Roll cage in a street car

[PSI NRG]

Not really sure where to post this but I figured this was the closest thing to what my thread concerns. Modds feel free to move this to the approprite forum if need be.


Well if you haven't seen my vehical profile I built a car very capibale of running a low 10second 1/4 mile. I have sort of a delema on my hands, I want to beable to run my car at the track whenever I choose IF I choose too, BUT the majority of the time it will be driven on the street. Now in order for me to run my car at the track it's going to need a roll cage, the second is breaks into a 10 sec 1/4 might even be 11's I don't know the exact rule i'll get kicked out if I don't have one. Now I was wondering if it's safe to have a cage good enough to pass tech for a 10 sec car in a street car. Ive seen people wrap them with pads but I'm pretty sure if you God forbid flip the car and your head hits the steel roll cage you probably wont be walking away even if there is padding. Are there any other options out there? If anyone has any kind of input or advice it would be greatly appreicated! Thanks!

 

[Hal]

Go back & read the rules as to what (bar or cage) is required and when.

A lot of people whine about having to put in a cage when all they really need is a 6 point bar.

 

[talont3t4]

NHRA is 11.5 or quicker you need a 5 point bar, and after either 9.99 or 135Mph you need the full 8 point cage. I found most of us need the cage sooner because of the Mph requirements then time. A note IHRA doesn't have a Mph requirement on the cage just 9.99 Et.

 

[drivemusicnow]

I would agree that I think you only need a roll bar, and not a full cage. I understand your concern with a cage on teh street though.

A couple points to consider:
Get ACTUAL roll bar padding. Yes it's more expensive, no it doesn't seem all that different, but it is. It's been said that the only thing the cheap padding does in a crash is soak up blood. REAL roll bar padding is somewhat effective, even without a helmet.

Number 2: Never have a halo on a street car. Halo (roof) and A pillar bars will only hurt you in an accident on the street. 3 point seat belts systems, no helmets, and a those bars = bad for your health in an accident.

Bolt in kits are typically legal, and could be taken out during the winter or times when you are not going to the track for a while. I would make sure you look into the rules closely to see what is and isn't allowed.

 

[dsm dork]

I would read the rule book for the local track you will be running at and actually go fast enough and get kicked out before actually worrying about putting a cage in. Alot of people build "I'm capable of 10s" cars but untill you actually do it I wouldn't worry about a cage.

 

[Boosted98gsx]

Any pictures of a 5 pt bar?

 

[boosting_laser]

Any pictures of a 5 pt bar?

Not an installed cage, but you get the point.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Boosted98gsx]

what's an average price to pay for such a cage?

 

[CanadianTSi]

Unless you and your passengers are wearing helmets all the time, a cage in a street car does more danger than good.

 

[dsm dork]

what's an average price to pay for such a cage?

Depends on where you go, what the cage is made out of, how many points and cage configuration. It usually ranges anywhere from $60-$100 a point.

 

[PSI NRG]

Thanks for all the relpys. I think I might go with something like a removable cage. This seams to be the safest. I'm going to do some more research on having a cage in a street car. And make the decision of turning my street car into just a full drag car that comes out to play once in a while.

 

[Caithness]

Not an installed cage, but you get the point.

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I don't see how such a cage is a safety hazard, especially with a removable door bar. Most of the door bars I've seen don't go up as high as that picture would suggest. I think it would probably be safe to run such a cage on the street, especially with a harness to keep you in your seat.

 

[Hal]

That's NOT a roll "cage".

It's a roll bar.

Hal

 

[fourreGsixty3]

On www.dsmparts.com the Comp Enginerring 8py cage is for sale for $200, and its one of the slip in, and bolt up ones. Good quality, you can ask Keith B. (92awddsm) he has it, but modified the door bars a little. Caithness Its not so much staying in your seat as it is the cage, or roll bar is that much closer too your head then the body is, and the cage could and gore you, and it can create more danger points from allowing more breakage area.

 

[Black Venom]

Everything I've seen on Roll Bar safety has mentioned head impacts with the bars. A properly set up 5 point roll bar would not give access to your head. Might break some ribs on the door bar though(not generally life threatening).
I haven't seen any mention on what the added strengthening does to change breaking points of the car, nor any mention of how the crumple zones are affected if any in the specific vehicle.
If you have any data other than theory of properly set up 5 point roll bars causing life threatening injury please share.


And to support Caithness: If your strapped into your seat IE: stock 1g seat modified with a 5point harness. It would be awfully hard for your neck to let your head go several inches off center and back several inches to reach the loop. Or for your head to reach a position lower then your shoulder while still strapped in.

 

[diambo4life]

Thank God I have seen a few people run 10.0 and trap 140mph without a roll cage at the local track. However, the track is not "NHRA legal" and they are not as strict.

For most people, just getting a roll bar will suffice though. I would hate to cage my car. That screams "race car" right there.

 

[talont3t4]

If you build a well enginered cage it can be fully streetable. Have you seen a 140Mph car after it hits the wall? Not a pretty sight and potentialy deadly. Here is a couple of pics of my cage I built and compared to those premanufactured cages there is just no comparsion.

Look how tight I was able to get the main hoop to the headliner
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 016.jpg
Most bolt in cages go around dash and offer very littl room when getting in the car
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 015.jpg
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 014.jpg

Note you can't see the top bars of the cage and most of the cage is not visable
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 002.jpg


http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 003.jpg
Note the door bar has 5 bends to allow easier access to the car

MOD EDIT: PLEASE RESIZE THESE PICS OR LEAVE THEM AS URL'S.

 

[vaboys2ndgen]

On www.dsmparts.com the Comp Enginerring 8py cage is for sale for $200, and its one of the slip in, and bolt up ones. Good quality, you can ask Keith B. (92awddsm) he has it, but modified the door bars a little. Caithness Its not so much staying in your seat as it is the cage, or roll bar is that much closer too your head then the body is, and the cage could and gore you, and it can create more danger points from allowing more breakage area.

\
i've seen keiths car, and driven keiths car. and for a big guy like me thats not used to the damn roll cage its kind of a bi*** to get in and out but once your in its nice and comfy! haha i've been looking for a roll cage for my 2g also. i check dsmparts, they only list the roll cage for a 1g though..

 

[98TsiAWD]

If you build a well enginered cage it can be fully streetable. Have you seen a 140Mph car after it hits the wall? Not a pretty sight and potentialy deadly. Here is a couple of pics of my cage I built and compared to those premanufactured cages there is just no comparsion.

Look how tight I was able to get the main hoop to the headliner
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 016.jpg
Most bolt in cages go around dash and offer very littl room when getting in the car
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 015.jpg
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 014.jpg

Note you can't see the top bars of the cage and most of the cage is not visable
http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 002.jpg


http://talongt66.4t.com/Interior 003.jpg
Note the door bar has 5 bends to allow easier access to the car

MOD EDIT: PLEASE RESIZE THESE PICS OR LEAVE THEM AS URL'S.

Are those side bars legal though? Dont they generally have to be straight or not? I should put up pics of my 6 point S&W Racecars kit massaged to fit by myself.

 

[talont3t4]

Yes the side bars are legal the only requirements are that they pass between the shoulder and elbow which they do. I have the cage certified by both NHRA, and IHRA.

 

[tt281gt]

Yes the side bars are legal the only requirements are that they pass between the shoulder and elbow which they do. I have the cage certified by both NHRA, and IHRA.

How as it making it go through the dash? Did you have to remove the dash?