Roll cage in a griffith 500
Discussion
Has anybody fitted a roll cage to a griffith 500?
I appreciate that there a a fair few out there with roll over hoops but has anybody gone the whole hog and fitted a cage to give better side and leg protection?
Is it a very difficult and involved job and what sort of rough costs are involved? Anybody know?
Cheers
Alex
I appreciate that there a a fair few out there with roll over hoops but has anybody gone the whole hog and fitted a cage to give better side and leg protection?
Is it a very difficult and involved job and what sort of rough costs are involved? Anybody know?
Cheers
Alex
It can be done but the roof has to be removed, the seats and most of the interior junked to get the space to get the cage in.
When Tower View and I fitted the roll cage with side bar and footwell protection it cost around £400 for additional metal work, and about 3 days labour. The side door panels had to be removed because they interfered with the side bars. The pedal box moved over to one side to allow the cage mounts to be fitted, the dashboard moved forward to accomodate the cross bar and so on. The wedge retained its roof but it is a higher design. It was a lot of work. The fuse box was also moved, the ecu cover had to be adjusted and the central console moved as well.
It is now a climb in a la Dukes of Hazzard to get into the car. So to be honest unless you are building a track day or competition car... non-starter. If you want a full roll cage with sidebar protection... get a Cerbera.
When Tower View and I fitted the roll cage with side bar and footwell protection it cost around £400 for additional metal work, and about 3 days labour. The side door panels had to be removed because they interfered with the side bars. The pedal box moved over to one side to allow the cage mounts to be fitted, the dashboard moved forward to accomodate the cross bar and so on. The wedge retained its roof but it is a higher design. It was a lot of work. The fuse box was also moved, the ecu cover had to be adjusted and the central console moved as well.
It is now a climb in a la Dukes of Hazzard to get into the car. So to be honest unless you are building a track day or competition car... non-starter. If you want a full roll cage with sidebar protection... get a Cerbera.
Interesting Steve thanks.
The car is for sprinting. I Sprinted last year in a chimaera without a roll over hoop let alone a cage and felt a bit exposed, espcially at goodwood.
This year I want something that has a cage or something similar. So I am not bothered if its a bit of a pain to get into or that some of the trim has to be got rid of. I do really want to retain the hood for weather protection though.
I guess I should have a chat with tower view.
rover engined giff + roll cage which may be a bit of a mere to install
or cerbera with roll cage already there but with the ajpv8 and its higher running costs. Difficult one!
The car is for sprinting. I Sprinted last year in a chimaera without a roll over hoop let alone a cage and felt a bit exposed, espcially at goodwood.
This year I want something that has a cage or something similar. So I am not bothered if its a bit of a pain to get into or that some of the trim has to be got rid of. I do really want to retain the hood for weather protection though.
I guess I should have a chat with tower view.
rover engined giff + roll cage which may be a bit of a mere to install
or cerbera with roll cage already there but with the ajpv8 and its higher running costs. Difficult one!
It is most of the internal trim to be honest and the hardest thing is getting the cage in so that it protects you and doesn't become in internal baseball bat. This has some implications in that it may force you into a different class depending on what is removed and so on. You might end up in the mod prod boys - we would be glad to have you but it might not want to be what you want.
To maintain the roof will be difficult but it might be possible for Tower View to extend their Griff roll bar to give some more protection. You can also save a lot of money if you do the preparation. I removed the dash etc in the wedge and put it all back once the bar was in.
If you want a sprint car to play with... why not get a Wedge? Been there done it and crashed it and they are very very strong. And a lot cheaper than a Griff!
To maintain the roof will be difficult but it might be possible for Tower View to extend their Griff roll bar to give some more protection. You can also save a lot of money if you do the preparation. I removed the dash etc in the wedge and put it all back once the bar was in.
If you want a sprint car to play with... why not get a Wedge? Been there done it and crashed it and they are very very strong. And a lot cheaper than a Griff!
Thanks for the replys guys
I have spoken to tower view and David Gerald. Sounds like its a bit of a pig to get a cage into a griff but it can be done. Probably about £1.5 to £2K. The door trim will have to go and other bits hacked about because the griff wasnt really designed to have a cage retrofitted!
Steve; nice as the wedges are and yours is very developed and I know that Tony is always fast in his white 390 one. I really want a something like a griff.
Gonna have to consider if I go for a griff and get a cage fitted which may make it a pig to sell long term or I consider something like a cerbera. Hmm dilemma time!
I have spoken to tower view and David Gerald. Sounds like its a bit of a pig to get a cage into a griff but it can be done. Probably about £1.5 to £2K. The door trim will have to go and other bits hacked about because the griff wasnt really designed to have a cage retrofitted!
Steve; nice as the wedges are and yours is very developed and I know that Tony is always fast in his white 390 one. I really want a something like a griff.
Gonna have to consider if I go for a griff and get a cage fitted which may make it a pig to sell long term or I consider something like a cerbera. Hmm dilemma time!
I know I mentioned it earlier but I'd have a word with TMS. Their Griff was a nice one (full leather, air con etc.) and I'm pretty sure the article in Sprint (which I've just looked for and can't find 
) said they have fitted a cage in such a way that they can return the car to it's original condition.
Just realised you want to keep the roof... TMS have removed theirs. What about making up a new "soft top" to go over the full cage? Might work out to be cheaper if you do revert to original again?
>> Edited by GarryM on Thursday 11th March 22:11
) said they have fitted a cage in such a way that they can return the car to it's original condition. Just realised you want to keep the roof... TMS have removed theirs. What about making up a new "soft top" to go over the full cage? Might work out to be cheaper if you do revert to original again?
>> Edited by GarryM on Thursday 11th March 22:11
Sorry for the late posting on this - I make no excuses, I'm just a bit slow generally.
There'll be two roadgoing/legal Griffs with full cages competing in this years TVRCC Speed Championship.
Me & Matt Oakley have 'bottled it' and decided we daren't face another years of spins, skids, locked wheels and powerslides, in close proximity to the armco and trees of the UKs hill/sprint circuits without a full cage.
Both our cars are being sorted by Caged, in Wiltshire, who make cages for Caterham and the Prodrive GT racers and rally cars.
The interiors are not being butchered, and the roof will still be useable. Entry & exit will preclude spontaneous trips to the local shops, but then was that ever the point?
Check out www.therollcagepeople.com
There'll be two roadgoing/legal Griffs with full cages competing in this years TVRCC Speed Championship.
Me & Matt Oakley have 'bottled it' and decided we daren't face another years of spins, skids, locked wheels and powerslides, in close proximity to the armco and trees of the UKs hill/sprint circuits without a full cage.
Both our cars are being sorted by Caged, in Wiltshire, who make cages for Caterham and the Prodrive GT racers and rally cars.
The interiors are not being butchered, and the roof will still be useable. Entry & exit will preclude spontaneous trips to the local shops, but then was that ever the point?
Check out www.therollcagepeople.com
Hi Digga,
I've been trawling the archives on this topic as it will probably be the next mod for me as soon as I have the cash.... I was wondering if you could give me a rough indication of how much the cage cost and also if you have any interior pics with the cage fitted showing how much it reduces cabin space.
thanks
Matt.
I've been trawling the archives on this topic as it will probably be the next mod for me as soon as I have the cash.... I was wondering if you could give me a rough indication of how much the cage cost and also if you have any interior pics with the cage fitted showing how much it reduces cabin space.
thanks
Matt.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff