'84 Dodge Rampage Build Thread

[Peter Jack]

I like it Steve!!! 

Pete

[SteveM]

OK - I got some more work done over the weekend, fabbing the "down" bars from the main hoop to the dash bar.  These were the most complex bends and notches I've done so far (3D and with multiple angles).  It took quite a bit of test fitting and "sneaking up" on the final lengths to get these bars fitted, but I think they turned out pretty nice.

As far as I can figure, the rest of the bars will be straight, or only have some simple bends.

Next up will be another dash bar, a bar across the top of the windsheild, and continuing the "cage within a cage" section.









The headrest support bars are pending approval by the SCTA technical committee, before being welded in place.

Thanks for looking.

Steve.

[Glen]

Steve looking great.

[Kevin G]

Nice Mater poster. Cage is looking real good too.

[Captthundarr]

Steve, did I miss a post somewhere, Whats the plan for the front halo bar?
Lookin good.

[SteveM]

Mater is right at home around here.

As far as the front halo bar...  Early in the build, I bent up a "U" shaped halo bar that I intended to use at that time.  The legs of the U would weld to the main hoop, and the squared off U would encircle the inside of the roofline.  Then I planned to use 2 bars which would tie in this halo to the dash bar.

As I thought about it more, and looked at other cages, I decided that it was better to bend up some bars to run in 1 piece from the dash bar to the main hoop.  These bars will be tied together with another dash bar, above the existing dash bar, and an upper bar near the top of the windshield.  I will then use tubular gussets to strengthen the intersections of these tubes. 

It will be similar to Tony's cage design in the Camaro and Gregg's cage in his Rampage.  I am borrowing heavily from other good looking designs.

Steve.

[SteveM]

I guess I'll just keep adding tubes and gussets until I run out of tubing.

 

[Captthundarr]

Yep, we borrowed our design from just about everyone. Use up your tubong then get a little more.

[SteveM]

Very nice looking cage, Cap'n.   That's similar to what I had originally envisioned.  I really like your cage within a cage. 

I'm considering doing a diagonal cross-bar from the passenger's side front to the driver's side rear, above the driver's head.   Are you doing any kind of diagonal bracing across the top of your halo bar?

Steve.

[tauruck]

If I could figure out how to post images on this forum, I could show you a great cage someone built.

[SteveM]

I post all of my photos to my photobucket account.  It's the easiest way I have found.  Photobucket hosts all of the images for free.  Then you simply copy and paste the "img" link from the photobucket site into your message here.


I'd recommend starting a photobucket account.  It's easy and free.

Steve.

[Captthundarr]

Steve, Not yet, the car is complete, for now, we run in C/GALT at ECTA at Ohio. Our cage is plenty stout for the speeds my wife is currently running. Upgrades will come as the dollars do.

Tauruck, if you look at the bottom of the post page you will see "Additional Options."when you click it you will see ATTACH:, click browse find your photo and pick open and it will go. be sure the the pic is not to big or it won't go.

[SteveM]

I got a couple more tubes notched, fitted, and tacked into place after work and before dinner.





I'm booked tomorrow evening, but might be able to get another one tacked in on Wednesday.

Steve.

[tauruck]

Thanks guys. I do have a Photobucket account. I'll give it a go.

[tauruck]

Here's a cool cage I found somewhere on Google. It has that extra protection around the head area. Steve, your work looks good. IMO it's better not to rush. It's coming along nicely.