Off-road Car Cage work needed

rcmike · Aug 16, 2018

The Miata was at like 300 with ZERO lag.. It was a road race car that made me giggle every time I was leaving a corner. 400 is child's play. 320 with almost no lag will be beautiful and reliable, if you have a good tuner..

rrrr · Aug 16, 2018

It looks great. Really a nice fab job.

You might want to have a better radiator shroud fabricated. With the fan tight to the radiator you are going to lose cooling capacity, and pushing it hard in the sand might result in overheating. Four hundred horsepower is gonna generate a lot of heat.

Take advantage of the space you have and build a square to round shroud at least 3" deep. If nothing else, gasket that gap between the radiator and shroud at the top and bottom.

Also consider using a rubber in shear arrangement to fasten the radiator to the tabs on the frame. It would reduce the stress on the radiator tanks.

Don't mean to sound preachy, just wanted to toss out something for consideration.

No Butt No Putt · Aug 18, 2018

Started wiring up the new engine.

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No Butt No Putt · Aug 18, 2018

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No Butt No Putt · Aug 18, 2018

rrrr said:
It looks great. Really a nice fab job.

You might want to have a better radiator shroud fabricated. With the fan tight to the radiator you are going to lose cooling capacity, and pushing it hard in the sand might result in overheating. Four hundred horsepower is gonna generate a lot of heat.

Take advantage of the space you have and build a square to round shroud at least 3" deep. If nothing else, gasket that gap between the radiator and shroud at the top and bottom.

Also consider using a rubber in shear arrangement to fasten the radiator to the tabs on the frame. It would reduce the stress on the radiator tanks.

Don't mean to sound preachy, just wanted to toss out something for consideration.

Thank you for the tips and ideas. I’ve never built a car like this so I’m sure there will be some test and tune. From what I’ve found there’s not a lot of Honda / VW so I’m running in the dark.

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No Butt No Putt · Aug 18, 2018

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No Butt No Putt · Aug 22, 2018

Got the header back from coating.

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Deja_Vu · Aug 22, 2018

Looking Good! Really coming out nice!

rrrr said:
It looks great. Really a nice fab job.

You might want to have a better radiator shroud fabricated. With the fan tight to the radiator you are going to lose cooling capacity, and pushing it hard in the sand might result in overheating. Four hundred horsepower is gonna generate a lot of heat.

Take advantage of the space you have and build a square to round shroud at least 3" deep. If nothing else, gasket that gap between the radiator and shroud at the top and bottom.

Also consider using a rubber in shear arrangement to fasten the radiator to the tabs on the frame. It would reduce the stress on the radiator tanks.

Don't mean to sound preachy, just wanted to toss out something for consideration.

Agreed. Something more like this would really increase your cooling capacity...if you have room for it.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allstar-...=sem&msclkid=ef08fb8b3a59154d7c23a0f6a9c4c444

dfc3469c-a921-4f7b-8895-b6c74b65c439_1.92c49890669f158142aba8c932f361c5.jpeg

No Butt No Putt · Sep 26, 2018

Here’s a little update on the car. I’m wiring it and I need fuel injectors and she’s ready to start.

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coolchange · Sep 26, 2018

rrrr said:
It looks great. Really a nice fab job.

You might want to have a better radiator shroud fabricated. With the fan tight to the radiator you are going to lose cooling capacity, and pushing it hard in the sand might result in overheating. Four hundred horsepower is gonna generate a lot of heat.

Take advantage of the space you have and build a square to round shroud at least 3" deep. If nothing else, gasket that gap between the radiator and shroud at the top and bottom.

Also consider using a rubber in shear arrangement to fasten the radiator to the tabs on the frame. It would reduce the stress on the radiator tanks.

Don't mean to sound preachy, just wanted to toss out something for consideration.

Agreed that radiator will break.

No Butt No Putt · Sep 26, 2018

coolchange said:
Agreed that radiator will break.

How is it going to break?

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coolchange · Sep 28, 2018

No Butt No Putt said:
How is it going to break?

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Regardless of how strong that cage is it will still twist and flex and transfer shock. Look at others how the radiator is isolated. Might get away with it I would at least keep an eye on it.

Meaney77 · Sep 28, 2018

No Butt No Putt said:
How is it going to break?

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coolchange said:
Regardless of how strong that cage is it will still twist and flex and transfer shock. Look at others how the radiator is isolated. Might get away with it I would at least keep an eye on it.

The way you have it mounted is fairly common in Baja's with water cooled motors- I dont see the issue, but what do I know. I have mine mounted under my backseat (tabed to the cage) in a 4 seat Manx and knock on wood haven't had any issues.

RaceTec · Sep 28, 2018

Ballsdeep said:
The way you have it mounted is fairly common in Baja's with water cooled motors- I dont see the issue, but what do I know. I have mine mounted under my backseat (tabed to the cage) in a 4 seat Manx and knock on wood haven't had any issues.

Can you post a picture of how you have yours mounted?

Meaney77 · Sep 28, 2018

RaceTec said:
Can you post a picture of how you have yours mounted?

I will take a few pictures when I get home from work later.

tunnel vision · Sep 28, 2018

I would use something like this to isolate the twist and vib.

Meaney77 · Oct 6, 2018

RaceTec said:
Can you post a picture of how you have yours mounted?

Sorry for the delay.... Not the best pictures but you get the idea.

No Butt No Putt · Oct 6, 2018

Here’s the car now. Gotta add a intercooler next. I got a good deal on used MT Baja tires. 33’s

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No Butt No Putt · Oct 6, 2018

I don’t think that cage is going to break the rad.

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Meaney77 · Oct 6, 2018

No Butt No Putt said:
Here’s the car now. Gotta add a intercooler next. I got a good deal on used MT Baja tires. 33’s View attachment 690216 View attachment 690217

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Looks good, shes going to be a runner! Need to use the go peddle gingerly to keep that bus box together!

rrrr · Oct 7, 2018

No Butt No Putt said:
I don’t think that cage is going to break the rad.

The photo of the radiator posted by ballsdeep shows the box extension on the square portion of the radiator shroud I was trying to describe. His shroud is also closely fitted, ensuring good airflow and no losses from gaps or mismatched surfaces.

I don't think flexing of the cage would affect the radiator. My concern was sudden shocks or prolonged cycles of rapid movement, for example from jumping or whoops on a firm road surface other than sand. With your radiator mounted vertically, those type of small but cumulative shear loads might cause cracking of the tanks or seperation of the core tubes from the tanks.

The 1/4"-20 mounts listed in the post above would be adequate, plus they're cheap and easy to install. They'll provide that little bit of insurance against a failure. My observations are a result of some racing experiences that include a few DNFs because of weaknesses in small overlooked methods and material. When the car has coasted to a stop, it's too late to enact preventative measures.

But take it with a grain of salt. Running a bug in the sand is probably less stressful than I'm imagining, and you can't guard against every possibility that exists.

One thing is certain though. You have a really bitchin' bug, and it looks like it's gonna fly. Have fun in it this winter.

No Butt No Putt · Oct 15, 2018

I got more goodies for Senõr Bajonda.

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No Butt No Putt · Oct 17, 2018

Here’s a couple more pics of progress.

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No Butt No Putt · Oct 17, 2018

Got some new seats too.

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rrrr · Oct 17, 2018

Lookin' good. It's gonna scream.

No Butt No Putt · Oct 17, 2018

rrrr said:
Lookin' good. It's gonna scream.

I hope so. Going to the tuner on the 2nd.

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No Butt No Putt · Oct 20, 2018

The engine is fully rigged and runs. I’m going to go bigger turbo, billet throttle body and more boost next winter. This year I’m just driving it.

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rrrr · Oct 20, 2018

More boost? It already looks like a leg wetter.

OutCole'd · Oct 20, 2018

I’d drive it and see how it goes. I guess if I went to the sand dunes, I’d need a ton of HP, sand and paddles need a lot.

All I really run my car in is hardpack desert and I really have as much power as I need to run comfortably and my VW powered car is only putting out about 165HP.

It does not take a ton to make a 2k lb car fun.

Enjoy, looks like such a great build.

Headless hula · Oct 20, 2018

No Butt No Putt said:
I got more goodies for Senõr Bajonda. View attachment 692935
View attachment 692936

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Is that piping aluminum or stainless?

No Butt No Putt · Oct 20, 2018

Headless hula said:
Is that piping aluminum or stainless?

Polished aluminum

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No Butt No Putt · Oct 20, 2018

rrrr said:
More boost? It already looks like a leg wetter.

Yeah. We will turn it up to about 14lbs. It should be around 400hp and 280 torque. I’ll do it after I beef up the trans.

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No Butt No Putt · Oct 20, 2018

OutCole'd said:
I’d drive it and see how it goes. I guess if I went to the sand dunes, I’d need a ton of HP, sand and paddles need a lot.

All I really run my car in is hardpack desert and I really have as much power as I need to run comfortably and my VW powered car is only putting out about 165HP.

It does not take a ton to make a 2k lb car fun.

Enjoy, looks like such a great build.

I plan on just driving it this year. Next summer we will turn her up. It pulls the front tires no problem now. [emoji16]

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