How to cage a W123 Mercedes - ?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 18, 2011 2:38 p.m. volvoclearinghouse Reader

After losing the brakes on our beloved Tunachucker Amazon and subsequently crashing headlong into an innocent Honda at the last CMP race, we're at a bit of a crossroads in our LeMons endeavors. We have been tossing about the idea of using a 1979 300D that I bought as a parts car for a new LeMons car. However, one of the biggest stumbling blocks is the lack of a cage. We really lucked out on the Amazon, and found a cheap, used cage that welded right in without much modification, but the Merc is larger than the 122, so we would need to find/make/buy something new.

I have searched from one end of the interwebs to the other, but cannot find anyone who makes roll cages specifically for the w123 body Mercedes. And I am (understandably, I hope) reluctant to purchase a "universal fit" cage. Anyone know of a place to buy a cage for this car, or know anyone in the Greenville, SC area who could fab one up for a LeMons team on a tight budget?

Naturally, we're looking to improve a bit on the 300D's stonking 80 brake horsepower, but that's a topic for another time...
Jan. 18, 2011 3:48 p.m. That idiot who can't spell SuperDork

Can't do much to help you with the roll cage. But this forum has a lot of useful information on tuning the OM617 and the W123 chassis. http://www.superturbodiesel.com/std/index.php
Jan. 18, 2011 3:53 p.m. Toyman01 SuperDork

Jensenman and I built the cage for our last car from scratch. He has a bender. It wasn't too hard, just time consuming. If you can weld in bought cage, bending one is the next step.
Jan. 18, 2011 7:37 p.m. Steve Chryssos Associate Publisher

That's an easy one: S&W Race Cars approached us at PRI. We were surprised since S&W is pretty much a hardcore drag race company. Turns out they do tons of LeMons/Chump Car cages. If you can work a measuring tape and a phone, you can order a cage kit from them.

LeMons Cages
Jan. 19, 2011 6:35 a.m. volvoclearinghouse Reader

Thanks for the tips, especially the link to S&W, I haven't come across them before. Their prices seem very competitive.

I've got half a mind to buy a tubing bender and try this myself...I mean, I've got 8 years of engineer school under my belt, 10 years work experience, and been welding for 14 years. Hmmm...things to think about...
Jan. 19, 2011 7:21 a.m. Ian F SuperDork

Hmm... I'd love to see this... as it would perpetuate evil thoughts I've had about a rusty (and for sale) 450SL that I pass every day on the way to work...
Jan. 19, 2011 8:31 a.m. patgizz SuperDork

find a car with similar dimensions that has a kit available.

i found for my old lumina Z34 that it had very similar interior dimensions to a 2nd gen camaro, and it turned out that the camaro main hoop and the rest of the camaro kit was perfect.
Jan. 19, 2011 8:51 a.m. Steve Chryssos Associate Publisher

volvoclearinghouse wrote:

Thanks for the tips, especially the link to S&W, I haven't come across them before. Their prices seem very competitive.

I've got half a mind to buy a tubing bender and try this myself...I mean, I've got 8 years of engineer school under my belt, 10 years work experience, and been welding for 14 years. Hmmm...things to think about...

Yeah, we were pleasantly surprised by the S&W people --Especially our new friend Jill Canuso.
Jan. 19, 2011 9:41 a.m. That idiot who can't spell SuperDork

Steve Chryssos wrote:

That's an easy one: S&W Race Cars approached us at PRI. We were surprised since S&W is pretty much a hardcore drag race company. Turns out they do tons of LeMons/Chump Car cages. If you can work a measuring tape and a phone, you can order a cage kit from them.

LeMons Cages

Would those cages work for the Challenge?
Jan. 20, 2011 8:20 a.m. camaroz1985 Reader

I too would recommend S&W. They are relatively local so we went and picked up our Lemons cage kit there. Fit great, and is being finish welded as we speak.
Jan. 20, 2011 9:33 a.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

I don't see any reason why a S&W cage wouldn't be legal for the Challenge, as long as it meets all of the NHRA guidelines.
Jan. 20, 2011 10:10 a.m. Sonic Dork

From what I saw on the s&w site, they use ERW tubing on their Lemons kits, and Lemons very strongly recommends DOM. Something to consider.
Jan. 20, 2011 10:11 a.m. That idiot who can't spell SuperDork

Sonic wrote:

From what I saw on the s&w site, they use ERW tubing on their Lemons kits, and Lemons very strongly recommends DOM. Something to consider.

The third cage down uses DOM.
Jan. 20, 2011 11:44 a.m. JThw8 SuperDork

Steve Chryssos wrote:

Yeah, we were pleasantly surprised by the S&W people --Especially our new friend Jill Canuso.

Jill used to come autocross with us in the South Jersey SCCA. Very cool lady and a great driver.