Bradan F355 Roll cage + 6 spd conversion

Grab yourself a nice abrasive wheel chop saw - works way better and faster than a band saw

 

Many ways to get the job done but when I was building dragster chassis, I was cutting and notching A LOT of tubes and nothing does it quicker than an abrasive chop saw.

For the record - I have all my fingers

I also would notch many tubes on a grinder and got them right first try

No argument regarding the smell - you are correct, burnt 4130 really smells and it's hard to get that smell out of your skin

 

It is rare to see a halo bar

 

Smell? LOL I live for those smells

We need more cages

 

Interested to know how your guy managed to weld all around the tube so close to that flammable roof lining?

 

Pretty sure he was talking about the shift shafts they made for the conversion kits.

 

I love these Bradan workshop threads. Wish I lived on the east coast...I'd bring my car to you guys.

 

The back side of the pipes would be welded first.....you have to be very strategic with your welding.
As for the roof lining and other delicate parts.....I'm guessing they used flame proof blankets......thats what I would do.

 

The tubes are too close to the roof etc to be able to get a 100% weld around them regardless of whether you could slide a heat blanket into the gap or not, and weld spatter will burn the lining as well.

My understanding is that normal procedure is you cut holes in the floor, allow the whole tacked assembly to drop, weld the awkward parts then slide it back up into position, plate the holes and finalise the welds, but that does not look possible with the plates already fitted to the floor.

Not being critical here, just trying to understand the process that was carried out in this example.

I have two cages going into 2 355 bare chassis in the next few weeks but have the advantage as mine have no roof

edit

actually it looks like that is what the guys have already done and the cage is just resting on the bases for now and they will be slid out of the way once its all tacked up in order to allow the cage to drop. Not sure how they will tackle the rear facing bars though.

 

Agreed on being able to drop it down^^ That would give you access with a micro torch. Should be zero weld spatter however if everything is clean.

Could use 3M 05916 to be safe.

 

Drop cage off perches, remove interior, weld
reinstall

 

Agreed (assuming, and hoping, TIG welding)

 

Cool

 

Nope nope.I was talking about the shift shaft, its one piece thats different on the f1 to 6 speed swap.

Im kinda accumulating the spare parts since my GTS is a euro and has F1 trans, its already a bastard why not make it a manual..maybe

Or accumulate everything and sell it as a kit if I never use it.

 

Johnny, that part should be available used. And, to be precise, it's a sub-assembly (several parts)

You are referring to the shaft that goes from the shift are to the gearbox - correct?

 

Its never pulled from a transmission that I have seen, so it looks like a little time on a lathe to get me one. Not a big deal.

Specifically the shaft that goes inside the transmission.

Ill post pics of my stick vs F1 for peoples info.

Give me a few min.

 

Here is a standard 6 speed and then F1 transmission shafts.

I am going to remove the front cover to check all this out for my own knowledge.

The clamp that holds this part is a different part number as well.
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Is the new owner planning on tracking this car? If so, I'm just trying to understand why he chose a freshly restored F1 to convert to manual. Seems like there would have been a lot of other, less expensive options if that was his ultimate goal.