Klasik-69 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 My R300 came with a rear roll bar only. If I run in SCCA regional races, I'll need to run a full roll cage. I'm at a loss as to where the front hoop attaches on the cowling/frame. Are the attachments used for the windscreen used ? I don't want to disassemble or tear up the car if I can help it. I know the side bar must run along the outside of the skin. I've seen how the top loops are attached. Not sure about the front attachment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxologist Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 There is the FIA bar w/ petty strut. There are also intrustion bars made for Caterham. One protects from an axle breaking and swinging wildly and the other is a side door bar. The cage does not bolt to the roll bar. Above this level a full cage needs to be installed instead of the rollbar. I would actually go to the cage if you find the FIA bar inadequate and have the other bars built into the cage. Do you plan to do Time Trials? The engine spec for caterhams in Production classes is ar below the R300 level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 There are two type of cages, the roadsport, and the SLR (superlightR). The roadsport cage attaches to the sill and uses the Petty strut mounting boss. The SLR cage uses a mounting point up front on the side skin below the front of the scuttle. (see the attached Pic). You will have to look and see if you have those bushes for mounting. I do believe that Caterham sells a mounting bracket for this type, but again you have to drill the skin and frame. Is your's an Imperial or Metric chassis? That also makes a difference in the Cage choice. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Found a picture of the Roadsport cage. Notice how the front post follows the line of the dash and ends on the sill just below the dash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdca7 Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I installed the Caterham rollcage myself two years ago on my R500. There are bosses welded to the frame, and the best way to find them is to remove the panels on the inside of the car, and drill the skin from inside out. You could probably come close by taking some measurements off of other cars, and if/when you install it you are welcome to pm me for any help. Sorry for the picture quality. I can take some better ones and measurements later if you need them. Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 Boxologist: Yes, I plan on doing TT with the SEDIV starting in April. I believe I'll have to run the ASP class due to engine and other factors placing me out of the more conventional classes. I don't care, I'm not running for points, just for fun. Yellowss7: I don't know if mine is metric or english. How can you tell ? I bought the car last year and wasn't involved in its ordering. It is a superlight R300 with Zetec 2.0 Looks like removing the inside skin involves drilling out the rivets on the inside panel. That being the case, all the inside shells of the rivets will be trapped inside the square tubing and plinking around..........maybe not that big a deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 What year is your car? Arch built the imperial versions and Cage has built the Metric versions. I can't remember exactly that Cage took over, but if your car is older than 2005, I think it would still be Arch and therefore an Imperial chassis. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 The rule of thumb was that 2007 was the first year of metric production but depending on engine spec it trickled into 2008. Imperial chassis is phosphor bronze welded and has imperial threads made by Arch. The Metric chassis was MIG welded and metric threads/dimensions. I think the Duratec came after the imperial to metric changeover for US spec cars but I am not certain on that? If you are close to that year then the best way to check is to take your VIN and ring Caterham Parts UK and have them check which chassis you have and the cage you are looking for. They can probably give you an answer on the spot plus let you know exactly which cage options/prices are in stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) I had a full removable cage made by Piper Motorsport in Sterling VA. The cahe adds three full cross members to the under side to increase ridigity. as far as added weight goes - it simply replaced the balast I needed to make autocross minimum weight. The cage meets SCCA and NASA specs. Looks good, easy enter/exit and I can take it off and replace the FIA Bar and top in 30 minutes. P1000637.bmp P1000639.bmp P1000644.bmp P1000645.bmp P1000647.bmp Edited March 14, 2012 by MichaelD spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 My R300 is a 2004 model as titled, and as evidenced by the invoice to the original buyer and the manufacturer's statement of origin. Based on what you guys are saying, its an imperial chassis. Most all the bolts I've encountered are inch pattern. MichaelD cage looks very simple and adequate. I already looked under the car to see how a sub frame could be attached. To access the frame square tubing in order to drill and attach bolts, quite a few panels would need to be removed. I was trying to avoid drilling out a mess of rivets. However, this may be unavoidable. I just got my aeroscreen to replace the air brake (windshield) so I got a good chance to look at the frame inside the car...........not much there to bolt onto. It sure looks like I'm going to have to make a large commitment to this project than I first envisioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 KLasik, My frame is a 2000 it is likely yours is the same. The front post is bolted to a removable cross bar mounted under the frame. The front of the arm guard rail is bolted to another removable cross bar mounted under the frame. The rear post is bolted through the side of the lower frame rail. All holes in the frame rails are filled and welded so there is no strenth lost. The rear roll hoop and supports are bolted into the existing mounts. It is really a piece of art. Not cheap at $5K. But then it is not your average cage. To my knowledge, the Caterham cages while costing less, are not approved by SCCA or NASA. This style cage has been tested in a 130mph multi rollover. Driver was fine, Th car wrecked yet the cage survived and placed on the replacement car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I had a full removable cage made by Piper Motorsport in Sterling VA. The cahe adds three full cross members to the under side to increase ridigity. as far as added weight goes - it simply replaced the balast I needed to make autocross minimum weight. The cage meets SCCA and NASA specs. Looks good, easy enter/exit and I can take it off and replace the FIA Bar and top in 30 minutes. Mike, Didn't SCCA require you to have two side intrusion bars going front to rear? I'm in the middle of making a cage for my car as we speak. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Karl, Not sure of the requirements as Piper Motorsports made it to conform to NASA and SCCA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelD Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 SCCA GCR 18.3.3. Side Protection - Open and Closed Automobiles A. The minimum side protection shall consist of a side tube connecting the front and rear hoops across both the door openings. Additionally, there shall also be either a diagonal tube from the front hoop to the rear hoop bisecting the door opening below the horizontal side tube, or not less than two (2) horizontal side tubes. Additional tubing may be added. NASCAR-style door bars are recommended. B. In automobiles with full roll cage installations including side bars, interior door panels may be altered, replaced, or removed. When door panels are removed, all sharp edges or projections shall be protected. Full SCCA Roll Bar Section here: http://sports.racer.net/docs/rules/2002/sect_18_roll_cage_and_chassis_2002_gcr.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Here is the good word from the head tech for my SCCA region: "Karl There is no quick answer to your roll cage question. The Lotus 7 / Caterham is perhaps the most difficult closed wheel car we have in SCCA Club Racing to install a compliant roll cage. I recall there being discussions over the years regarding cages in these cars (I was never a participant). The main problems are its size and the minimalist nature of the Lotus / Caterham chassis and structure. Any deviation from the specifications in GCR 9.4 must be reviewed by SCCA Club Racing Technical Services. GCR 9.4.G.8 indicates that an FIA cage must be built by an authorized shop / team using an FIA approved design; it must have an FIA ID tag and a letter of approval from SCCA Club Racing Technical Services. This option is not readily available to independent fabricators. I am not certain whether SCCA Technical Services would approve a roll cage built locally to an FIA design but I suspect that it would be a lengthy process, if possible. I believe the Caterham classified in E Production came with an OEM roll cage. I suspect but I am not sure that the factory Caterham roll cage has FIA approval. I do not know if their roll cages are available separately. Perhaps the best source of information on Lotus / Caterham roll cages would be someone who has actively raced one. One person I would suggest contacting is Eric Prill in the SCCA Club Office who was very successful racing a Lotus 7 in Nationals and the Runoffs. He has been very active in Club Racing and is usually available to help fellow racers. I hope that I have been some help in explaining the roll cage process. I am always to field question. See ya at the March Lion Terry" They all seem like great guys with lots of rules. I am now considering starting with a Caged roll cage, built with 1.375 tube and an extra side bar. Perhaps an additional fixing point lower on the chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Karl: Nice people with lots of rules is an apt description of the SCCA and a reason NASA is so popular. Perhaps e-mail Craig Chima, who is an occasional poster here. He has built many SCCA compliant roll cages over the years. Mike M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klasik-69 Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 Its a complicated issue. I talked to John Bauer, tech division of the SCCA for some guidance as to which class the car belonged in for the TT events. In stock configuration without a full cage but with a rear roll bar with a diagonal cross bar, my car would be in the ASP ("A" Street Prepared). If I install a full cage, and if it PASSES tech, it then goes into the SPU class for either TT or regional racing. The TT (Timed Trials) events use some of the solo class designations and some of the GCR classes when the solo classes don't fit. The difficulty is in building a full cage only to find out it doesn't meet FIA or other criteria. For regional racing, I doubt the issue would be a major one. However, nationals are a different thing and greater scrutinazation would definitely bring up more headaches. My plan is therefore to forget going to a full cage and stay in the ASP class. I save money on the cage, and I save money on the Excedrin tablets I'd need to deal with the various techies waiting out there for some poor stupid slob like me to screw up on the cage design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blubarisax Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 I looked closely at SPU, but they have power to weight requirements of 1.1 lbs per CC. My 2.3L would need to be 2,530! My inspectiors are saying that a full roll cage is requared for all cars being issued a log book now. I don't see ASP in the GCR book? But a run what you have class sounds like just the ticket. Here is Mog-Racing's side impact bars that they use for german club racing: http://mog-racing.com/de/Mediashare/view/aid/14# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Terry Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 The rule of thumb was that 2007 was the first year of metric production but depending on engine spec it trickled into 2008. Imperial chassis is phosphor bronze welded and has imperial threads made by Arch. The Metric chassis was MIG welded and metric threads/dimensions. I think the Duratec came after the imperial to metric changeover for US spec cars but I am not certain on that? If you are close to that year then the best way to check is to take your VIN and ring Caterham Parts UK and have them check which chassis you have and the cage you are looking for. They can probably give you an answer on the spot plus let you know exactly which cage options/prices are in stock. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Arch still build the CSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Arch still build the CSR That's correct. I was referring to the S3/SV chassis distinctions. CSR chassis still is Arch - I have the Arch markings at the base of the roll bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now