I'm debating between a Kirk racing or Cusco roll cage. The only thing with cusco that I can tell is that I would also have to get a harness bar for it. And other than the Cusco costing twice as much I really cant decide on which one to go with. What do you guys think. My car is mostly going to be used for track days and autoX's. Which one would you go with? Thanks for your input.

 

Since the cusco does not offer any rollover protection and is not approved by any organzation, the decision is any easy one. Kirk Racing.

 

+1 for Kirk.

 

IMHO...

A full roll cage in a street driven car is not a good idea. I feel strongly enough about it that I refused to build one in a customer's car that's driven on the street and that lost me about a $7,500 job building one in a brand new C6 Corvette. I would be worried about bouncing your noggin' on the upper bars, how the air bag deployment would be affected, and your insurance compnay declining coverage as a result of the modification.

If its a track car, as stated above, make sure whatever cage you purchase or have built is approved by the sanctioning bodies you intent to compete with. If its a street driven, track day, and autocross car, I would opt for a roll bar instead of a full cage.

 

350ZNV, did you ever hear anything about the X brace not being aloud anymore. I emailed kirk racing after you told me that but they never got back to me. I'd hate toget the x brace and then for it not to be aloud anymore.

 

Kirk also makes the straight brace. Ihave that one.

 

I know. I want to buy itfrom you. By the way, did you get the injectors ok.

 

oh yeah LOL. Yes got the injectors. Im going to leave you a feedback right now.

 

When I ordered my Kirk roll bar, I originally went for the X brace. Then she asked if I was planning on or currently racing in SCCA races. I said no, then asked why. She said that the X brace design will not be allowed in the SCCA classes and I think one other that I hadn't heard of. So I got the straight leg bar instead since there has to be a reason its not going to be allowed in those races. That was also probably two years ago. That is all I know on the issue.

 

I agree that the Kirk is the way to go - and don't send them e-mails, call them!

Also, I agree that a full roll cage is never a good idea on a street car. Imagine hitting your head on the roll cage without a helmet - all the padding would do is soak up your blood.

 

Cusco roll-bars have always been show pieces, even back in the day when i was into hondas :/

 

LOL

 

If you are going to run the car on the street, then I also agree that a full cage is a potentially bad idea.
You can also consider having a custom welded or bolted "six point" roll and harness bar put into the car, which has the harness bar affixed with quick release pins. (and you keep your three point belts installed. Technically in some states if you run the four-five-six point harness on the street you are not DOT approved and you can get a ticket....like California! Besides, strapping up a full harness for going to the store is a pain in the >>>>>>>) You affix the front floor bar running along the outside of the seat, at a declining angle to the front of the door pillar, and then down. This allows for good rollover protection with the overhead bar well behind your seat headrest, access in and out of the car, and a strong harness anchoring. You do not have the cage, to smack your head into on the side above the window line, but it is fine for HPDE and other non racing applications where the primary issue is not so much the side impact collisions, but roll over. It is a compromise, and thus not an ideal solution, but if you are not racing, it is a measure of increased protection at a reasonable cost for the track days, while not introducing a really risky street situation by having all that steel up around where your unprotected head is going to whack it.

 

Regarding the "X" brace in the rear braces...

That's a FIA requirement and SCCA used to allow it in place of the required diagonal in the main hoop. SCCA has since changed their rules and now the diagonal in the main hoop is always required (both in a roll cage and in a roll bar). FIA has also changed their rules in some tarmac classes that require the diagonal and the "X" brace in the rear main hoop braces.

You can run the "X" brace in a SCCA legal bar but you must also have the main hoop diagonal. Also, please be aware the SCCA is requiring NASCAR style driver's side door bars in all roll cages starting in 2007. From what I understand the grandfathering of previously apporved roll cages is only until 1/1/2008. If you are having a new roll cage built or installed and plan on running with SCCA, you should have the NASCAR style door bars installed.

 

So in Kirk's case, since they have the diagonal bar on both the X brace and straight leg bars, they will qualify for SCCA if you install it and get it approved by the SCCA before 2007, but even then, it will only be good for a year, correct?

So if you even think you may want to race your car in SCCA sanctioned track events, you should go custom. Eagle1's car is a prime example of a roll bar with door protection that is still as streetable as a roll bar can be.

 

If you go with the kirk bar, consider having better pads welded in by an experienced shop. The pads do pass SCCA rules but look too puny in my opinion. I think I've posted pics of my custom rollbar somewhere here as an example and you can see that it is attached via a large pad. I see that Betamotorsports' website also has a good shot of a good sized pad under their rollcage section.
I agree with Eagle1 about keeping the stock belts for daily use. A rollbar easily does this. My Schroth belts even have clip in lap belts that I can remove when not in use.

 

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....hlight=rollbaR

Found an old thread with more info and pics of my setup. Please don't forget to properly attach any harnesses (ie. do not use seat posts as anchor points). My cage builder attached the inside lap belt to the trasmission tunnel with a backing plate. We re-used the stock outside lap belt.

 

SCCA just published on their web side a summary of the rule changes for 2007 and the Master Tech Bulletin. I did not read, in either of these documents, anything about the NASCAR door bar requirement. So for now, disregard what I posted above. I was sure I read it in a past FastTrack but maybe it didn't get approved.

 

Oops, the door bar requirements were already in the 2006 GCR for Showroom Stock and Touring classes (and Improved Touring since the ITCS specifies Showroom Stock cage requirements). Production and GT class cage rules have not been changed.

 

Just as an FYI - Kirk keeps up with all the rules of NASA and SCCA, so ask them. They want there cages to be legal for both so they can be used for racing.

And I wan't being funny about the padding soaking up the blood. Kirk sells the new padding that is FIA approved. It is much denser than the old foam padding.