C5 roll bar, who's done it?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
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From: Moberly, Mo
C5 roll bar, who's done it?
Hey, getting ready for Pink's All Out. I'm gonna hose the motor down with 150 shot and expect the car to run deep into the 10's. Now, I've got to put in a 5 point bar and want to know who might have done that and if you have some pics? Also, where did you purchase your 5 point cage at? I searched but couldn't find any installs.I appreciate any info you might have.
thanks greg
thanks greg
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
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From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Hey, getting ready for Pink's All Out. I'm gonna hose the motor down with 150 shot and expect the car to run deep into the 10's. Now, I've got to put in a 5 point bar and want to know who might have done that and if you have some pics? Also, where did you purchase your 5 point cage at? I searched but couldn't find any installs.I appreciate any info you might have.
thanks greg
thanks greg
Find a local fabricator and have it done by a professional. It will cost more than the pre-fab stuff from places like Wolfe, but it will be safer and look nicer.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
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From: Moberly, Mo
I'm still on the fence with that one, I need to get the car out next month for some testing to see where we stand before we spray it. We don't have any local chassis shops in the area. thanks for your input
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From: Central Jersey
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Arizona
The bolt in wolfe racecraft bar will get you through tech just fine.. but to be honest it wont save your bacon in a roll over. The bars are held in my sandwiching the balsa wood floor between 2 pieces of metal... I had the wolfe bar, but will go with a welded bar next time.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,487
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From: WA
DRM, LG, Pfadt, Autopower all make roll bars that will actually function as roll bars if worst comes to worst. Those are all 4-point although you can always get more tubing to add to their designs.
Agreed on pro install, ask road racers in your area about the shop that does the work for them. Barring that, a competent welder with some patience will do, although you may have to help him with clearing out the interior and possibly removing the gas tank.
the stuff that bolts to the floor gives you all the inconviniences of having a roll bar without most of the benefits
Agreed on pro install, ask road racers in your area about the shop that does the work for them. Barring that, a competent welder with some patience will do, although you may have to help him with clearing out the interior and possibly removing the gas tank.
the stuff that bolts to the floor gives you all the inconviniences of having a roll bar without most of the benefits
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 67
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From: Canonsburg PA
My brother and I built one for my car last year. Did a 6 point.
We did 4 points permanent in the back. And then used swingout clevises to pin the door bars in. The don't swing out, but I can remove the door bars for daily driving and pin them in for track days.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/album.php?albumid=10123
We did 4 points permanent in the back. And then used swingout clevises to pin the door bars in. The don't swing out, but I can remove the door bars for daily driving and pin them in for track days.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/album.php?albumid=10123
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
The bolt in wolfe racecraft bar will get you through tech just fine.. but to be honest it wont save your bacon in a roll over. The bars are held in my sandwiching the balsa wood floor between 2 pieces of metal... I had the wolfe bar, but will go with a welded bar next time.
If you just need it for the formality of passing tech inspection, the Wolfe bar is the easiest and most econmical route. However, if you plan to continue increasing power and, hence, lowering your quarter times, it would be wise to look into a welded unit before going much faster.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 388
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From: Effingham IL
Check with NHRA Pinks follows strict rules
check NHRA rules and the track rules to be shure, My local track will not alow bolt in cage in corvettes running in the mid 10s they sited NHRA rules. better to be safe than sorry 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
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From: Arizona
Actually NHRA rules state that cars without a frame can use a 6" square plate 1/8" thick to bolt the cage to the car.
here is the complete NHRA spec.
http://www.nhraonline.com/contacts/tech_faq.html
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 388
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From: Effingham IL
Actually NHRA rules state that cars without a frame can use a 6" square plate 1/8" thick to bolt the cage to the car.
here is the complete NHRA spec.
http://www.nhraonline.com/contacts/tech_faq.html
here is the complete NHRA spec.
http://www.nhraonline.com/contacts/tech_faq.html
As i said check rules!! I would rather follow the rules on building cage or instaling a prefab rollbar to me that is the most important part of car. My C5 is in the High 12s so i dont have that problem. If i want to go fast i will pull out my full tube chassie stang runs mid 9s !!!!!!!!!!!!!!But i would rather look good in a corvette than go fast in a mustang!!! I must be gettin old lol
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 654
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From: chandler az
You should get a copy of the official rule book. They spec the position of the side bars as well, something like it had pass between the shoulder and elbow.
There's other things like seat belts etc.
I think I got mines free from summit, but I don't know if it's free with an order or its just free fron NHRA. They used to charge for it once upon a time.
There's other things like seat belts etc.
I think I got mines free from summit, but I don't know if it's free with an order or its just free fron NHRA. They used to charge for it once upon a time.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Actually NHRA rules state that cars without a frame can use a 6" square plate 1/8" thick to bolt the cage to the car.
here is the complete NHRA spec.
http://www.nhraonline.com/contacts/tech_faq.html
here is the complete NHRA spec.
http://www.nhraonline.com/contacts/tech_faq.html
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Chevelle Frame
Corvette Frame
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
I've done several C5s, and a couple C6s. Here's a couple pictures. I install a lower bar between the outer frame, and tunnel, and prop the hoop on top of that.
Targa top still fits. Rearward bars are to the frame rails.
Door bar clearance before being cut out for swing outs.
I've talked with our local NHRA tech, who's certified a few cars for me. I had him out to look over the very first C5 I did years ago. At the time we were thinking about a mini hoop on top of the bulk head behind the seats. He said emphatically "NO!" To be completely legal, the roll bar must attach to the car BELOW your butt. It must "encompass" the driver. It must be attached to the steel structure. If the floor were steel it could be attached there, either by welded 6 inch square plates, 1/8th in thick, or sandwiched 6 inch square plates, bolted by 4 3/8ths bolts, grade 8 I believe. But, because the floor is NOT steel, it cannot be secured there. Anyone that has one and has passed tech, the tech guy didn't know what he was looking at.
Targa top still fits. Rearward bars are to the frame rails.
Door bar clearance before being cut out for swing outs.
I've talked with our local NHRA tech, who's certified a few cars for me. I had him out to look over the very first C5 I did years ago. At the time we were thinking about a mini hoop on top of the bulk head behind the seats. He said emphatically "NO!" To be completely legal, the roll bar must attach to the car BELOW your butt. It must "encompass" the driver. It must be attached to the steel structure. If the floor were steel it could be attached there, either by welded 6 inch square plates, 1/8th in thick, or sandwiched 6 inch square plates, bolted by 4 3/8ths bolts, grade 8 I believe. But, because the floor is NOT steel, it cannot be secured there. Anyone that has one and has passed tech, the tech guy didn't know what he was looking at.
Last edited by edcmat-l1; Feb 25, 2010 at 03:16 PM.