Roll Cage Advice

[craigibc]

Hi,

Newbie with a rule book it hand it could be a dangerous thing! I am trying to sort out the correct roll cage of my 62 Ford Falcon. In the future we are hoping to get into the dirty 2's with this car but not right away.

In the 2011 SCTA rule book I am looking at p.24 3.B Roll Cages and 3.B.1 Roll Cage p.25 that is require a minimum of a 5 point roll cage but in Figure 1 p.25 it shows much more than 5 point roll cage!

What is the required roll cage for a stock bodied car?

Looks like these guys have a kit that might make this job a little easier for the install.

http://autoweldchassis.com/rbc.ivnu

Any insight from your experience would be amazing!

Thanks,

Craig

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Craig, please do us a favor (and maybe yourself, too):  Go back to your Profile (you partially filled it out when you registered) and enter your location.  Knowing where you are might help someone that can give you help - might make it easy for him to visit you and show you what's what.  We ask all of the new folks here to let us know where they are.

Fill in your Profile with all that's pertinent - it'll make for better communications.  Thanks.

[craigibc]

Done!

Thanks Jon

[jimmy six]

As an observer for enclosed car cages I would do WAY past any minumum required. Lately many have had to add additional bars to satisfy inspectors and it seems every inspector is different and wants different bars even it there is no requirement in the rule book.

I personally like the use of the added "funny car" bars shown in the illustration to me it's like the NHRA prostock style and would do that at minumum if I was to rebuild my old coupe. Make sure you have the proper bars for mounting your restraints ie: lap, shoulder, crotch belts. Their placement is very important to your being safely held in the seat.

I would also keep in contact with the SCTA Chief Inspector with exact diagrams to what you are doing. He will be your best source. Do not be affraid to use larger diameter and thicker material for the main bars than minimum also. If you are planning on 200 the extra weight will not hurt along with the stifening of a unibody car.

Good luck ...........I like those of Falcons........... 

[mkilger]

autopower there in the rule book and near you the S-D  should be able to help you

[maguromic]

Lately many have had to add additional bars to satisfy inspectors and it seems every inspector is different and wants different bars even it there is no requirement in the rule book.
  

This just makes the cage rule in the book seem very ambiguous.  Adding bars to a roll cage should be made on sound engineering theory and not on different interpretations of what an inspector wants. Tony

[craigibc]

Yes the rule book is very ambiguous in terms of the role cage and it says a 4 point or 5 point roll cage. I am thinking of going with a funny car style cage but the car needs to pass tech when complete.

I have been going to the meetings with the San Diego Roadster Club for the last several months but it seems alot of the people that I have spoken to have streamliners so there specs are not the same as mine.

I was hoping to get a roll cage in the car over the Christmas break so I need to get it ordered in the next few weeks. I see they do list some details for the mounting and things like that but it does not go into specifics with the cage itself. Do you have a contact email address or phone number for a inspector? I remember at the Roadster Club meeting a few weeks ago that one of the inspectors was at the meeting.

I just called autopower they have nothing specific for the Falcon they would need to build a custom cage for that car.

Thanks for getting me steered in the right direction!

Craig

[Captthundarr]

The wife is looking to get intot the 2's as well but thats a coulpe more years down the road but we have built the roll cage way beyond the minimun spec for 2bills. our camaro has 1 5/8" and 1 3/4" 12 point with a funny car inner cage. This will pass the requirements for the journey to 200. and any improvements/upgrades to the cage are extra gravey.

[dw230]

You might want to take a look at Section 16 in your rulebook. The list of contacts from technical to your specific class chairperson is there.

DW

[rambler jack]

They list a unit for 60-70 Falcon/Comet. Is yours something different? I have a 63 Falcon Ranchero.

[craigibc]

Rambler Jack,

What do you have for a roll cage in your car? Any photos you can post?

Hey DW!

I did email the guy in Section 16 of the rule book I will let you know if I get a response.

Craig

[craigibc]

I spoke to the chief inspector and got some great info on building the roll cage and getting it inspected along the way.

Thanks!

Craig

[836dstr]

Hey Craig,

If you are going to the SDRC meeting tonight look for Rick White. He is usually there. He Co-owns Autopower with his brother Don (who you may have spoken to on the phone). I'm not sure who you talked with @ the SDRC meetings you attended, but most of use run Roadsters and Coupes, except for the Motorcycle guys obviously.

On your other post about rearends, you might also talk with Mark Lintner, the owner of ProGear. He should also be there tonight and can probably give you some good insights!

Tom

[craigibc]

Thanks Tom I am just getting to know some of the people at SDRC and I will be there tonight.

This is alot of stuff to learn pretty quickly as I would like to run at El Mirage sometime next year.

Craig

[Stainless1]

This is alot of stuff to learn pretty quickly as I would like to run at El Mirage sometime next year.

Craig

Learn it slowly and completely, it will cost a lot less to do it right and be safer.