mx5cartalk.com

Hi all,

I’m looking to get a full CAMS compliant cage built in my NB, almost certainly coupled with a floor drop (so that 6’5 me will fit inside it under a hardtop).

Have you had a cage built in an MX5 by a QLD builder that you would recommend?

There’s plenty of cage builders around it seems, but I’d prefer to work with one who has Mx5 experience.

Cheers,
Hanson

The best cages I have seen done in an mx5 have been done buy automotive plus... or by danny's other company anyway.

The American wrote:CAMS compliant cage built in my NB

Look for the CAMS person who will be log booking your car. Having this person involved in the cage building process will save a lot of angst later on. This person may also help with the selection of a cage builder.

I had mine done by Scott's Rods in Yamanto (near Ipswich).

It was pretty reasonably priced ($2600 last year) and is reasonably comprehensive, although its only CAMS State level but could have been National with a couple of extra bars.

There are a couple of bits that in retrospect I would have liked done a little differently but they were pretty accomodating, so if you're fussy just be really specific up front. Fabrication and welding quality looks decent although not the artwork a some cage builders do.

They did the CAMS paperwork for it and I submitted it along with some photos. All went through without any problems.

plohl wrote:The best cages I have seen done in an mx5 have been done buy automotive plus... or by danny's other company anyway.

I’m hoping they are still doing them. I quite like the work they did on the NB back in 2013.

Magpie wrote:

The American wrote:CAMS compliant cage built in my NB

Look for the CAMS person who will be log booking your car. Having this person involved in the cage building process will save a lot of angst later on. This person may also help with the selection of a cage builder.

Pick your tuner not your ECU? I do want to use someone who has done the thinking for an Mx5 before, so that the R&D element has been somewhat done before.

CrazyRacer wrote:I had mine done by Scott's Rods in Yamanto (near Ipswich).

It was pretty reasonably priced ($2600 last year) and is reasonably comprehensive....

Thanks for sharing the photos Crazy Racer!

As requested.

It has been certified by cams and the car is 2b log booked with this cage.

And the roof fits nil issues as per latest photo, I'm also 188cm tall if that helps.

Tim_cyc03 wrote:As requested.

It has been certified by cams and the car is 2b log booked with this cage.

And the roof fits nil issues as per latest photo, I'm also 188cm tall if that helps.

Thanks Tim,
Much appreciated. Did your roof have to be modified to fit around the cage, other than using fixed brackets instead of latches?

Nope, its just a lightyear CF one, so not thick anyway.

But the cage will fit a normal roof I believe (with fixed brackets), they made another one for an NB prior to this cage, and it has a standard hardtop.

Just bumping this in case anyone else has a suggestion or local recommendation.

Would love an Automotive Plus cage based on the photos I’ve seen, but it sounds like the wait might be a bit too long to be workable.

Just saw one of the QLD Prodsports guys is selling their ND race car and the cage was also done by Scotts Rods. Seems they are up to speed with CAMS requirements and the work I have seen to date seems pretty good.

A question for those who have put a cage in an NA or NB

Q1: The front leg travels down the window frame and *could* be designed to pass between the dash bar and the fan box.

Alternatively the box must be relocated or a substitute fan plumbed in to retain a blown demister. What did you do?

Q2: did you retain the factory dash bar? If you didn’t, how did you attach the dash skin?

Q3: How much of the factory hVac system did you retain?

1. Probably pretty painful to do so.
I have a 12v hair drier.... it's kinda effective. Mine could be plumbed a lot better.
2. Seen both done, easier to keep it
3. Zero. I haven't seen one with a good change and hvac system.

Why do you want to keep the hvac? You can't get a cage mod plated anymore.

1. Not sure I understand.

2. Kept mine.

3. Zero here too. Hair dryer too!!. I also have a couple of small heater cores with integral fans, which I was going to plumb/wire in. They would only be big enough to demist, and I was only going demist the driver's side anyway. The problem with the hair dryers (!?!) is how long they work continuously - could be an issue in a long continuously wet race. So I was told, and hence the plan to replace it. If interested in this solution, let me know and I will see if I can find them. I have(?) one very small, one slightly larger.

plohl wrote:Why do you want to keep the hvac? You can't get a cage mod plated anymore.

Only for the demister

Thanks Guys,

It sounds like removing all the factory vent system and keeping the dash bar is going to be the simplest path.