Want to put a cage in my car. Options

[EastSideGuns]

Since I'm most likely going to get a larger, four door car as a DD next year, I've been thinking I should go all out on my Celica. Still allowing it to be street legal, just barely.

Originally I was pondering whether I should put a 4 point cage in, but now I'm pretty sure I want an 8 point cage.

I know it's going to be a pain in the backside, and I already basically know what to do after reading czwalga's rally car thread, but I have some questions still.

1. I have a sunroof. I want to get rid of it, but then again I don't. Pros and cons of having it?

2. I've gotta take all the plastic out and everything so the cage would fit right and so nothing catches fire while welding. Duh. However, I still want a nice interior. I'll leave the dash. Would it be real difficult to make some cool aluminum interior pieces?

Any input is welcome.

[richee3]

I respect your reasoning for the cage. It's your car, you are aware of the work involved, and the fact that in the long run, it won't be as useful as a cage in Ken Block's car. What I don't understand is that you want to build a BA car, yet leave the 7A, and 120 hp is perfectly fine? Each of those things is contradictory. But again, I fully respect your reasoning. It's your car and we as a group would much rather see it with a cage than another Invader body kit. I say if you want a cage, build yourself a cage and the motor to back it up.

[EastSideGuns]

I respect your reasoning for the cage. It's your car, you are aware of the work involved, and the fact that in the long run, it won't be as useful as a cage in Ken Block's car. What I don't understand is that you want to build a BA car, yet leave the 7A, and 120 hp is perfectly fine? Each of those things is contradictory. But again, I fully respect your reasoning. It's your car and we as a group would much rather see it with a cage than another Invader body kit. I say if you want a cage, build yourself a cage and the motor to back it up.

See, I wasn't aware the 7A-FE wouldn't produce a lot of horsepower. I was going to leave it for its light weight, but I thought with the right parts, engine balancing, etc that it would gain more than just 10 hp from stock. I'm sure you could get quite a bit of hp out of it...it would just take a lot of money I'm sure.

I'll have to think that through a little more. Is the 3S-GTE the absolute best option otherwise?

it's not really going all out if you just leave the 7afe in there, even if you turbo it.

Yeah see, but strip it as planned...ditch the cage idea, to save weight...and turbo. Your power-to-weight ratio will be miles better than factory.

Stock ST: 23.8 pounds per horsepower (figuring 2500 fully loaded pounds in my case).

7A-FTE: Let's say 180bhp, 153whp, and let us put the car at 2300 lbs, fully loaded again. 12.77, meaning with a bit o' forced induction and some aural discomfort, you'll literally have twice the Cerica.

Also, if you balance it out well (battery relocation, maybe placement of a/the fuel cell), it will handle better still.

[Neon90424]

I'll have to think that through a little more. Is the 3S-GTE the absolute best option otherwise?

3SGTE swap = Celica Missile