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Want to put a cage in my car. - 6G Celicas Forums

Topic #81575 57 posts Started by EastSideGuns
EastSideGuns
#1
Since I'm most likely going to get a larger, four door car as a DD next year, I've been thinking I should go all out on my Celica. Still allowing it to be street legal, just barely. tongue.gif

Originally I was pondering whether I should put a 4 point cage in, but now I'm pretty sure I want an 8 point cage.

I know it's going to be a pain in the backside, and I already basically know what to do after reading czwalga's rally car thread, but I have some questions still.

1. I have a sunroof. I want to get rid of it, but then again I don't. Pros and cons of having it?

2. I've gotta take all the plastic out and everything so the cage would fit right and so nothing catches fire while welding. Duh. However, I still want a nice interior. I'll leave the dash. Would it be real difficult to make some cool aluminum interior pieces?

Any input is welcome.
Neon90424
#2
why do you want a cage? are you some sort of animal? tongue.gif jk Im pretty sure that making aluminum interior panels wont be that hard and they would just be riveted into the cage ive seen some pretty nice work with aluminum on cages.. jk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6JA2aEvDCc

this one has a nice dash
What I think when you think I care
EastSideGuns
#3
Well I think I'm going to go bare-bones on the car, no A/C, power windows, etc. All for light weight, but still needs some interior accomodation.
Neon90424
#4
u gonna 3sgte swap or something?

remember the celica still has to mantain some kind of normal balance between the front and the back if you take everything out you might be very prone to oversteer...might wanna move the battery to the back etc...
What I think when you think I care
EastSideGuns
#5
Actually I'm going to leave. The 7A-FE in for that reason. I'm going to rebuild the engine then squeeze a decent amount of horsepower out of it.
SupraKid
#6
My input:

Putting a cage in a 120fwhp car is retarded, and yes, even with mods that's all the 7afe will put out if your lucky.

This post has been edited by SupraKid: Nov 18, 2011 - 8:05 PM
czwalga
#7
I appreciate you going through my thread, but word of advice dont build a cage to build a cage.

All different types of racing require different builds. You could end up with a cage that really isnt legal for anything.


I have a 6 point with removable door bars in the rx7, to make it legal to run under 11.5 sec on NHRA tracks, but the celica's cage wouldnt be NHRA legal.

This post has been edited by czwalga: Nov 18, 2011 - 8:14 PM
-93 Rx7, Turbo 6.1L v8, 725rwhp/760rwtq-95 Celica GT Rally Car - 3sge/AWD-10 F150Always buying stock wheels... PM me if interested in selling.
EastSideGuns
#8
>
QUOTE (SupraKid @ Nov 18, 2011 - 9:05 PM) *
>My input:

Putting a cage in a 120fwhp car is retarded, and yes, even with mods that's all the 7afe will put out if your lucky.


I don't really care if it's retarded or not, I'd just like to personalize my car.

If it makes 120 hp, atleast it will be light.
czwalga
#9
Even if you strip out the interior your weight gain will still be probably be around 100lbs. You're stripping out plastic and replacing it with metal.
-93 Rx7, Turbo 6.1L v8, 725rwhp/760rwtq-95 Celica GT Rally Car - 3sge/AWD-10 F150Always buying stock wheels... PM me if interested in selling.
cheela
#11
so... why are u putting a cage in if your not racing???
*1997 Celica ST - 3SGE Greytop BEAMS*1977 Celica RA29 - Classic Cruiser*2005 Matrix AWD - dedded but still hanging around like a ghost2019 Rav4 XLE Premium - Sports mode is fun.
str8thugginit4ya
#13
>
QUOTE (EastSideGuns @ Nov 19, 2011 - 3:36 AM) *
>Wow factor and self satisfaction.



I do really think what you're doing is crazy, but if that's what you want to do to be satisfied with your car, then so be it. I just think that's a hell of a lot of work to put in when you're not even going to be putting it to good use. Plus, if you want it to look nice for a wow factor, you're gonna have to spray the cage & everything after it's installed in the interior. Which is not hard, but tedious. Good luck with your venture my friend.


-Ryan
SwissFerdi
#14
I'm all down for ambition, but I'm willing to wager that once you get down to the business of completely planning said cage, the effort might deter you. If it doesn't, then I'm down for seeing a bad as cage build. thumbsup.gif

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 19, 2011 - 10:29 AM
'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
EastSideGuns
#15
I just want to make a badass car. I have quite awhile to think about it until I get another car.
czwalga
#16
Well goodluck. Have you thought about all the costs? DOM is around $7 a foot. I bought 140 feet, probably used 120-130'ish. But you could probably get away with around 100 since I added extra for the AWD.

The bender plus the dyes is around 600-700. Decent welder, gas tank (no way i'd build a cage with flux core wire), misc sheet steel.


It's your care but personally i'd never put a full cage in a street car, it's a pain in the ass.
-93 Rx7, Turbo 6.1L v8, 725rwhp/760rwtq-95 Celica GT Rally Car - 3sge/AWD-10 F150Always buying stock wheels... PM me if interested in selling.
richee3
#17
I respect your reasoning for the cage. It's your car, you are aware of the work involved, and the fact that in the long run, it won't be as useful as a cage in Ken Block's car. What I don't understand is that you want to build a BA car, yet leave the 7A, and 120 hp is perfectly fine? Each of those things is contradictory. But again, I fully respect your reasoning. It's your car and we as a group would much rather see it with a cage than another Invader body kit. I say if you want a cage, build yourself a cage and the motor to back it up.
"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others labored hard for." -Socrates. Even Socrates told us touse the search button!2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.1998 Celica GT-BEAMSSwapped.2022 4Runner TRD Off Road Prenium.2021 GMC Sierra AT4.
jordisonjr
#18
So you want to strip all the weight, and you want to put all that weight back in with a cage? Makes sense..
-Protection mode, For when your amp tries to blow its load.1995 Toyota Celica GTS-Daily Driver1999 Chevy Cavalier-Winter Beater1994 Honda Civic CX Hatchback-DeadMy Celica!
mkernz22
#19
You'd probably add more weight than save weight with the cage.

This is all just my input and opinion, but there is no "badass" to a car that has a cage that's only pushing 120whp, if that, and i dont feel like there's any wow factor to it since it's not actually going to help with anything. it's not really going all out if you just leave the 7afe in there, even if you turbo it.
diegohiga
#20
I would save that money to buy a set of coilovers.
SwissFerdi
#21
>
QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 20, 2011 - 1:59 AM) *
>it's not really going all out if you just leave the 7afe in there, even if you turbo it.


Yeah see, but strip it as planned...ditch the cage idea, to save weight...and turbo. Your power-to-weight ratio will be miles better than factory.

Stock ST: 23.8 pounds per horsepower (figuring 2500 fully loaded pounds in my case).

7A-FTE: Let's say 180bhp, 153whp, and let us put the car at 2300 lbs, fully loaded again. 12.77, meaning with a bit o' forced induction and some aural discomfort, you'll literally have twice the Cerica.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 20, 2011 - 10:50 AM
'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
EastSideGuns
#22
>
QUOTE (richee3 @ Nov 19, 2011 - 10:09 PM) *
>I respect your reasoning for the cage. It's your car, you are aware of the work involved, and the fact that in the long run, it won't be as useful as a cage in Ken Block's car. What I don't understand is that you want to build a BA car, yet leave the 7A, and 120 hp is perfectly fine? Each of those things is contradictory. But again, I fully respect your reasoning. It's your car and we as a group would much rather see it with a cage than another Invader body kit. I say if you want a cage, build yourself a cage and the motor to back it up.


See, I wasn't aware the 7A-FE wouldn't produce a lot of horsepower. I was going to leave it for its light weight, but I thought with the right parts, engine balancing, etc that it would gain more than just 10 hp from stock. I'm sure you could get quite a bit of hp out of it...it would just take a lot of money I'm sure.

I'll have to think that through a little more. Is the 3S-GTE the absolute best option otherwise?


>
QUOTE (SwissFerdi @ Nov 20, 2011 - 10:49 AM) *
>>
QUOTE (mkernz22 @ Nov 20, 2011 - 1:59 AM) *
>it's not really going all out if you just leave the 7afe in there, even if you turbo it.


Yeah see, but strip it as planned...ditch the cage idea, to save weight...and turbo. Your power-to-weight ratio will be miles better than factory.

Stock ST: 23.8 pounds per horsepower (figuring 2500 fully loaded pounds in my case).

7A-FTE: Let's say 180bhp, 153whp, and let us put the car at 2300 lbs, fully loaded again. 12.77, meaning with a bit o' forced induction and some aural discomfort, you'll literally have twice the Cerica.


Also, if you balance it out well (battery relocation, maybe placement of a/the fuel cell), it will handle better still.
EastSideGuns
#23
Guys, I'm 18 years old. However I've had a lot of experience with machinery. My job for three years (on and off) has been repair and maintenance on medical air systems. Vacuum pumps and air compressors. I can run multiple hand and power tools, pneumatics, lathes, and I've had some experience on milling machines.

My father used to work for a guy who raced sprint cars in the 80's and 90's. From the things that he's told me, I have a basic knowledge of frame and cage building, as well as race car setup.

While that may seem somewhat irrelevant, what I mean by this passage is that I'm a project kind of guy. I'm a person who will accept any challenge. I want my Celica to be my project.
Neon90424
#24
>
QUOTE (EastSideGuns @ Nov 21, 2011 - 10:46 PM) *
>I'll have to think that through a little more. Is the 3S-GTE the absolute best option otherwise?


3SGTE swap = Celica Missile
What I think when you think I care
stephen_lee
#26
3sgte + celica = unlimited HP.

u mad?
QUOTE"And, as always, your friendship, help, and dedication to the advancement of Texas Celica dominance is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks bro." -DEATH1994 GT:V6 swap, 5speed E53 W/ LSD, All Power, now RED1995 ST:SOLD @273k miles, Auto, all power, CarPC, White1994 ST:Totaled, 5spd, all power, RedRIP 07/09/09 @ 241,8101994 Lexus LS400:This is my new DD
cheela
#28
trust us. 7afe turboed will give 180 HP at most

3sgte is already more than that stock and can double/triple/quadruple tongue.gif

if not, go read up on the stickies in the engine forum, there's a few other options to swap out for the 7afe such as 4age, 4agze, or 7agte. Read read read smile.gif
*1997 Celica ST - 3SGE Greytop BEAMS*1977 Celica RA29 - Classic Cruiser*2005 Matrix AWD - dedded but still hanging around like a ghost2019 Rav4 XLE Premium - Sports mode is fun.
SupraKid
#29
>
QUOTE (EastSideGuns @ Nov 19, 2011 - 7:41 AM) *
>I just want to make a badass car. I have quite awhile to think about it until I get another car.

7afe and badass car don't go hand in hand... You want to make your car look really fast without actually being anywhere close to it, your like most other 18 year olds...I did it biggrin.gif

This post has been edited by SupraKid: Nov 22, 2011 - 12:15 AM
SwissFerdi
#30
To me, a 7A-FTE build seems to be worth it only if parts happen to come cheap, yet sturdy, and the builder makes sure, properly makes sure, that the engine is prepared to handle a few pounds of boost. That's a tough combination, but I see where you're coming from. The setup greatly intrigues me as well.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Nov 22, 2011 - 12:35 AM
'97 ST\ Eibach \ KYB \ Kenwood \ Alpine \ Cusco \ OEM+[sold 10/18]'93 MX-5LE
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