you can give them a call.
Thank you. I sent him an email, hopefully he replies.
L5wolvesf said:In my experiences you first want someone who has experience in building road race roll cages. Knowing where to locate the mounting points (for safety and performance), and being a very good welder are first. Finding a GT6 specific person may be a unicorn.
Agreed. You never know though, there might be someone outt here.
Streetwiseguy said:I once built a cage in a GT6 for a broad shouldered six foot guy . Finding room for the tube, the driver, and his helmet was a bit of a challenge. 1 1/2 inch tube with a tight radius bending shoe made it possible.
I'm in Saskatoon, which is a mere 1500 miles north west of you... However, you are in the dead center of a vibrant super late model part of the world, and I bet there's a dozen guys within a hundred miles of you who can build what you need.
This makes sense. I know the regulations allow the smaller tube and I already decided that's the way to go. I also may modify the floor to drop the seat for more helmet clearance.
79rex said:Raw speed is in milwaukee, you could try giving them a call. If they aren't intrested in the job, they'd be able to point you to someone who can.
Thank you, I will check them out.
NOHOME said:Do you know what you want and need or are you looking for a supplier who will also deal with that end of the project?
There might be some ergonomic issues that you want to consider by looking at similar cars and seeing how they sorted the cage.
2 second google search came up with this
http://www.britishracecar.com/ScottJanzen-Triumph-GT6.htm
With the door bars, you are essentially crawling in and out via a gap with dimensions similar to the side windows. That has to be interesting.
I have an idea of what I want/need based on other cars I've seen. Scott's car is one of them I've studied. There is also one on the West Coast I have pictures of and another one in the Midwest. They all did it a little different, but I note your point about the door bars.
Streetwiseguy said:In reply to NOHOME :
If the door still opens, using Nascar door bars makes access so much easier. If you've never tried, you should. My Neon IT car has regular old road race door bars, inner door panel and an aluminum Kirkey roadrace seat. My ministock Neon has bent door bars, a gutted door and a more restrictive seat, and it's way easier to get in and out. The biggest difference is that the bars are outside the plane of the roof, so there is a nice spot to sit as you are halfway in or out.
I highly recommend gutted door, unless rules make that a no-no.
The doors will still be able to open/close. If the doors are gutted I assume that means the doors won't be able to open?
I assume the doors still open, but the space is still going to be limited for most human-shaped fauna.
Pete
jimbbski said:There is a shop In Beloit, Wi that runs ads in GRM named "Advance Motorsport" . Their a Spec Miata prep shop but they can make cages for any car. I know the owners personally and they do very good work for a reasonable price. Not sure how busy their are this time of year but you can give them a call.
A few years back they sold me a extra tall Miata cage. They were great to deal with and put a lot of effort into answering my questions, caring about the details, etc.
I gutted the doors on my 81 Camaro and they still opened and closed. I had to reach outside and use the outer door handle to open them but it is possible to make a release on the inside.
In reply to Snrub :
Unfortunaly the original owner of the shop, Dave Wheeler; passed away about a year ago. His daughter and son-in-law are now running the business but the son-in-law worked with Dave for a few years and learned the business not realizing that he was going to one day run it. He learned well and from what I've heard nothing has changed as far as customer service, etc.
GR5 said:Streetwiseguy said:In reply to NOHOME :
If the door still opens, using Nascar door bars makes access so much easier. If you've never tried, you should. My Neon IT car has regular old road race door bars, inner door panel and an aluminum Kirkey roadrace seat. My ministock Neon has bent door bars, a gutted door and a more restrictive seat, and it's way easier to get in and out. The biggest difference is that the bars are outside the plane of the roof, so there is a nice spot to sit as you are halfway in or out.
I highly recommend gutted door, unless rules make that a no-no.
The doors will still be able to open/close. If the doors are gutted I assume that means the doors won't be able to open?
Doors remain operable.
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