Snowball effect - where does it stop???

Matt in TN · 07-02-2007, 07:23 AM

So I decide it's finally time to replace my crappy lap belts - only problem is that harnesses are actually cheaper than a stock-type shoulder belt. As long as I'm doing harnesses, I might as well replace these mildewed and jimmy-rigged Cadillac seats some P.O. put in here. I guess as long as I'm replacing the seats I might as well mount them to the cage. Shoot - as long as I'm doing any cage work I guess I should probably do everything I've had bouncing around in the back of my head for awhile to "upgrade" my cage.......

All this started from saving $30 a side on seat belts - does it always work this way????

What I started with:

Added the seat mounts:

Some triangulation on the A-pillar:

Good god - I don't know how you "real" cage builders make any money at this - this took me forever! (notch for the bottom of the B-pillar triangulation):

How it fit up:

Mocked up with the A and B pillars done - got two more gussets on the C-pillar and some triangulation on top from the B to C-pillar and it's ready to weld....

**rustywrangler** · 07-02-2007, 09:30 AM

So how much did it cost in the end??????

That is a great $30 mod

Matt in TN · 07-02-2007, 10:13 AM

Dunno yet - $85 in steel, $150 in seats, $100 in harnessess, and I don't know how much yet to have a "real" welder burn it in.......

**Bigbob** · 07-02-2007, 10:39 AM

There's a very good book my wife gave me recently you need to read. The title is, "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie". The book explains me and probably many Jeepers out there. Well worth the $$$ for the book and it only takes an hour or so to read.

**JeeperDon** · 07-02-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbob

The book explains me and probably many Jeepers out there. Well worth the $$$ for the book and it only takes an hour or so to read.

I am a Jeeper, and I am way more complicated that what can be explained in a book it only takes an hour to read. Even if there were a book explaining me, why would I want to read it? I already know me, and have for a loooong time. By the time that book gets in print, I've changed. Life does that to you, but not to books.

Matt in TN · 07-02-2007, 01:05 PM

Jeez Don - lighten up a little! Speaking of things changing quickly though - I had this great idea for my B-pillar triangulation to use the two nodes that were already there in the top and run diagonally down to the bottom outside nodes. I knew this wasn't as strong as a full "X", but wanted to make sure my daughter (and anybody else) could crawl in and out of the back seat without too much difficulty.

The cage part worked great - there's plenty of room in between the diagonals. Those big a$$ wings on the seats, however, make it almost impossible to fit through there.......

Scotch740 · 07-02-2007, 01:10 PM

Yeah snow ball effect is great. I wanted an engine skid... WEll might as well make that flat tc skid first so they are designed around each other, oh yeah need that BL and BMML for the TC skid.... around 350 later its done.

But its sooo worth it.

**JeeperDon** · 07-02-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt in TN

Jeez Don - lighten up a little!

I'm always light. There is no reason to get wound up about anything one would read here. It's just a recreational internet site. I save the non-light things the the real world, but only when needed.

silvergreentj · 07-02-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbob

There's a very good book my wife gave me recently you need to read. The title is, "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie". The book explains me and probably many Jeepers out there. Well worth the $$$ for the book and it only takes an hour or so to read.

i have that same book my mom gave to me when i was little, there is also, if you give a moose a muffin. both explain how wanting something can lead you to desire everything

**BESRK** · 07-02-2007, 03:37 PM

Nice mods.. but I'm going to break the bad news now.. there is no end in site.

My $500 "just get it running and enjoy it" CJ5 project turned into a $30,000 money pit.. that then evolved another $15,000 into a buggy. Your next rig will be cheaper though.. you'll won't do stuff in increments.. just go straight to the end.

dirtgrip · 07-02-2007, 03:44 PM

There is no end in site. The snowball turns into a boulder size then an avalanche(not chevy).I save all the receipts but refuse to add them up.

**Bigbob** · 07-03-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highrolleron33s

i have that same book my mom gave to me when i was little, there is also, if you give a moose a muffin. both explain how wanting something can lead you to desire everything

Yeah, Don needs to read it. LOL The book does indeed describe me to a tee. It's a kids' book and Really does sort of define the OP's "concern". It does never stop, give a mouse a cookie and he's gonna want a glass of milk.

2cjs · 07-03-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highrolleron33s

i have that same book my mom gave to me when i was little, there is also, if you give a moose a muffin. both explain how wanting something can lead you to desire everything

All this talk about a book make me think about the story with daddy bull and baby bull on a hill looking down at a field full of cows.

**JeeperDon** · 07-04-2007, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbob

Yeah, Don needs to read it. LOL

[Note: This is a light hearted response.] To what end would I read it? If it provides an accurate description, I would already know that. If an inaccurate description, it's not me so who cares. I do not need a book to help me evolve as a person, life experiences and family do that well enough. That would only leave entertainment, in which case I would rather read a mystery novel.

**BESRK** · 07-04-2007, 06:19 PM

Guys.. how have we warped this cage/belt thread into "Milk Drinking Mice" and Mystery Novels?... let's do Matt a favor and get this back on topic..

I'll start.. Soooo... Matt, what did you notch your tubes with?

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