Rep Power: 424

DISCLAIMER: I'm dead serious on this one. I don't want to hear about APC pvc pipes, Cusco jungle gyms or any of those other garbage "cages". They won't pass any inspection, and more often than not, cause more harm than they prevent. If you have anything of the sort to input, keep it where it is, don't waste your time typing it. If you don't know the cage safety rules for SCCA, NASA, etc... don't bother.

Now that the junk is out of the way....

Looking into putting in a roll bar, I'm thinking I don't want to be doing 110 or more without something in the car, just in case all hell breaks loose. We all know how whimpy that roof is, I'd rather have a big hoop over my head. Better safe than sorry I suppose. I looked at the Autopower bar, and I'm not sure if its frosting my cookie. I like the bolt in cross bar and harness bar, but the fact that it has to be slipped in through the door whole makes me think the fit of it is going to be less than fantastic. I'm still looking to maintain my back seat usage, at least as a second trunk, but there's times where people do sit back there, so the bolt in diagonal is a very good thing to have, as would be the bolt in harness bar. I'm still looking at a 4 point bar... main hoop and back bars, but I'd like to have it welded in. Trying to get it custom made, having trouble pinning down a price it should actually cost, I've got a wild range right now. Some I know are nuts (I know people who've had cages made for less), but as far as how cheap it can get safely is the issue.
If anyone's had one done which is legal in SCCA and/or NASA events and is keeping it secret (cuz no one's said a peep), be so kind as to post a picture of it and at least a ball park of the dollar figure paid for it, I'd appreciate it.

 
Rep Power: 381

eh, browsed throgh the Honda-michlen cup rules... but nothing in there seemd like it would help.

There's a couple of guys In vegas here that build custom cages for cost I've seen them charge every thing from a grand or two to the cost of meterials and some beer. Have you read the GCR's regarding cage specifications? Section 13 is all about cage specifications and requirements.


My advice is ask around your local SCCA's club racing group. you'll probably find the best deals through them.

 
Rep Power: 303

too bad your up in dc man i have friends that build some sick rides. this is a friends ranger that was built to do 100+ across anything you put in its way. 26"+ of travel in front and 30"+ travel in the rear
scroll down about 1/2 way through the page
http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...=235556&page=4

 
Rep Power: 424

I haven't read the SCCA ones, I was paying more attention to the NASA rules which are pretty similar I'd guess. Roll bars are a little looser than cages as far as rules go since they're not for W2W. Its just an HPDE car for now, but I want to make sure the main hoop is in conformance with the cage rules in case I ever do decide to take this piece into HC (I doubt it)

 
Rep Power: 303

i guess you dont like trucks, huh????

 
Rep Power: 296

I would say you would get what you pay for on a custom cage. Unless you know someone that has lots of experience that is willing to hook you up.

GT fabrication in los angeles does prettyful work. One guy i might at the track spend over 2k on his cage, but very well made.

Due to the experience you need to know on how much to bend a pipe and how they flex and bend due to welding is why they cost so much.

Honestly, I would just buy an Autopower roll bar and weld that in. I don't know how much it would help with the chassis stiffness but at least it will do the job of preventing your roof from caving in.

 
Rep Power: 256

i know people in the business that had custom made rollcages/bar put in (welded or not i dont know),but i'd get the autopower 4point boltin in then weld it on with the diagonal and harness bar. And isn't SCCA rule that diagonals and shet cannot be "bolt-ins" cuz of the possiblilty of haveing bars flying off and stuff? anyways i'd just weld all that shet on... if some one needs a ride in the back, tell them it's this or no ride at all... i've ridden in a back seat of an e36 with one... i rode cross legged haha. not bad at all, just a rough ride. that guy has an autopower roll bar with diagonals welded and everything else bolted in there and no problems in SCCA.

 
Rep Power: 0

If you don't mind shiping the car off I would send it to Izzys coustom Cages here in St. Louis. Scott built a cage for my Rally Car(I don't think I have ever mentioned it here before)

Here is a link of what we are building with updates http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2297291

 
Rep Power: 424

I can't weld the cross bar in, I use the back seat like a 2nd trunk. Getting the wheels and tires through the door is enough of a chore as it is without a bar, and I won't get the seats down. It has to come out. SCCA rules are for racing, where the cage and whatnot does have to be welded in full (same with NASA) but SCCA doesn't do HPDEs, and the rules for safety in there are a little less strict since no one's rubbing paint. There's nothing wrong with bolting the Xbar in for that as long as its done with a double shear end and oversize grade 8 hardware. The bar will give long before the bolt does.
I also don't want to hear about it when someone gets knocked out by the cross bar while in the back seat. I don't trust the other idiots driving around here, and thats beyond unsafe to the point of downright stupid and its something I'm just not going to do.

 
Rep Power: 256

haha alright gotcha, but no matter make sure you get padding, i hear lots of stories about hitting heads with the bars... i'm sure you know already