Roof Replacement/ New Roll Cage

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by Erick-Mav, Mar 11, 2005.

  1. Erick-Mav

    Erick-Mav Maverick Punk

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    I should put this in the Cosmetic section and the Drag Racing Section, but I combined them and put them here because I'm excited about it. I had to replace my roof because it was cottage cheese from the old vinyl top. I'm making the car a drag racing car so I figured I should add the roll bar while the roof is off. Since I was going to have the roof off I went one step further and decided to go with a full roll cage and also subframe connectors.

    First, we fitted and tack welded the Jeg's "Maverick" 10 point roll cage into place. It fit after much cutting and notching. We bent the back bars to hug the roof and go through the speaker holes to the trunk. We also welded in the Chassis Engineering subframe connectors, which fit great and the brake lines cleared fine.

    Then we measured and cut the old roof off. We did a real neat cut on the front pillar (see picture) and drilled out the spot welds. After the fit was right, we finished welding the roll cage and then welded on the roof. The front and middle pillars only neede minor grinding and look great. The back pillars were lap welded and will require some bondo but are strong and not warped. I'll post more pics of the new black interior later.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2008
  2. Erick-Mav

    Erick-Mav Maverick Punk

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    With roof welded on, rear pillar and front pillar.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2008
  3. BIGbully

    BIGbully Maverick Maniac

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    Nice Job! That should really get you started. (y)
     
  4. PINKY

    PINKY .....John Ford.....

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    man that looks good!
    Thanks for the pics.
     
  5. elliot

    elliot Member

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    Wow , great job on the roof ! Ya made it look easy:) . Nice roll cage and sub frame connectors too (y) .
     
  6. Maxx Levell

    Maxx Levell Member

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    Nice Job!

    It sure makes it easier to get to those rooftop welds with no rooftop doesn't it? :clap: :clap:

    What kind of motor are you going to run? What ET range are you shooting for?

    Good luck,

    Later,
     
  7. Maxx Levell

    Maxx Levell Member

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    Never mind...I just read your other post on 11 second mav. :clap: :clap: :clap:


    Later,
     
  8. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

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    erick, did you get the rule book i sent to you yet. hope that helps. looks like a nice job.:)
     
  9. YotaRacer

    YotaRacer Member

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    Nice Job. Looks like a fun project.
     
  10. Hawkco

    Hawkco Genuine Car Nut

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    Good work.(y)
     
  11. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

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    Man, that looks really great. Nice work. (y)
     
  12. Grabber5.0

    Grabber5.0 Gear-head wannabe

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    Oh Dennis, what do you know about roof replacement? :biglaugh: :D
     
  13. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

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    Well, I know how to take them off. :D
     
  14. CornedBeef4.6L

    CornedBeef4.6L no longer here

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    Good work and your welds look nice and clean. What kind of welder are you using. That thing looks like it wants to go faster than 11s so maybe some nos to get you in the 10s:yup: :eek:

    The guy doin my brothers rollcage,rearend,subframe connects, says not to waste your money on the prefab kits just buy strait tubing and goto town. I said yea if you got access to a bender that works. I have access to one but he does this all the time so I let him do it. I weld on an almost professional level but you really need to know where to hook into the chassis to get the best results for traction and to eliminate chassis flex. It really is a science that should be left to those that know how to do it. Is this your first try at this or???? Anyway Good luck and keep us posted.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2005
  15. Erick-Mav

    Erick-Mav Maverick Punk

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    I just helped my friend who is a really good welder. He has a company called Joe Hauler Motorcycle Carriers and makes those. I could have welded it, but I let him do the welding so that it would be done right and quick. It was all MIG welded.

    We probably didn't put the cage in the ideal places on the floor. We just put it in where it seemed right. I guess I could always add stiffiners later in places to improve it. Hopefully, the subframe connectors will make a good difference in stiffening the chassis.

    I agree that someone with alot of experience and the right tools could just use steel tubing and do a better job, but the kit had alot of the work done already, alot of bending and tube notching was already done and it fits fairly well. The kit is better if you want to do it cheaper and if the installer has less experience.
     

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