Back on Track

So its been a while since the last blog but in this time I have been away in Canada skiing and walking in Snowdon not that I’m making excuses for my slow progress!! The shell is taking shape now and most holes have been repaired and weak parts strengthened. Recently I have been cutting the seat rails and it seems like most of the floor to allow for head room once the cage is installed. I hope to install the boxes for the new rear suspension parallel link set-up into the bulkhead next weekend and if I get time I will fit the jacking points into the sill front and back. There still seems so much to do before I get onto what I consider the fun bits i.e. rebuilding the engine, modifying the rear axel and trailing arms and just generally cleaning and refurbishing parts.
Apart from the above I have just been trying to stay alive after breathing in the toxic fumes cased by seam sealer, paint, under seal and rust. It seams that whatever mask you wear, even a gas mask ) the fumes manage to get through.

I have a really big decision this week, which roll cage should I fit. I have two choices,
Choice A: I fit the Safety Devises cage.
For

It cost less than £400
There is less work in the installation
I know that the cage is FIA approved and suitable for the HRCR

Against

It restricts the field of vision.
Head clearance could be tight with a helmet on.
It wouldn’t stiffen the chassis to the same degree as the weld in cage.

Choice B: I fit the weld in cage.
For

This cage would protrude only slightly into the field of vision.
It would stiffen the chassis considerably
There wouldn’t be an issue with clearance around the helmet

Against

There is a lot more work to install this cage (although it only has to be done once)
It costs around £ 650
there is a risk of distorting the shell on installation.
It is still not clear if this cage will meet the regs
I would have to get the cage inspected and approved.
Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures taken, I am working on it.