Internal roll cage to galvanised chassis

[Boris113]

Now the rebuild is nearing completion, my thoughts are turning to fitting a roll cage that I purchased a while ago.

It's a 6 point internal cage that is of a similar design to this:

http://www.safetydevices.com/expedition/products/roll-cage/Land+Rover+Defender+90+-1983-present/629/

I had the chassis built with mounts for the rear hoop, but am confused about the mounting of the front hoop.

Currently the cage has larger diameter pieces of tube slotted over the front legs and tack welded, presumably the larger diameter piece would then be welded to the bulkhead outrigger with additional plating and the front hoop drops inside before final welding.

Whilst this would be ideal, I am reluctant to weld to the nice galvanising.

The diagram in the link above shows a front mounting that attaches to the side of the chassis leg but would this meet MSA specs if I was to bolt it on? If I can bolt it in, are there horizontal crush tubes etc in that part of the chassis either?

Does anyone have pictures that show the mountings of a front hoop or the modification required to the sides of the dash to fit the front hoop in?

Sorry for lots of questions!

Harry

[jackmac]

From memory, I think the front hoop on mine slots into some larger diameter tube(with a big bolt through both), which is welded to a U shape piece of thick plate. This U shape then slots over the top of the outrigger and is bolted on to there.

Like so: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=40692&p=384517

[PaddyMac]

Effectively, the MSA is governed by the FIA so if a roll cage design complies with FIA regs, then it is also eligible for MSA events). There are some instances where the FIA allow certain design features where the MSA do not (and vice versa) but you may get more info here;

http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/bluebooks/10/160-195%20Competitor%20Safety.pdf

I thought the bottom was a plate that bolted to another bracketed plate underneath and this tied onto the chassis like this

http://www.google.ie/imgres?hl=en&biw=1297&bih=641&tbm=isch&tbnid=glatQt-ThFt13M:&imgrefurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/motorsport/products/roll-cage/Land%2BRover%2BDefender%2B90%2B-1983-present/736/&docid=NVCDbQjaM_6MGM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/i/rollcages/7366.1320332011.jpg&w=375&h=500&ei=7Sp5UpTcLa-R7Aa6roHAAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=296&page=2&tbnh=143&tbnw=104&start=24&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:43,s:0,i:212&tx=71&ty=84

and

http://www.google.ie/imgres?hl=en&biw=1297&bih=641&tbm=isch&tbnid=YQSJE77_tr7hVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/motorsport/products/roll-cage/Land%2BRover%2BDefender%2B90%2B-1983-present/736/&docid=NVCDbQjaM_6MGM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/i/rollcages/7367.1320332011.jpg&w=375&h=500&ei=7Sp5UpTcLa-R7Aa6roHAAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=468&page=2&tbnh=159&tbnw=113&start=24&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:45,s:0,i:218&tx=51&ty=83

[Boris113]

From memory, I think the front hoop on mine slots into some larger diameter tube(with a big bolt through both), which is welded to a U shape piece of thick plate. This U shape then slots over the top of the outrigger and is bolted on to there.

Like so: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=40692&p=384517

Thanks Jack, unfortunately due to being an internal cage, the front hoop is located behind the bulkhead and comes down 6 inches behind the bulkhead outrigger so the conventional U-shaped saddle wouldn't work

Effectively, the MSA is governed by the FIA so if a roll cage design complies with FIA regs, then it is also eligible for MSA events). There are some instances where the FIA allow certain design features where the MSA do not (and vice versa) but you may get more info here;

http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/bluebooks/10/160-195%20Competitor%20Safety.pdf

I thought the bottom was a plate that bolted to another bracketed plate underneath and this tied onto the chassis like this

http://www.google.ie/imgres?hl=en&biw=1297&bih=641&tbm=isch&tbnid=glatQt-ThFt13M:&imgrefurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/motorsport/products/roll-cage/Land%2BRover%2BDefender%2B90%2B-1983-present/736/&docid=NVCDbQjaM_6MGM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/i/rollcages/7366.1320332011.jpg&w=375&h=500&ei=7Sp5UpTcLa-R7Aa6roHAAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=296&page=2&tbnh=143&tbnw=104&start=24&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:43,s:0,i:212&tx=71&ty=84

and

http://www.google.ie/imgres?hl=en&biw=1297&bih=641&tbm=isch&tbnid=YQSJE77_tr7hVM:&imgrefurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/motorsport/products/roll-cage/Land%2BRover%2BDefender%2B90%2B-1983-present/736/&docid=NVCDbQjaM_6MGM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.safetydevices.com/i/rollcages/7367.1320332011.jpg&w=375&h=500&ei=7Sp5UpTcLa-R7Aa6roHAAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=468&page=2&tbnh=159&tbnw=113&start=24&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:45,s:0,i:218&tx=51&ty=83

Thanks Paddy, I can convert the feet of the roll cage to that version for ease of removal in the future, but the thing I'm struggling with is how to connect the roll cage mounts to the chassis (then bring it up to the level of the floor pan) in a way that can avoid damaging the galvanising if possible.

Any more suggestions chaps?

In the meantime I'll gave a ganders through the blue book, it doesn't have to be MSA/FIA spec, but I would prefer if it was to avoid changing it again in the future.

Thanks,

Harry

[PaddyMac]

Goodman, I would bring it to a local fabricator and get him to weld up a bracket that bolts to the front outriggers. I wouldn't weld it to the new galvanised chassis for fear of creating a potential rust spot and I think (could be wrong being in Ireland ) but if you weld it in place technically your changing the chassis and could fall in Q plate territory ? maybe check this but I would still bolt it anyway...good luck

[Bowie69]

No, not Q plate for fitting roll cage by welding, not a chance.