I do not know much about cages and safety equipment but I plan on going 150ish in the 1/4th once the car is running and turned up.

Does anyone have any experience with a cage like this? Another brand that is better ect. The cost for a good cage seems to be around 5k which I am not willing to spend as horrible as it sounds to say. But if I had a complete solution in the car for 2 maybe 3 then I'd be content.
Spec Miata DOM FULL cage--Miata BOLT IN for Miata 1999-2005

 

Shop around more, I spent $2.3k on my custom cage and it's better in every way than an Autopower.

 

Shop around where? There is no one local that i am interested in trusting to build anything cage related or car related. I am looking for a kit that i can weld together or bolt in and weld together ect. My area only has very poor un trustworthy shops and then a couple big name shops that build actual race cars that are FARRR above my budget.

 

I've heard good things about miatacage.com, probably closer to your budget and it's weld in. Personally I'm not a big fan of bolt in rollcages.

Also where are you located?? 5k seems like a lot, I was quoted 3k for a custom cage from a reputable builder in the area

 

I am located in sw michigan. Not alot of performance shops around any time i have motors built, tuning ect i always out source them to shops out of state that are more trustworthy. The good shops are around me within a couple hour drive are more team merica unlimited budget real race car stuff which is obviously not a option.

Overall I am more interested in saving some money and purchasing a weld in or bolt in kit. Miatacage looks pretty good and price is looks pretty perfect.

 

You're not going to save money with a bolt in cage. You're going to save your time by not searching around or doing real leg work.

 

So do what people that are serious do, tow the car somewhere to someone who knows what they are doing.

My buddy towed his car ~6-7 hours one way to have someone he trusted build the cage for his Miata.

 

I'm sure I had some good shops in my town. But my trustworthy guy was 2 hours away. So I loaded up and towed 2 hours and left it to him to do his magic. Was more than impressed.

I sure as **** wouldn't trust a bolt in cage if you plan on hitting those speeds. Metal gets pliable quickly in an accident.

are you planning on doing any road course events or strictly drag? if its drag, I'm not too familiar with the rules as its been years for me, but iirc its only one door bar required. There is this option for a cage which would save you some cash and give you the main parts except the straight sections, the fabricator can cut and weld those for you.

 

This is a far better solution than Auto Power.
Miatacage.com. Roll Cage Kit
I've seen it go through it's evolution. Well thought out and sorted at this point.

It does require some welding and fitment to get it in the car but it takes out the guess work of bending and engineering a safe cage.

 

I towed my car ~8 hours one way to get my cage built by a guy I knew was awesome.

Paid less than $2500 for one of the nicest cages you're likely to see in "club" racing.

There HAS to be someone decent in the Chicagoland area, which can't be too far from you if you are in SW Michigan.

 

Thank you for the responses guys i will most likely end up with the miatacage cage over autopower or any other offerings like trackdog. Like i said traveling short distance ie a couple hours is not a option. Doing something like traveling 8 hours is without a doubt not a option and neither is taking time off of work to do something like that. Doing it at home is alot more cost effective and a fun way to tinker on the couple hours of free time i have a week when im not at work. I was more of just looking for the best in your opinion bolt in/weld in cage that is within my budget. I have a buddy who paid around 5,300 for a good cage for his wrx and still had to travel to drop it off/pick it up which i do not have time for nor do i have a trailer. Id rather just make 1/8th mile hits then spend that kind of money considering i probably only visit the track 3 times a year.

/thread

 

If you aren't comfortable with metal fabrication, dot buy a cage kit. Fitment is key, and requires you to be absolutely meticulous about how you put it together. I saw a shop installing one in my home area, and had to express my discontent with how they were installing and welding a customers cage. 1/4" gaps and bird turd welds, grinded down to look acceptable.

Its a life saving piece of equipment, not a fender flare. If you would not trust your moms life with your welding and fab skills, pay a pro to do it.

EDIT: I am pretty familiar with building cages and fab work in general. I have build about 10, varying from full tube frame trucks, to my 3/4 cage Miata, and lot in between. It takes me on average about 1 hour per tube to; cut, bend, notch and tack into place. if its your first time, it will take you about two hours to **** up a tube beyond repair, another hour to get frustrated with the next botched attempt. Then on the fourth hour, you will tack and weld in an ill fitting tube, that will most likely become a death spear.

If you are set on doing it yourself, get some junk tube, learn to notch and weld. post up pics of progress.

150 mph already downgraded to 1/8th mile "hits" LOL, Look what Street Outlaws has started!

Really though, Im not trying to be a dick, but this is serious. LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT IS NOT A JOKE, AND NOT TO BE TREATED AS "TINKERING AROUND".

 

Tinkering around and building things is nothing new in my garage. I am just saying if the pre cut and ready to weld ish cages are that horrible then i will just avoid breaking the track rules by just doing some 1/8th mile passes. I will most likely be purchasing the miatacage.com kit like i have said a couple times.
This is also not the first car I have built in this power range.
The current fabrication on the car is not exactly bird **** welding.

 

Where's your build thread? Me wanna' see.

 

https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...x-speed-87960/

just waiting on the shifter that is in the mail and the basemap that is somewhere in cyber space hopefully both will arrive soon this week.

 

Miatacage.com V4 user. Really good product!

Don't like most of the cages I've seen in Miata that are custom built over here in Canada.. The secret is the install task. You do seem to have the skills to tackle the job.