13 replies to this topic

[brad-the-bear]

hi,

fitting my roll cage and am wondering which side to put the spreader plates, under the foot or on the other side of the body?

also do i have to weld them in because ive ran out of wire and am not the best at a solid weld.

cheers
brad.

[The Matt]

Is it for road use or competition use?

For competition use, weld them inside the car.

For road use it's OK to use them as a spreader plate on the outside of the car.

[brad-the-bear]

ahh cheers pal, its for road rally, do i have to do a good solid weld?

[The Matt]

Yeah, it'll want seam welding all around. What cage is it? I never really understood the benefit of welding the plates inside over welding them on the outside, infact I'd think they'd be better on the outside really...but hey-ho. Regulations is regulations!

Are your rear bins still in place?

[brad-the-bear]

no the rear bins are removed and its a safety devices 6 pointer

[mini93]

Always inside. if your not confident welding it, maybe tack the plates in place, remove the cage and take it to someone who will do it good

Matt, remember most modern cars arent constructed like a mini, as such even the idea of using the speaders on the outside wouldnt be possible. Some cars even have to use captivated nuts due to the sections they sit on.

[The Matt]

If the rear bins are out then it's eeeeeasy to get to them on the inside, with the rear bins in place, welding the plates on the inside properly seems near impossible to me....

[The Matt]

But I'm having a go at mine later, so I'll let you know how it looks!

[charie t]

I never really understood the benefit of welding the plates inside over welding them on the outside, infact I'd think they'd be better on the outside really...but hey-ho. Regulations is regulations!

plates on the outside support the frame as a pulling force, plates on the inside support the frame as a pushing force. Cages are designed to prevent crushing normally

Edited by charie t, 07 April 2012 - 11:30 AM.

[The Matt]

I never really understood the benefit of welding the plates inside over welding them on the outside, infact I'd think they'd be better on the outside really...but hey-ho. Regulations is regulations!

plates on the outside support the frame as a pulling force, plates on the inside support the frame as a pushing force. Cages are designed to prevent crushing normally

That's all well and good, but the safety devices "spreader" plates are the exact same size as the plate welded to the bottom of the roll cage to form the foot of the cage. My point is, that if you weld them onto the inside of the arch, then what exactly are they doing?

[Cooperman]

I've always seam welded my spreader plates onto the outside then used the body panel as a sandwich construction. I've never had any scrutineering issues doing it this way.

[icklemini]

usually a larger plate on the inside welded in... and a plate on the outside (not nec welded) - read the regs...

Edited by icklemini, 28 April 2012 - 08:01 PM.

[Rocan]

I'm with icklemini. Welded plate inside and bolted plate outside. it distributes the load best, as well as being the much better then bolting to thin sheet.

If you are going to be installing a cage, then you better be installing it absolutely as safely as possible. As well as this, don't expect to carry passengers in the rear, and you better have minimum a 4 point harness and bucket seats. Cages are only safer when you have the equipment to go with them. I would never drive on the street with passengers in the rear and a cage; wayyy too easy for them to hit their head on it, which is EXTREMELY dangerous in a crash, even at low speeds.


Also: Cages should be properly padded. Harness should be attached to a harness bar set at the correct angle to give proper support; I would never trust a 5 point attached in the rear to seat belt holders, let alone anything attached into the thin sheet metal of the shell.

[Glenn S]

The spreader plates should be welded in with contact on the floor and a vertical surface i.e. up the inner cill as per MSA Blue book . but if it is for road rallying the scrutineers will not be interested in your cage because it is not mandatory. however you would need roll cage padding where your head might hit it.