Exige/Elise front roll cage ready

The Oily Bits S1 Specific Topics
1

Cage is now completed.Anybody want one?
Cage is made from high grade steel(lighter and stronger than T45 steel) which is then powder coated.It comes in 3 main sections plus 2 brackets that will need welding to roll over hoop.A small cut is needed into chassis so as to fit a spreader plate for front fixing,this cut is covered by cill trim so is unseen when completed.Fitting will take approx 2/3 hours.Once in, the cage can be removed/refitted if required in approx 10/15 minutes.
Fitting can be done by factory at a cost of �150 plus VAT.
Cost of cage will be �550 plus VAT but as already stated if I can get 5 orders it will be �350 plus VAT.
Roll cage company do a lot of work for Lotus so all work is done to Lotus standards.
Please let me know if you or anyone else might be interested.
I think this is a bargain even at the higher price so hopefully it shouldn’t take too long to get 5 orders.

2

Any photo`s? sounds good

3

Not sure how to post pics here so have e-mailed them to you.

4

If you send me the pics as wel, I’ll post them here for you.

(besides, I’m really curious!)

5

A small cut is needed into chassis so as to fit a spreader plate for front fixing,this cut is covered by cill trim so is unseen when completed.

Is this to place a load spreading plate inside the chassis rail? What does cutting the chassis do to its structural integrity?

6

Hi.Yes its for the spreader plate.This mod is Lotus approved and does not affect anything.You are increasing overall rigidity by installing cage.

7

Hey Mark, any news about this?

I never saw the pictures…

8

Sorry, I thought I sent you pics.You have a pm.
Cheers Mark

9

Here’s the pictures:

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Uldis/Roll%20cage/IMG_7654.jpg[/image]

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Uldis/Roll%20cage/IMG_7653.jpg[/image]

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Uldis/Roll%20cage/IMG_7651.jpg[/image]

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Uldis/Roll%20cage/IMG_7650.jpg[/image]

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Uldis/Roll%20cage/IMG_7648.jpg[/image]

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/Uldis/Roll%20cage/IMG_7647.jpg[/image]

10

That does look quite look.

How do you open the doors though? I like the idea of better surviving a crash but only if an escape could then be made.

Also, do you know what it weighs?

Cheers, Ian

11

The pics are decieving.In fact there is plenty of room to operate the door handles and window winders and the cage does not impede entry or exit of the car.
Total weight is approx 6kg.

12

And 6kg is a lot less than a new coffin.

13

It seems nice, I can�t really say I like this, too.

[image]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/GeorgeLotus/IMG_7648.jpg[/image]

14

It seems nice, I can�t really say I like this, too.

[image]> http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i48/GeorgeLotus/IMG_7648.jpg> [/image]

That was the downside when I saw the pics originally as well.

15

That was the downside when I saw the pics originally as well.

From an aesthetic point of view? The response earlier in the thread was:

“Hi.Yes its for the spreader plate.This mod is Lotus approved and does not affect anything.You are increasing overall rigidity by installing cage.”

16

Im certainly no mechanical engineer but are the clamp arrangements strong enough to withstand a large impact without ‘popping’ the tubing out of the sockets?? Is this even the right jointing method for this type of application for that matter?? It just doesn’t seem right to me somehow…Looking at it again, I would say that with pressure being exerted at the right point the cage could quite easily collapse around you filling the cabin with protruding objects… Please point me along the right lines if I am completey wrong.

Also, you haven’t actually stated wether or not this cage is to MSA spec??

17

Im certainly no mechanical engineer but are the clamp arrangements strong enough to withstand a large impact without ‘popping’ the tubing out of the sockets?? Is this even the right jointing method for this type of application for that matter??

From the photos, the joints look identical to those used by Safety Devices, who make the cages for Lotus:

[image]http://www.safetydevices.com/images/products/rollcages/step3_boltin_cage_terminoli.gif[/image]

“Saddle brackets
An original Safety Devices design which has stood the test of time. The bracket is used for connecting tubes on bolt-in cages. Much copied by our competition but beware as they often only use 3mm material which limits the torque setting of the bolts. Safety Devices has always used 5mm material.”

18

cheers for that Steve, mind put at rest somewhat.

I notice though that both of those diagrams have some form of cross bracing to support the stucture. And the 6 point design also shows multiple points to bolt to window pillars etc.

19

Cage is to MSA spec as per the blue book(I have one in my race Exige),the method of fitment is also Lotus approved and there is no loss in structural integrity.
This cage is strong,light and at a very good price compared to others, it also has the benefit of being easily removed and refitted(road cars etc).

20

After scrutineering “troubles” at the “AMOC” (ie MidEngined Series) at Snetterton yesterday, any car without a hard top will have to produce an MSA approval certificate for their rollbars/cage. Another reason not to take the roof off an Exige