Progress on the 47 "Roll Cage"

[Deleted User]

This was my first attempt at building a roll cage and I feel pretty good about it. There are no kits that fit a 47 Hudson so Dad and I bent and notched all the bars, its a true custom install. I never realized how short my doors were until we started this project. I think I could have ordered a cage for an S-10 truck and it fit! There are a couple of changes I would make the next time but I think it will do for an old drag car.

http://groups.msn.com/HudsonEssexTerraplaneBulletinBoard/hudsonspeedparts.msnw?Page=Last

Unknown

I have the least idea what you have designed. I have built and raced several sprint cars and safety was allways on my mind. Had my share of bumps, and 3-4 really bad ones , destroyed a couple of cars but never had the roll cage fail even doing barrel rolls on a concrete wall. Things you need to consider. Gussets add a great deal of strength at all weld points. X's between larger areas is a must. Remember this , Sideways the bars have little strength, they will bend from the force of a crash, so you must consider where the impact is likely to come from both fore and aft and side to side and have end to end bar resistance to avoid cage collapse. I hope you used chrome molly or at least service steel as material . Black pipe is far too soft. Bud

[Deleted User]

The car is for Drag Racing and the design is for a 8.50+ sec. chassis cert. The design is straight out of the NHRA and SFI rule book. The cage is constructed from 1.675" X .134 mild steel tubing as per NHRA rules. If this were for round track racing yes there would be a lot more bars.

[Deleted User]

Progress really looks good. I have cut out the X frame in my '41. Nice job on the front end. Hope to do that to mine next year. What class are you going to run. I'd love to see a hudson in super gas.



Randy

rambos_ride

I'd like to be able to do some roll-cage work on the 49 custom, what did you use to make the bends and notch the ends of the tubes?

Thanks

Dan

Ol racer

Looks real good to me and you did do a nice job yourselfs. I measured mine then bought the tubing at a local Stock car Speed Shop where they did all the bends. Might be a suggestion for others.....

Chuck

[Deleted User]

rambos_ride wrote:

I'd like to be able to do some roll-cage work on the 49 custom, what did you use to make the bends and notch the ends of the tubes?



Thanks



Dan

Dan, I bought a copy of the JD2 style manual bender and it works great! It makes very nice bends. The notcher is a standard unit from Eastwood mounted to the wall and using a very old B&D 1/2" drill. It also worked very well, partially because of the high torque/low speed drill.





Progress really looks good. I have cut out the X frame in my '41. Nice job on the front end. Hope to do that to mine next year. What class are you going to run. I'd love to see a hudson in super gas.



Randy



Randy, Thanks the car will be run in Pro/Footbrake and hopefully some Nostalgia Gas races. I don't plan to run the electronics you need to run any of the "super" classes. I would like to though!

Unknown

They have cheap hydraulic pipe benders with saddles and electric powered notchers at Harbor freight. Never used any of theirs. Anyone have experience?

[Deleted User]

hudsondad wrote:

They have cheap hydraulic pipe benders with saddles and electric powered notchers at Harbor freight. Never used any of theirs. Anyone have experience?

I have had the HF bender for about 12 years now, it has built a few dirt trackers with no problems if used properly.

AS for the notcher I don't own one but a friend of mine does, he builds 2 or 3 cars for sale every year and loves his.

[Deleted User]

What motor and trans do you plan on using?



Randy

[Deleted User]

maasfh wrote:

What motor and trans do you plan on using?



Randy

The first engine will be a 440 with a 727 trans. should be good for low 11.s to high 10.s in the 1/4 Eventually 500" Wedge and mid 9's:eek: