Project Ford Fiesta ST- Making the Jump to a Race Car with SPD Motorsports Part 2!
When we last left our Project Ford Fiesta ST it was being converted into a race car by the capable hands of SPD Motorsports. As progress continues, SPD is working on installing a crash resistant fuel system using components from Fuel Safe, Deatschwerks, and Aeromotive. Other details like Lexan windows, brake ducting and the interior are coming together as well.
Lets check out the progress.
Read More About Project Fiesta ST
When we last checked out the car, the cage was being fitted up and tacked together. Now the cage is finished and the cars interior has been painted in satin black. The roof section has received plenty of bracing and is welded into the unibody in many places where the bars come close. This couples the cage completely into the chassis. SPD’s Scott Dodgion prefers very tight tube fitment and seam welding the bars into the chassis over using dimple die gussets that a lot of fabricators use because he feels it is cleaner and saves weight.
The floor plates and lower chassis tubes are welded, finished and in place. The cage is practically a stand alone tube frame in stiffness. The stock harness has been unwrapped, simplified and re wrapped.
The back view of the cage looking forward shows the tight fit of the tubes to the roof. With the radical sloping of the “A” pillars, additional tubes had to be added from the main hoop upward and the floor to prevent the cage from failing in a severe roll over. Many rally cars have this detail.
Here is another close look at the floor plate wrapping around the frame rail and the modified stock wiring harness. You can also see the tight tube mitering and the nice tig welding. SPD has first class workmanship. Everything looks much nicer with paint as well.
