Cage removal

[Chakka]

Decided not to race my RSA. Going to take out the cage put in last spring.

It is a bolt-in Safety Devices cage. I'm leaving the back half in, but removing

the front that was put in. My question is the front legs are welded into the

footwell, everything else in the front is bolted. Bolts are easy, but how do I

(un)weld the legs from the chassis?

[HoodPin]

My guess is you'll need some sort of grinder or cutting wheel to grind away the welds in order to separate the legs from the chassis. Then you can grind the chassis surfaces to smoothen out whatever's left, and then paint.

[Trak Ratt]

My guess is you'll need some sort of grinder or cutting wheel to grind away the welds in order to separate the legs from the chassis. Then you can grind the chassis surfaces to smoothen out whatever's left, and then paint.
X2, prolly welded to plates anyway. Could just cut as close to welds as possible an gring the rest flat. Are you going to try and sell the front legs? If not it just gets easier and easier...

[Chakka]

I'd like to if possible sell the front half.

[Vicegrip]

Post some clear images of the front weld points. How best to remove depends on how they were installed.

[Chopper Dropper]

Bribe Vice Grip to come on over to the shore, he may not be cheap, but he is easy (so I,ve heard)
Dirk

[Vicegrip]

Bribe Vice Grip to come on over to the shore, he may not be cheap, but he is easy (so I,ve heard)
DirkSad to say but I am cheap too.:oops:

[Eric S]

...and he has a plasma cutter!

[markwemple]

Best yet, he knows how to use the stuff and make it look easy/good.

[Dr K]

If there are plates welded in, try to leave the plates, as that's the hard part and it would make reinstall of cage easier in the future. I left in all my welded-in plates in the Targa (from Safety Devices - the cage bolted to the plates with no part of the cage welded directly to the car). If a future owner wants to put a cage in, it would be easy-peasy.

[Vicegrip]

Easy way is to cut the bars flush with the plates and leave them behind as Dr.K pointed out. cut using an angle grinder with a cut off wheel. I cut as much as I can and then rock the bar around to crack the welds. The tubes tend to give way right at the weld leaving a nub behind. Grind the nubs flush and done.

If you take care you can also remove the plates by cutting the plate welds using the same angle grinder and cut off wheels. Cut the welds most of the way through then wiggle the plate to crack the remaining metal. I cut through the middle of the weld and then remove the plate. Remove the weld blobs and feather the welds down with an 80 then 10 grit flap wheel. A properly welded in plate is hard to remove without damage to the sill but it can be done with some care and an hour or so of time. I weld the plates both on edge and pothole welds through drilled holes. Pothole welds make the plates hard to remove. If yours have pothole welds I would leave them.

[Chakka]

Haven't pulled back the carpet yet to see exactly how they are welded, but will snap a pic when I do. Thanks for the info and help!

[Parenn911]

When all else fails, use the flamethrower!!

[whitecar]

SO..... all this removing stuff.... what are you going to RACE ??? i have to have someone to play with....