Welder
 

What's a fair price to pay for welding in a pre-made cage?

Around 500-600. There's a place here that charged a few members 1000 and they made the cage for them.

Wow that seems like a hell of a lot of money.

Not really depends on how many points. I remember several years back I was going to have a six point fabbed and installed by a guy Sean knew who did the cages for some drift and rally guys. I want to say the deal price was about $1,400, but was chromoly too, not mild steel AIR.

1,400 doesnt seem to bad for fab & welding of chromoly (its really is alot different then DOM)

but 500 just for welding seems like alot in my mind

Do you guys have any local places that you recommend? Right know I'm looking at ~$1500 for the pre-manufactured cage plus whatever I get charged to have it welded. $1000-$2000 to have a cage completely built is a deal IMO.

http://www.blackbirdfabworx.com/

Not inexpensive however his work is closer to art.

I'll send you a PM.

Most shops charge around $100 for just welding up an exhaust. Lots more time for a cage. $500 seems fair to me.

Is the prebent cage 4130, DOM or mild steel? DOM and mild can be MIG welded and both are legal for NHRA. 4103 chomoly has to be TIG welded. The one we made for the RxSnake is mild steel. I don't think mild is legal for SCCA though. I believe it has to be either 4130 or DOM.

It was DOM and it's no longer available. PFADT has upgraded from racing NASA and SCCA to racing Camaros in a European GT league. So pre-made kits are available from Autopower, Kirkland, and Breathless performance. They are all DOM. Not terribly impressed by any of them.

Blackbird starts at $3500

Contact Brandon at BTF. They are mainly an offroad truck fabrication shop but he has reasonable pricing and can fab up a cage from 4130 for you. 4130 will cost more but because it's stronger you are able to use a thinner wall so it will be lighter than a DOM cage and just as strong. Tell him 94cobra69ss396 from Dezertrangers.com referred you.

BTF - (909) 702-7462
http://www.btf-fab.com/

I spoke with Moti from blackbird for about an hour today. He is very good. He is a NASA racer that runs PT. He was familiar with the rules and the amount oc chassis stiffening you are allowed to do for ST1 I think I will finish all the little stuff (battery relocation, weight reduction, seats, and fuel cell) myself and take the car to him for the cage. Not super cheap, but I won't have to worry about passing cert and he will be at all the same events for support. I will call Brandon and see if he can do the job at a better price.

PM Jammer89. He can weld paper to steel.

Did you get my PM?

Ben,
Yes I got the PM. I called and left a message, but haven't heard back yet.
Carlos