is a used cage a good idea?

I recently came across a used auto power roll cage for sale in annother web sites classified section, I haven't heard back from the seller yet, so I don't know its back ground, or what happened to the car that it used to be mounted in, but generaly speaking, is a used cage a good or bad idea?

copied from classified ad said: Auto Power six point roll cage for a classic 900 3 door. All there except for the front dash bar. The side door bars have been hack sawed out and need to be welded back. All the sleeves are there. SCCA, NASA, legal.

I wouldn't have a problem with one. I mean... it's not a wear item. If you bought a used race car, you don't replace the cage with a new one because it's used and you don't know how it's been treated.

Now, if it's damaged, then no. Safety items are typically one-shot things.

The only potential problem I see with this is the side door bars being hack-sawed out. I really don't know what's involved in putting something like that back in.

IIRC SCCA mandated this year (or last) that all cages are to be made of DOM tubing. I know all current Autopower cages are now but depending on the age of that one, it may not be. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Worth investigating especially if it will see sanctioned racing.

Used helmets, HANS or condoms present a problem... steel is steel. I'd do it.

walterj wrote: Used helmets, HANS or condoms present a problem... steel is steel. I'd do it.

zomgINTHEMAGplease!!!!!11!1!

IIRC you can't cut/reweld on/in the main hoop. Thus door bars should be as good as new...

I concur, if it's DOM tubing and hasn't been bent folded spindled or mutilated no reason not to do it.

zoomx2 said: IIRC SCCA mandated this year (or last) that all cages are to be made of DOM tubing. I know all current Autopower cages are now but depending on the age of that one, it may not be. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Worth investigating especially if it will see sanctioned racing.

This would be for my challenge car project, but for buget purposes I might leave it out until after the challenge (2010 I hope, there is no way I will make it this year). My drag time won't be fast enough to make it nessary, unless I find a challenged priced JATO unit, and they arent allowed any way, are they?

After that I plan to use the car for HPDE/track days ect. If I get comfortable enough with that stuff to think that I can do it with out crashing, I would also like to try hill climbs with it. Basicly my plan is to make it a general puopose low cost motorsports beater for as many non w2w events as posible. Should this car get wrecked, I'll just go out and find annother SAAB c900 and transfer all my good parts into that one and have at it again.

Easy to check for DOM vs. ERW: clean some paint off all the way around using lacquer thinner etc (no abrasives). ERW will have a blue heat stripe down one side, DOM won't. If you use abrasives to remove the paint, it'll also remove the blue stripe. Thus no abrasive paint removal, including Scotchbrites etc. Regardless of whether HPDE etc specify DOM, it's a better choice since it's not as likely to split.

To also check for ERW tubing look inside any open tubes for a slightly raised ridge inside the tubing. It is the result of the welding process and will always be there on ERW tubing.

Um, silly question, but...

How do you get that in the car?

Will it turn the corner in a side door, or is the hatch all that big?

alex wrote: Um, silly question, but... How do you get that in the car? Will it turn the corner in a side door, or is the hatch all that big?

Im betting thats why it is cut-to get it out of the old car!

alex wrote: Um, silly question, but... How do you get that in the car?

Auto Power six point roll cage for a classic 900 3 door.

IIRC, on the Saab 900 3 door the whole rear of the car was a hatch.

In reply to HappyAndy:

Like most things automotive..."it depends".

Depends on the rulebook for wherever you're trying to run..lotsa stuff like this "magically" appears when the rulebook demands an update. Bars, belts, and helmets immediately appear on eBay & Craigslist when the old ones have to go.

That being said...an older cage in a HPDE car's better than none at all.

alex wrote: Um, silly question, but... How do you get that in the car? Will it turn the corner in a side door, or is the hatch all that big?

The hatch of a c900 3dr is like the mouth of a snake, even more so if the rear seats have been removed.

Replace the side bars completely (don't try and use the stubs, just start fresh) and continue the harness bar all the way across and you'll be good for just about any HPDE program in the country. I'd personally 86 the upper doorbars and start over on those too as they seem VERY high and would be a PITA to climb over.