Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: Roll cage install

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe

    BMW Z3 coupe WRL build

    Hey all, the time is coming up to start our roll cage. (We are building the coupe I wrecked a couple years ago) I am having some trying to find many pictures of coupe cages. We have the basic design figured out, but I would love to see some pictures of main hoop pads if anyone has any. I have seen a couple different setups so far, (plates on the floor and plates on the sill) but would really like to see some closeups if anyone has any. Even better if there are a couple shot of the process. Thanks in advance for any help.

    Edited title, as this is really turning into the build thread, even though it started out as a question.
    Last edited by bionicbelly; 02-04-2019 at 03:04 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    3,444
    My Cars
    1999 Z3M, 1999 2.8 Coupe
    Never caged a Coupe, but it is my experience that you figure most of it out on the fly. Even our pre-cut kit made specifically for our Acura Integra Lemons car took weeks and weeks of fine tuning and fitting. We plated the main hoop to the floor, decided the floor was a bit too thin, and then sandwiched plates below between sub frame and frame rails. We did the same on the bottoms of the door hoops. I'm confident the cage would survive anything now. Another thing we did was hole saw where the verticals contacted the floor pan. Then we dropped the cage down through the holes, welded up the tops, jacked the entire cage back up as far as it would go, cut the bottoms off and slipped in the pads. This gave us maximum head room, and in some cases the fit was so tight we couldn't even get zip ties between to tie the foam. We also found that ratchet straps help align things before tacking.

    Are you putting most of the interior trim back in or leaving it out? I'm guessing the floor pad arrangement would make an interior easier to go back in.

    20170521_130342.jpg20170520_122134.jpg20170520_195200.jpg20170521_124227.jpg20170521_145022.jpg
    Nathan in Denver

    1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
    1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Definitely no interior. I have seen a couple that have the main hoop on the structure right over the sill, but I don’t know how you would be able to drop that to weld the tops of the tubing. That is my concern. But, if you do four bends on the main hoop and mount to the floor, you really only have good structure on one side of the box. There is not a lot of strength to the floor or the gas tank firewall.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    189
    My Cars
    1998 M Roadster

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Willis, TX USA
    Posts
    2,252
    My Cars
    98 MZ3, 01 325iT
    When I built a cage for my 944 we welded the bottoms of the main hoop and the forward tubes last. We were able to slide things around enough to make enough room to weld the tops. I shouldn't way "we." I weld like a blind monkey, but the guy who was doing the welding for me (next door neighbor) was a bloody artist. He could produce fabulous welds in weird places with little room. I don't know enough about the coupe, but you may consider if you have such room and weld the bottoms last.

    I have a friend who doesn't weld to the floor, but slots flat material for the tube to slide down onto and welds it in sheer (he boxes in the sides around the slot.
    George Roffe
    98 M Roadster
    01 325iT


  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    SW Florida
    Posts
    12,681
    My Cars
    99-01 M Cpe & Rdts, X5M
    I opted for a bolt in back-half on this car http://spcarsplus.com/piwigo/index.php?/search/154










  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Oh man, this is some good stuff! Adker, I have been drooling over CMM3's build for a while now, but I had not seen the rally build. That is awesome! I will be reading all that and adding him to my stalking list. Geo31: That is kinda the plan, hoping with the sunroof and windows out, We will be able to find enough room to work. I am in the same boat though. Pretty good at wrenching, but when it comes to welding, um, I am a very functional clamp. Luckily, we have a pipefitter and a baddass fabricator on the team. Randy: I actually really like that design. It might help having tubing lower in the body for building the forward structure.

    Thanks for all the replies! Definately a lot to think about in the next couple weeks.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Thought I would update this. We did not get the bender delivered yet. Hopefully in the next couple of days though, so we can get to work on it this weekend. We did however start with some reinforcements. Got both rear towers done, and one of the fronts. Also started getting the rear trunk floor/diff mount done. All plates, etc. are from Izzy's metal shop, or made by us.

    48386336_369026847233970_5601775176720056320_n.jpg49057059_389158691829273_5787129116058714112_n.jpg49327542_336471703613531_7030442781550051328_n.jpg49450595_1965014850279962_1001008653081247744_n.jpg49057059_389158691829273_5787129116058714112_n.jpg

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Houston, Tehas
    Posts
    3,806
    My Cars
    99 Mcoupe
    My main hoop has "plinth" mounts welded to all three surfaces (Rail, floor, and firewall), with build-up off the floor to make them level. Also uses a LOT of surface area contact area.

    Driver Floor.jpg
    Last edited by Gofast; 01-04-2019 at 04:04 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    west
    Posts
    364
    My Cars
    ModelS;CayenneD;M5;MCx2
    Are you prepping for a fuel cell... might as well at this point.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    We are not, we would not be able to add any volume without incurring a penalty. It would have to be a stock size, and I am not sure it would be worth the effort/potential problems.

    A little update on this project while I am here though, We decided to go with a halo style cage, Main hoop and Halo are bent, and we will be working on the uprights, dash bar and front shock tower bars this weekend. Hoping to get this wrapped up ASAP, so we can get to work on getting the thing back together.

    https://www.instagram.com/zr3surrection/

    Here is our team's instagram page if any of you are interested in that. Not a whole lot on there at the moment, but should be updated every weekend.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Didn't get a whole lot done on the cage yet, but we did do some work tightening up the butt. Used Izzy's custom cages's diff reinforcement kit to beef everything up. Overall, pretty good kit, but the actual diff mount was not lined up correctly for the Z3. The ears were supposed to drop straight down from the crossmember, but that just does not work on the Z3. Maybe that is the way a 318 lines up or something, I really don't know. Anyway, we re-engineered it, did some more cutting and what not, and it all worked out.


    This was how it was originally set up, Two ears through the pre-cut slots. But that would not line up at all.

    IMG_1278.JPG

    IMG_1281.JPG

    So, we cut a new slot, 15/16 forward, and modified the front ear with a bit of 1/2 inch channel
    IMG_1287.JPG

    I made this sweet ass jig to keep everything lined up. I am not the fabricator of the group, and my measuring skills are elementary at best, so I gotta do what I can to make sure everything stays straight.

    IMG_1277.JPG

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Also, been stripping some wire. It sucks, and is nerve wracking.
    IMG_1267.JPG

    And here are some of the fellas bending some things. Except for Zach, he don't bend.

    IMG_1271.JPG

    Also, not sure if I ever posted this or not, but here is a picture of the car after the wreck. Got pretty lucky there wasn't more damage really.

    22385025_10212387956007220_1089148062_n.jpg
    49895576_2363143940412542_7915118444373082112_n.jpg

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    3,444
    My Cars
    1999 Z3M, 1999 2.8 Coupe
    Quote Originally Posted by bionicbelly View Post
    Also, been stripping some wire. It sucks, and is nerve wracking.

    And here are some of the fellas bending some things. Except for Zach, he don't bend.

    IMG_1271.JPG
    Looks like some of the guys on our crew. One guy won't pay attention no matter what's going on. Bar ain't gonna bend itself dude...

    20140817_121907.jpg
    Nathan in Denver

    1999 M Roadster, VFE V3 S/C, Randy Forbes Reinforced, Hardtop, H&R/Bilstein, Apex PS-7, Supersprint
    1999 Z3 2.8 Coupe, Headers, 3.46, Manual Swap, H&R/Koni, M Geometry/Brakes, M54B30 Manifold, Style 42

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Got quite a bit more done this weekend. Didn't really get a lot of photos yet, but I will try to do better this week. Anyway, we got the floor back in the trunk, we cut out the spare tire well, and the two cubby things that hang down behind the rear tires so we could have a completely flat trunk floor. This should help to reduce some drag. Also got a lot of the cage welded/in. still have the door bars and harness bar to make, but everything else is cut and fitted. Main hoop feet still need to be welded in, and then we will have some sheet metal work to fill holes.

    Got the subframes and trailing arms blasted, and after adding reinforcements, they are getting painted.
    51755189_2032865576832142_9046695915728928768_n.jpg

    51378987_2030780323704465_1838453213385195520_n.jpg
    51222082_765383297172089_8082694427446870016_n.jpg
    51503099_2235725203381935_2504857839361589248_n.jpg

    Zach has started buying/selling Teslas, and we are trying to find how many bodies will fit in the frunk. Seriously, I drove this car around this weekend, and they are amazing. This is one of the sport, or performance models, (not up on my Tesla lingo) it is quick, and is the best road car I have driven. Kinda want to get one.
    51268213_351055708819685_6043726332225912832_n.jpg

    Also, we now have a FB page as well. If you are on FB, please follow us. (we are trying to do a thing)
    https://www.facebook.com/Zr3surrection/

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    MSP
    Posts
    458
    My Cars
    '95 M3 & '00 M5
    Nice work so far! Will be great to see a Z3 coupe around at the WRL races. What are you targeting for you first event?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    We were really hoping for Barber, but a few of the guys had a busy streak at work. Road America will be our first event. Probably try to do a NASA TT, or something as a shakedown though.

    What are you guys driving?

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Got some more stuff done/started. Door bar on the driver side is in, waiting on another piece of pipe for the passenger, other than that, and the harness bar, we are done with the cage. I got started on the dash, and will hopefully finish that up tonight. It is set up to come out in one piece with about ten bolts. (If it all works out )
    51611134_388933045004131_2503892309238611968_n.jpg
    51704658_388932921670810_4228627029282521088_n.jpg

    We also did an x bar for the front strut towers, copying CMM3's car. It is slightly different, but the same intent.
    52598283_498457957350674_2847737083034861568_n.jpg

    Here is a better look at our mounting points, and the door bar.
    51564411_239761376929943_708443035725201408_n.jpg

    52355795_388933175004118_8307794977690222592_n.jpg
    Last edited by bionicbelly; 02-11-2019 at 07:24 AM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Here are a couple shots of last night. Got most of the dash welded up. Still have a couple of fill in panels to put in on the sides of the console, and some smoothing to do (it was welded in car, so a lot of vertical beads, and tight quarters, and different gauges of material), but overall, pretty excited at how it turned out.
    51838857_299418300772603_6779334035370934272_n.jpg52353307_343696089568485_562095727375810560_n.jpg
    51682738_1769963759775666_7850918608967303168_n.jpg51734086_269029357341818_6344609566067523584_n.jpg

    Roll cage should be buttoned up this week, and the car should be back to rolling status on sunday/monday. At that point, we can get it back to my garage, and really start getting to the fun stuff. It should be a pretty sweet build. Our team has a huge spectrum of talents, and it will be really interesting to watch how it all comes together.
    Last edited by bionicbelly; 02-12-2019 at 08:19 AM.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    oskaloosa,ia
    Posts
    898
    My Cars
    '01 3.0 ZCoupe
    Got the wire harness bagged up last night, hoping to weigh the wire I removed tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how much weight came out. Also got our hubs from Core4 Motorsports. They do a press in stud conversion for BMW's, and since we will likely be doing an AER race, and they require studs, we had it done. I have seen screw in studs break, and what happens as a result, and have been using lug bolts up until now.
    51785980_1986891704946136_8203902347319967744_n.jpg

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    MSP
    Posts
    458
    My Cars
    '95 M3 & '00 M5
    Quote Originally Posted by bionicbelly View Post
    We were really hoping for Barber, but a few of the guys had a busy streak at work. Road America will be our first event. Probably try to do a NASA TT, or something as a shakedown though.

    What are you guys driving?
    We have a couple of E36s. Our current one is a 323is we run in GP2 (pic below) and I am building an M3 (thread: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...-Enduro-E36-M3). We will be at Barber, but are skipping Road America for the first time ever do to a scheduling conflict for one of our guys, but may make Daytona instead. One of our team members and our old mechanic both have M Coupes, so I have a soft spot for them.

    IMG_20181206_110025_619.jpg

Similar Threads

  1. Roll cage install
    By Garlic in forum Florida
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-11-2007, 02:31 PM
  2. roll cage install in central Tee-has?
    By binaryFarms in forum Track, Auto-X & Drag Racing sponsored by Bimmerparts.com
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 07-12-2007, 10:33 AM
  3. Where can i get a good roll bar/ roll cage?
    By Josh///M3 in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-16-2001, 03:30 PM
  4. Got my Roll Cage- Paint, PowderCoat or Vynal??
    By Spencer in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-01-2001, 01:09 AM
  5. Chicago area E36 with ROLL CAGE
    By ELIBEEMER in forum Track, Auto-X & Drag Racing sponsored by Bimmerparts.com
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-22-2001, 11:34 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •