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That last photo is my favorite, as you see how the roll bar extends all the way true to the rooftop. Is the sunroof cassette just a crush zone for sunroof designed roll bars? I prefer this setup.
I've seen bolted alignment plates here before, but never a weld or two - is that typical in the US?
There’s nothing typical about Pfister’s work. And the goal is to just get the car safe for DE. I’m not trying to get certified for club racing or anything, just trying to have some safe fun.
Incidentally, cup cars as built in Germany had similar welds there. Rather sloppy work in comparison. Here’s a photo of a cup car with a rather sloppy weld on the pillar.
I had a chance to test fit the car this afternoon. The fitment is perfect. At 6’ 4”, my shoulders are right at the top of the harness holes. There wasn’t much room to work with. Total weight of the bar, just 10.42 kg,, or 23 lbs. That’s 40% of the weight of the 57 lb. DAS roll bar, and this cage is far more sturdy.
We removed the struts from the frunk lid, and the carbon fiber lid now fits a whole lot better. Not perfect, but perfectly acceptable for the likes of Wilbur.
Next we we set up the scales for Wilbur’s first official weigh in. Wilbur tilted the scales at 2,607 lbs. Once down from the scales I realized that my tote bag was still in the frunk. The tote weighed 26 lbs. The hood struat took off another 3/4 lb. bringing the weight down to 2,580 lbs. And fhat’s with winter wheels and tires and a full tank of gas. All the weight reduction measures have really started to pay off.
Loaded the seat into the car for a test fit of the shoulder harnesses Perfect The offset bar allows the seat to slide all the way back without fouling the seat back
Last edited by Foxman; 03-30-2019 at 10:15 PM.
Reason: 100 pounds too light on initial figures. Wishful thinking.
Removed the hood struts and carbon fiber frunk lid fits much better with less arch Threw Wilbur up on the scales. 2,607 lbs., and that’s with a 26 lb. tote bag in the frunk, and the 3/4 lb. hood struts. Total net weight is 2,580 lbs. A good start!
The flanges I've seen are welded to the cage, and then bolted to the car - generally with a load spreader plate or similar.
I had assumed this was for maximum strength.
Wall thickness of cages I've seen are many times the thickness of body pressings, and I would guess a bolted load-spreading flange might decrease the chance of tearing or cracks to the body?
Notably as you're still going to get flex regardless, and assume a bit of wiggle is better than a connection fail where they meet?
The flanges I've seen are welded to the cage, and then bolted to the car - generally with a load spreader plate or similar.
I had assumed this was for maximum strength.
Wall thickness of cages I've seen are many times the thickness of body pressings, and I would guess a bolted load-spreading flange might decrease the chance of tearing or cracks to the body?
Notably as you're still going to get flex regardless, and assume a bit of wiggle is better than a connection fail where they meet?
Not a cage designer, just a driver here.
Ha! I’m also no cage designer, and just barely a driver. But my sense is that folks are bolting on the flanges not because it’s stronger, but because welding is a PIA. It’s no easy task welding in that tight seam. The factory cup car cages came welded to the pillars, and that’s good enough for me.
Wowzer! It's going to be an autocross battle this year. I've probably got +400lbs on you, but a bit more driving experience. As long as one of us starts beating the gt3/4 crowd, that's all that matters Beautiful welding work!
03-29-2019, 08:35 PM
