Hi, as you may know I'm just a kid and I'm in the middle of restoring a mini, the issue of safety has come up in convo with my folks and they don't mind spending the money if it makes the car safer. I have a mini sunshine so i would like to keep it as original as possible so I am thinking about a 4 point roll cage that lets me keep the rear seats. I have received a few mixed opinions on them and i would like to know if they actually make the car safer or are they just for looks and handling reasons. So does this sound like a good investment or just a waste of money?

cheers, matt

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77 mini sunshine: the slow build continues
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70699

If you are just driving on the streets then it is probably a waste of money. If you are competing in speed events (sprints and hillclimbs) then it is a good idea and if you are actually racing then it will be required.

I've got a four point cage in my deluxe, but it has a diagonal cross brace behind the seats that make it difficult to get into the back seat (which as a consequence has been removed to satisfy the RWC tester). It needed big holes drilled into the rear pockets and parcel shelf to bolt the cage in which is kind of the opposite of a restoration.

While a properly assembled and installed four point cage is better than no cage, if you are competing then a six point cage (with hip bars) that is welded in place is probably a better idea. I'll probably do that myself at some point, even though I only compete occasionally nowadays.

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66 Deluxe, 07 Cooper

i plan on doing khana's but i may consider doing hill climbs when i'm older, putting holes in it isn't a problem for me, i dont think i want the cross brace. and if i get anything it would have to be a bolt in one

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77 mini sunshine: the slow build continues
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70699

DO NOT put the rear brace bars on the rear parcel shelf.

They should go back to the "top" of the rear wheel arches,parallel to the sides of the body,the top welds of the brace bars at the top bend of the hoop

There is no strength in the parcel shelf even if you weld it properly.

44.5mmx2.5 wall tube

3 X8mm/grade 8.8 bolts for the hoop feet,
2 X8mm/grade 8.8 bolts for the brace bars.

Get hold of a CAMS Manual...schedule J

PS... If you are 14 ,you can start Hillclimbs now.

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1974 1150cc Leyland Mini S racer,
1975 No motor Leyland Mini "ute"
1991 IPRA Honda Integra (in the build)
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi

CAMS Scrutineer

Just make sure you set the rollbar back far enough that your not going to hit your head on it in an accident.

And imo youd be better off upgrading to discs and reconditioning everything with the money, so making sure your brakes are top notch and pull straight, your steering is smooth and has no play.

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Simplify and add lightness

Told yah Matt.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

I would strongly agree with this. Drum brakes can work well, but they need to be regularly adjusted, and they will never be as good as discs. I would suggest on upgrades that prevent accidents first, then focus on upgrades that protect when accidents do happen.

yer, i plan on getting 7.5 discs with ap calipers

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77 mini sunshine: the slow build continues
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70699

what other things should i recondition to make it safer?

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77 mini sunshine: the slow build continues
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70699

New Seat belts ..

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I am the son of the STIG

HOTBRICKS
http://hotbricks.org.au/

'65 NCF MINI.....
'69 MINIMATIC.... 9 year resto still on the go

i want to see if i can find one that is already made and i didn't think the parcel shelf would be strong enough, and i think i have the pdf of the cams manual, and i think i will learn to drive first then decide if i want to do hillclimbs

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77 mini sunshine: the slow build continues
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70699

Matt Hillclimbs will teach you to drive.
Good work boys your telling a Boy who wants to possibly hillclimb to not put a cage in his car, what if he has an off? If he rolls the thing, the roof will probably cave in. Matt i say put a cage in, you have got a MK1 cooper S motor going into it the brick is not going to be slow you will want all the safety you can get. And in a day and age as cars are getting bigger and drivers getting worse all it will take is a hard hit resulting in a roll over and your gone. As it is going to be a daily driver i would put a cage in it. You can get removable digonal cross braces whic makes easy access to rear seats

it is NOT going to be a daily, just a weekend car

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77 mini sunshine: the slow build continues
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=70699

I would invest in making your car road/race worthy and some driving lessons first and then drive within your limits. As you get quicker, then give some thought to a rollcage/harness.

You may have some difficulty registering your car with a rollcage and a rollcage without a helmet on can do more harm than good - seeing you mentioned weekend use.

I would rather dong my head on a roll cage then the roof crumpling into my head. like honestly....