Second Wind: the 200mph Merkur

[4-barrel Mike]

Still playing with plastic tubing.   :-P

Based on what I perceived to have been suggested right after I got the car:



I've mocked up some more pieces:





Mike

[Frankie7799]

Heck of alot cheaper and easier to play with plastic tubing Mike than using up a bunch of metal. Neat idea for mocking up stuff  8-)

[tauruck]

You're right Frankie and also you get an idea of how it all works.

Another nice car. Thanks Mike.

[Frankie7799]

You're right Frankie and also you get an idea of how it all works.

If I ever get the opportunity to build an LSR car, Ill probably build it out of plastic pipe and wood ( ala Sumner ) before I cut a first piece of metal. Im still hoping for the opportunity, it might just put me in the dog house with the wife for a long time 

[Rex Schimmer]

Mike,
Looking at your mock up of your cage I would highly suggest that you move the lower vertical bar that intercepts the angled door bar to be directly below the upper roll bar. It is all about load path. If you subject the upper bar to a high vertical down load ( read crash) the upper bar will have to bend, or shear, the angle door bar before the lower bar can transmit the load to the frame, could be down on your head by that time! My preference would be to both have the lower bar directly below the upper bar and also add a diagonal going back to the main roll bar at the bottom. See attached pics.

Rex

[4-barrel Mike]

Rex:

I added 1" to the length of the upper bar, moving it forward.  I can still get in with a helmet on (I thought I couldn't).  Better?  The two pieces (will) run parallel to the main hoop behind the driver.



Add a diagonal like the red line? 

Would it help to add a tube under the small piece,  added behind and to the right of the driver, down to the Alston subframe crossmember?  The small triangular piece, the end of the old bar that the right-side seat belt mounted to, is welded to that crossmember.

Mike

[Rex Schimmer]

Mike,
Yes on the diagonal, really makes that area strong. Adding additional support under the inter section of the new loop will also add strength and additional protection.

Rex

[4-barrel Mike]

Wow!  Slow progress.

The crankshaft was delivered from Southern California today, just in time for the holiday weekend.

After some false starts, the new rollcage bars are tacked in:





The lower rear diagonal bar was educational  and expensive.

Mike

[Milwaukee Midget]

The lower rear diagonal bar was educational  and expensive.

Mike

How slow we become smart - and how fast we become poor!

Tuition, Mike . . . tuition . . .

But man, it's looking REALLY SHARP! 

[4-barrel Mike]

Thanks, Chris!



Mike

[4-barrel Mike]

One more pic:



Mike

[tauruck]

That looks good.

The plastic definitely paid off.

The school fees are worth it.

[Rick Byrnes]

LOOKIN GOOD MIKE

Keep up the good work.  It will be wayyyyy better than before.
(and FASTER)
I'm really happy you ended up with the car and are doing such fine work.

[4-barrel Mike]

Thanks, Rick.

Safety concepts have changed since the '90s. Thanks for suggesting that I buy the Butler-built with the Merk.



Mike

[Tman]

Nice progress Mike!