A-piller roll cage questions

[used240sxparts]

Hey guys, yes i did search and my answer didnt come up...

So In the near future a cage will be added to my s14 and i want to add the piece of steel from the cage to the a piller, now my question is the holes,what size should they be and what kind of tool should i use to make them kinda bevel in to add strength? also how thick should the steel plates be?

Thanks!

[Brian W.]

we use 16g. steel for the gussets you are speaking of. the holes can be as big as space allows. depends on how far the a-pillar bar is from the a-pillar of course.

the tool to bevel them is called a die or dimple die.

they can be purchased at tricktools.com

[used240sxparts]

thanks for the fast response brian!!

[used240sxparts]

that was exactly what im looking for, so just use the dimple die on my drill press correct?

[Brian W.]

you use a hole saw or rota broach to make the actual hole. the dimple die just dimples the hole you made. use a shop press for the dimple die or i suppose you could use a vise. i use a press. drill press is for cutting the holes.

[used240sxparts]

ohh ok i gotcha thanks

[Wiisass]

I wouldn't use a vise on anything thicker than 18gauge unless you have a beast of a vise. I have a pretty strong 5" vise and put a nice bend in the handle trying to dimple 16ga. sheet.

And check out the sweet sheet metal cutters from trick tools, they work awesome, the edges come out cleaner than with any holesaw I've used. But I've never used a rotabroach that big, just the little ones for drilling spot welds.

[LB.Motoring]

the die set I have punches the hole than rounds the edges off, the whole point of the holes are for rigidity of that steel piece, and I wouldn't doubt to take some of the weight out.

[Bushido]

speaking of a pillar roll cage questions:
http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_16z+nissan_350z+roll_cage_roof.jpg

http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_17z+nissan_350z+roof_support.jpg

whats up with this? Can this be as strong as a typical A-pillar bar?
It's from the Opera 350Z, have you ever seen an A pillar done like this before?
I wouldn't think that this would be legal in most racing... am I mistaken?

I guess this was just done to make the car more comfortable as opposed to a bar running the length of the roof/A-pillar... Opinions?

[Bushido]

BTW, I figured I might as well share the gusset pics as well:

http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_14z+nissan_350z+roll_cage_brace.jpg
http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_13z+nissan_350z+roll_cage_support.jpg
http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_15z+nissan_350z+roll_cage_rear.jpg

Factory metal was dimple died and welded ontop of exsisting parts for extra reinforcement. First time i've seen this done...
http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_32z+nissan_350z+steel_support_plates.jpg

http://images.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0608sccp_31z+nissan_350z+steel_support_plate.jpg

[McRussellPants]

Thats just to have a 4pt cage and some extra chassis rigidity.

the bar going into the roof sheetmetal is just good form. Cage bars are never supposed to terminate, they're supposed to continue on somewhere on the chassis to distribute the stress into the frame of the car.


Oh god. I just noticed that the Mainhoop base plates are dimple died. They built the perches the cage sits on out of whats likely less than 16 gauge. Thats shitty.