Roll Cage
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis IN
Roll Cage
I did some looking on yahoo and some corvette forum threads came up but they did not have much on where to buy a good competition cage for the c4. I am looking for chasis stiffening and something that is legal for high speed road course eventually running in high speed rallies (Targa Newfoundland is the top goal).
I liked the systems from wolfcraft but they only carry items for the C5
I liked the systems from wolfcraft but they only carry items for the C5
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,845
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
There's a couple of threads over in the racing section.
I/O sport makes a bolt-in cage.
Be aware that road racing sanctions, like the SCCA require more robust cages than drag racing cages. Something about other cars landing on top of you in a corner.
I/O sport makes a bolt-in cage.
Be aware that road racing sanctions, like the SCCA require more robust cages than drag racing cages. Something about other cars landing on top of you in a corner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
I bought a 8 point from S&W www.swracecars.com and it was under 300 bucks and not too bad to install. As mentioned above make sure that you get the type that you need for the type of racing that you are going to do. I only installed the 4 points for now and going to add the 2 front bars next winter after i get them modified to run door panels.
Here are a couple pics of the install.
Here are a couple pics of the install.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
That bar doesnt fit very tight to the car. We've done some for both c4 and c5s. I like them to fit much tighter to the car. We are just wrapping up a c5 now. Thread in the c5 section. Heres a couple pics. You can move the seat damn near all the way back. I'm about 6'1" and change, and there's plenty of room. In addition, we can bend the cross bar, to get full travel of the seat, so as not to give up any leg room. We bend these ourselves. No kit out there fits this good.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 4
From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
What seat and seat rails are you using?
I tried a Corbeau setup with corbeau rails and it made my seat height way too tall. Even if I mounted them on the floor.
It was like an ejection seat. Mine were the Corbeau A4s.
The *** of the seat was way higher than the stock seats.
Also notice the bar was directly behind the head in the first pic. My pumpkin would have exploded in a rear ender.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 6
From: Watkins Glen NY
Autopower
Morpheus,
Autopower Safety Equipment on the west coast has been producing real cages for road racing for 30 years. For the C4 they produce a weld-in version and a bolt-in, less than $ 800, and the fit is correct. Call 619-297-3300 and speak with Don.
Good luck,
Ed LoPresti
Autopower Safety Equipment on the west coast has been producing real cages for road racing for 30 years. For the C4 they produce a weld-in version and a bolt-in, less than $ 800, and the fit is correct. Call 619-297-3300 and speak with Don.
Good luck,
Ed LoPresti
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 17,101
Likes: 4
From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!
Some people will buy an existing 4 point bar and then use that as a building block.
My suggestion is to get it done right. This may be overkill for you, but this is a competition cage
My suggestion is to get it done right. This may be overkill for you, but this is a competition cage
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
That bar doesnt fit very tight to the car. We've done some for both c4 and c5s. I like them to fit much tighter to the car. We are just wrapping up a c5 now. Thread in the c5 section. Heres a couple pics. You can move the seat damn near all the way back. I'm about 6'1" and change, and there's plenty of room. In addition, we can bend the cross bar, to get full travel of the seat, so as not to give up any leg room. We bend these ourselves. No kit out there fits this good.
The cage was installed per the instructions that came with it and fit as tight as it is going to with the interior still in the car. As you can see this ISNT a full blown racecar, just a weekend auto-X car and street car that is a demo for my business. I did have the bar put in by a profesional welder to ensure that IF it were to get belly up that the bar would not be more of a danger than without anything.
If I ever decide to build a track only purpose car I will look you up for a cage. For now the 300 dollar kit works fine for what I need it to do.
I am using the Forza seats and if I mount them on the floor I can barelly see over the dash. Looks like the old lady on the where's the beef comercial driving
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,338
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
I used a S&W kit and modified it to fit how I wanted it. Here are a pic and the old thread with more pics.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=694905
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=694905
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 18
From: Los Angeles California
Hey, question... alot of these roll cages just add structure behind the driver...and that's great and all because it still allows the car to have that "convertible" feel when the top comes off... but what happens if you roll over and the front part of the car is what touches down? It seems like a straight line from the front tip of the car to the top of the roll bar would intersect with the driver's head, especially if they were sitting forward.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 86
From: Corbin KY
OH NO was not offended, just comparing apples to oranges. One of those situations where you get what you pay for. I paid the least, and it fit accordingly. Pay good money and you get a good install. I was just showing the poor guys solution to the rollbar
I will need some tuning done when I do the LT1 intake switch on the L98. This is where I will have to pay the good money at a shop like yourself and it will be worth every dime.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
OH NO was not offended, just comparing apples to oranges. One of those situations where you get what you pay for. I paid the least, and it fit accordingly. Pay good money and you get a good install. I was just showing the poor guys solution to the rollbar
I will need some tuning done when I do the LT1 intake switch on the L98. This is where I will have to pay the good money at a shop like yourself and it will be worth every dime.
I will need some tuning done when I do the LT1 intake switch on the L98. This is where I will have to pay the good money at a shop like yourself and it will be worth every dime.
And as a foot note, and not doggin anybody's stuff, the SW kits fit terrible, regardless of what vehicle you buy them for.
We are doing a tube chassis car. It has 2x3 frame rails. The back half kit was made by SW. We see quite a few of them (SW back half kits)
The frame rails are crinkled, the cross member hangs too low, etc. We have to cut the cross member out and replace with a round tube, about 4 inches higher in the car.
Anyways, sorry for the hijack. Glad I didnt PO anyone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
"Be aware that road racing sanctions, like the SCCA require more robust cages than drag racing cages."
How is it then SCCA approves main loops mounted off the chassis kickup as shown but NHRA requires them be mounted to the chassis at floor level?
How is it then SCCA approves main loops mounted off the chassis kickup as shown but NHRA requires them be mounted to the chassis at floor level?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Duncanville Texas
I was wondering the same
The same question was bouncing around in my mind as well about the floor mounting requirements versus the chassis kick up right behind the seats. Does anybody happen to have a close up pic of how the main hoop welds if its done on the frame kickup?