Roll cage install ...a few questions

[Fox Body]

Jeff (or whoever else can answer this ?),

I checked out your website (very helpful) on the roll cage tech article. I have 4-points successfully TIG welded in, but have the 2 side bars I need to cut and get welded. In your article it seems as if the 6x6x1/8" steel plates are welded to the floor. In the NHRA rulebook it shows the bars welded to the plates and the plates bolted to the floor with a plate on top and bottom of floor (bolted to each other with 4 3/8" bolts). Maybe these are 2 optional paths. The bolt method was the path I chose (I guess), but S&W only gave me 6 plates. If I have to do top and bottom at 6 points on teh floor, then obviously I need 12 plates. A friend of mine is cutting me some more plates to finish the job, but what do you think? I don't see any of this little details in the NHRA book.

So should the plates be welded to the floor (MIG or TIG, if yes). I think I would like to go ahead and get the other plates and continue bolting it all in. I just need some guidance here.

Also, I need to start painting the cage. I saw you used a certain time of frame paint, but did you use any primer and did you do any sanding prior to painting r did you just clean the cage of dirt and spray it?

Thanks.