Rear cage attachment ???????

[Gene-C]

My buggy has the type trans mounts in the picture I swiped from another post below. What have others done to attach the bottom of the cage with this type of mounts. I really don't want to use solid trans mounts. While we're at it anyone have a better idea to mount the top also. Flattening the tube and bolting to the shock just seems a little cheesy. Thanks

[newmanx59]

The engine in the picture has rubber mounts on it. I would bolt the bottom of the cage to the rear mount crossmember. If yours looks like the one pictured. I only installed a rear cage on one buggy. I made a bracket to sandwich the upper shock mount then welded the top of the cage to the bracket. I also welded 1 1/2" dia. tubing from side to side between the top legs of the rear cage just behind the back of the rear seat. I then welded a few tabs to the tubing and bolted them to the fiberglass (bottom of the rear seat area). Once it was fitted, I welded in flanges for easy removal.

[Gene-C]

Here is a rear cage work in progress. sorry the photo is too small. There is a 3/4'' nut welded into the end of the tube and a 3/4'' bolt going thru the tranny mount. Will try to post a larger photo. We are using 1-1/2'' tubing and running from the bottom, width to match the holes in the tranny mount bracket, also have welded tabs on it for a skid plate. The top tubes can be run anyway you wish, horizontally to the shock towers or?? If you are building your own, there are several ways to go. Jimbo

[flaboyjim]

Chuck Here is one idea that I picked up at Bug-In 32. Just another way to skin the cat I guess. - but it might make it a bit harder to remove and install the tranny. Jimbo: Thanks for the picture - your way makes it so much easier to remove than the other ideas that I have seen. Great thinking!

[shaihulud]

The pictues that jimbo has posted are great and show a good strong cage and a stout front affixing at the gearbox mounts. The suggestion that you could bolt the top tubes to the shock absorber towers is problematical. They are not strong and in a minor rear-ender they would almost certainly break. That would then create a serious repair problem. I suggest not using the shock towers structurally, but to run the top tubes to the roll cage to keep the whole structure as separate from the body, engine and suspension mounts as is possible.

[Gene-C]

Keep em coming guys. Jimbo, I can't see very well but it looks as if you are using the solid mount, that would be no problem. I want to keep the original rubber mounts. Please correct me if I am wrong, maybe I'm not understanding well. Jim, I wish I had welded on mounts before I painted it. Now I don't want to mess up my purdy paint. Richard, Did you say roll cage?

[flaboyjim]

Paint is Cheap!!!! I am going to grind through the POR15 on my chassis to weld in the Zeus fastener supports - but - it will be re-paintable... I have some POR Primer just for this project... (for once I thought ahead)

[Gene-C]

Yes, my tranny mount bracket is the solid variety. I believe you can get an after-market standard tranny mount bracket that have double holes in the the base or add them?? I believe the photo by "Yeller Manx" shows 2 sets of holes with padded mounts. :2cents: Jimbo

[flaboyjim]

After studying my transmission mount - has anyone tried something like this for a rear cage mount bracket? I have an additional tranny mount - I may try to accomplish this. Any input will be appreciated.