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My table was built with removable top sections to make it easier to move around in the garage. The 3/4 MDF boards drop down in to a recess for a nice work space. I also added a centerline to make it really nice to work from.





Then I got the seats where I wanted them, the steering rack where I think I want it (pictured is a 240sx rack but I will end up going miata pretty soon I think) and I started the mock cage.





I got up in there and it is amazing. I was making the engine noises and all.

I am hoping to have air intakes above the riders head's under the roll bar.



It wasn't as easy as I first thought it would be but I cant wait to do more.

Again, this is to get everything where I want it and then my cage guy will bend it in 1 1/2 x .095" DOM.

Can you get your engine crane under the cross braces on the bottom of the table legs? That will help. Some shelving under there will be a help keeping things stowed and organized.

Keep thinking on that frame. I think those little vertical braces are dead weight, not something you want in a fast low-displacement sports racer. Read the regs on the cage design and use the braces to make the minimum in number of tubes required. You may not need the upper chassis rail by the driver if you have diagonals from the rear roll hoop at it's base and up by your head...

Good thinking 99.

Yep, if your safety conscious then a gusseted X brace otherwise a single angle brace.

I should be able to, cant get at it right now as other projects are up against it.


I have enought other shelves, weight for moving this table around was my main concern.


Noted. I am going to take the verticals off and put a bar at an angle like you mentioned. I love getting opinions from people who have either done it or know what they are talking about I am just "shooting from the hip" and it is nice to have people steer me in the right direction.

Good luck, Jimmy! You've come to the right place for info. Here's another interesting build you might want to take some notes from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU6xE1HhGIA&feature=related

Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I realize now why it takes time for everyone's builds. Life happens I thought I could whip this thing out before winter, haven't touched it since last update other than moving it out of the way to work on other more pressing items. I have not forgot about it though and have a bet with a guy at work that I will have a rolling chassis by December 1. I hope the next two weekends give me time to finish up the wood frame and then I can bring it to my welder and we can modify it to fit his safety concerns.

Forgot how ugly that build is.

MAN has that guy taken some shortcuts!

Had a few hours to whip out some more of the frame. I am bringing it to my welder in a few weeks to discuss the safety concerns and the practicality of it all. Then he will start bending tubing!!

if you, instead of having an X on the side of the frame, do a V as per my example ( )


you will loose very little torsional stiffness, but will gain a good support for the tube that goes under the seats (and carries driver weight), and it will be easier to weld..

Thanks Kiki, I will talk that over with my cage guy. I do need to have him add support beams in many locations throughout. I have this mock up to determine placement and size. Here are a couple more pics, I finished the rear up and started to work on the front suspension box.

Working more with the rear suspension box. Need to resize it just a bit for my control arms to be near level. Starting to look like a fun car atleast. I am excited to start working on the wiring and fire up the engine for the first time. But one step at a time.

All pieces go to my cage guy tomorrow. I will discuss with him my thoughts and he will start making the frame this week.


Need a little modifying on my pedal assembly to bring the pedals up to the balls of my feet.

Frame has been started. I was there to check it out 11/19 and let him know that the main concept was the direction I wanted. There were a few things that needed changed already, one being that the top rail of the steering box closest to the "firewall" was in the way of where the master cylinder for the brakes needed to be.

I am hoping he has some time to get a little more done this week. Here are a few pictures:

Any reason he is ending the diagonal short and not carrying it to the node?