[rr97cmaross]

I decided, after watching some in-car video and seeing a bunch of flex between the a-pillar and a-pillar downtube, that it was time to put a cage in the car that was "proper" and would be something I wouldn't rip out again. This being the 3rd rebuild of it, I had some serious learning points from the first two times and wanted to implement ALOT of changes. With that being said, my goals were:
1. Enhance safety
2. Enhance torsional and longitudinal stiffness
3. Build the car in a way which would fit rule sets to keep my idea of a "play toy"
4. Attempt to build a tube frame within the factory sheet metal without doing a full conversion.

With that in mind, I'd always liked the idea of creating a truss structure since it seemed to offer the solutions to #'s 1 & 2, and seemed to more closely mimick a full tube framed car. I figured if I could get the design and stiffness out of the tube structure, I could get rid of alot of the factory sheet metal and get the cars weight down. I had played around with many different designs (modeled on FEA software) and found one which I really liked but ran into problems with packaging.

The solution came from some pictures I found of some of Alans work. He built a cage in a Black camaro which was just what I was looking for. Many thanks to Alan, his great work, and willingness to post pictures and help everyone out as he was a huge help in this build.

On to the pics (some of these were taken with a phone, apologies)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/IMG00082.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/IMG00083.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/IMG00085.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/P1010004.jpg)

[rr97cmaross]

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/P1010005.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/P1010012.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/P1010009.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/P1010019.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/s4.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/s2.jpg)

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/s7.jpg)

[Blainefab]

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/s7.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.blainefabrication.com/projects/fowler/IMG_2538.JPG)

It's the Fowler AI #92 reincarnate! Good to know that it passes FEA muster along with looking right. Great job!

Interesting solution for the shift lever - I spent a lot of time making a flat face on a round rod to drive the linkage, never occurred to me to use square tube. Ya know, I could make you a delrin knob on a stub that would weld to the square tube and be more comfortable than tape.

[rr97cmaross]

(IMG:http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz195/silentmover1/s7.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.blainefabrication.com/projects/fowler/IMG_2538.JPG)

It's the Fowler AI #92 reincarnate! Good to know that it passes FEA muster along with looking right. Great job!

Interesting solution for the shift lever - I spent a lot of time making a flat face on a round rod to drive the linkage, never occurred to me to use square tube. Ya know, I could make you a delrin knob on a stub that would weld to the square tube and be more comfortable than tape.

Alan, lets do it. It's 1" .060 wall. The tape actually worked really well, but I doubt it'll hold up to the CA summers and a proper solution would be great.

The shifter was made from some spare stuff I had laying around. The linkage is 1/2" square into 1/4" flat AL stock. Everything is fastened with 1/4" (i think) black oxide button head bolts with nyloc SS nuts and med strength loctite'ed together. The linkage is bushed with brass washers between the shifter and intermediate bar, and AL- intermediate bar with nylon washers on the nut side. Worked like a champ and could only feel flex when going into reverse. If this setup doesn't last, I'll switch to AN bolts to get a proper grip length and sleeve the holes through the bars.