well, after being repeatedly advised to go to a local weld shop for a custom roll cage ive decided to go ahead and do it. So tuesday im getting out the phonebook and calling every shop in my area for price quotes etc.. and ill be visiting as many as possible. i want this thing to look good and not all rigged up, so this has to be done right, and for a decent price. So back to my question: what should i be looking for in my future weld shop. What are the best welds/material to be using, and what should i be expecting to pay for a good one that is done right??? sorry if this sounds dumb, but its my first time dealing with anything like this and i dont really want to get screwed on it.
thanks

ps- its either gonna be a 6 point or an 8 point, depending on the design of it.

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86 Z28 red,
originally LG4,
new 350,
non comp Qjet,
T-5 five speed with new clutch,
stock 3.23 gears, Edelbrock Performer intake,
crane 272H cam,
Accel 8mm wires,
Edelbrock performer cat- back,
Homemade cold/forced air intake.
KYB GR-2 struts and shocks.
Grant GT leather wrap steering wheel.
Sony X-plod stereo.
Optima 6x9's

Future mods:
NOS,
Edelbrock TES headers, hi flo cat.
4th gen interior
6 point roll cage
3.42 gears
hurst billet/plus shifter
Edelbrock STB
Telstar rims

cars i've beaten:
95' Avenger, 88 Mustang GT, 70' Mustang , 97 Dodge Ram, 94 firebird formula, 92 Mustang GT, 94' 3000GT VR4, 97' Accord Rice Rocket (just barely), countless many ricers....

 

Find one that does chassis fabrication. The rollbar needs mandrel bents and fishmouth end cuts. A typical welding shop won't have the bender or cutter. Mig welds are all that's required with mild steel bars. If the shop doesn't know NHRA/IHRA etc roll bar specifications then go somewhere else. No sense in buying something that won't pass tech inspection. You could buy a rule book and give them all the specifications too.

I had mine custom made. Basic material, bending and cutting was around $250. I installed it myself but for a shop to do it you can expect around $600 in labour. It could be cheaper if you remove the seats, carpet and headliner yourself.

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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
454 Big Block almost ready for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

 

the interior in it is gonna be gone, except one seat before it goes to the shop, so that should help. 600 is about what i was planning on so thats good, where can a get an NHRA rule book??