So Here Is My Roll Cage Delimma
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From: St. Louis, Mo
So Here Is My Roll Cage Delimma
So lately I have been kicking around the idea of a roll cage in the Z, that being said it is a DD and also I hate climbing over door bars all the time in other peoples cars. So last night I was kicking the idea around with a friend and we came up with a weld in 8 point cage and why not just have bolt in door bars for the track and remove them for the street. Something similar to this:
But it would have parallel door bars and all the proper bracing and grade 8 bolts. Do you think that this would be legal or most sanctioning bodies (excluding Formula D obviously)
But it would have parallel door bars and all the proper bracing and grade 8 bolts. Do you think that this would be legal or most sanctioning bodies (excluding Formula D obviously)
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From: St. Louis, Mo
I have to have door bars to tandem at a drift event.
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From: Aurora, Colorado
Hate to say it, but putting a roll cage into a DD is, simply put, a PITA. First, putting in a custom rollcage takes time and money, and you'll be compromising the design of the cage itself to get more room as a DD. The diagram you posted shows something like an old Autopower bolt-in cage, but the Z33 interior is quite a bit more complex. Putting parallel bolt-in sidebars is not going to leave much room between your ribs and the bar itself. If you have a major shunt, those bars will be right up against you, particularly in a sideways contact or a rollover. Ever had fractured ribs before?
Beyond that, having a rollcage in a DD will always be a PITA, as it takes away room in makes entry and egress a bit tougher. Tandem drifting or not, you're REALLY going to want to do this. And if you are going to do it, do it RIGHT, gut the door panels and put those weld-in side bars in a place where they'll protect, rather than endanger you.
Beyond that, having a rollcage in a DD will always be a PITA, as it takes away room in makes entry and egress a bit tougher. Tandem drifting or not, you're REALLY going to want to do this. And if you are going to do it, do it RIGHT, gut the door panels and put those weld-in side bars in a place where they'll protect, rather than endanger you.
having bolt in door bars ruins the point in having a cage, most places that do tandem require a welded in door bar, because bolted one is almost useless in the case of a crash, not saying it wont help tho, but if your caging your car, might as well do it right.
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No no no no. I just used that picture for a visual reference. If I decide to cage I am having a shop (Nocturnal Motorworks/JDM Hookup or Smileys Customs) near me do my cage who does just about everyones cage near STL. The whole cage would be welded except for the door bars which would be bolted on IF I decide to go that route and will be able to pass tech at grass roots style events.
Last edited by SPirtle; Nov 29, 2012 at 11:23 AM.
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From: Aurora, Colorado
Putting in a properly built rollcage MEANS you are already extremely serious about it!
So, despite all the advise here to do it right and put in welded door bars, you're gonna half-*** it anyway? Why even ask?
So, despite all the advise here to do it right and put in welded door bars, you're gonna half-*** it anyway? Why even ask?
If you're contemplating putting any kind of cage in your car is implying that you are already pretty serious about it. Cages are something you should NOT skimp out on, make sure you get a good, properly made one. Coming from someone who has daily driven an FD-legal caged Z for over a year until I just finally bought a daily two weeks ago, it's a colossal pain the in ***.
Girls generally don't think it's cool. Half of the time it reminds them of the movie Death Proof. Not a good impression. The other half of the time they're okay with it but they note it as a major pain in the *** and never want to ride in your car.
Say goodbye to your space in the back. Unless you strip the rear and take out the metal parcel shelf, then you'll actually get more space back there. I previously could barely fit one of my drift spares back there, after cutting the parcel shelf out and my cage I can fit 4 pretty easily and safely.
It gets old very fast. Half of the time your visibility out the back gets canned due to the cage. My rear view? Pretty much pointless since one of the front roof bars goes right across it. I can see a small sliver underneath it, then have to stare through a jungle gym in the back before I can even see anything behind me. Also, it effects it in other ways as well. Driver and passenger sun visors? I know mine don't fit anymore. it sucks big time having to hold your hand up driving near dusk towards the sun. Build up them arm muscles!
Like Max-G said, commit or don't bother. Seriously.
Now that I've preached that, in regards to your bolt in door bars:
What are you planning to run? Local series? XDC? Check with the people that run tech for the series or events you go to. If they say it's okay, then go for the removable door bars. Obviously they aren't as safe, but that's your decision. If they say no, then re-contemplate how badly you want to drift and whether it's worth it doing that to your Z.
Girls generally don't think it's cool. Half of the time it reminds them of the movie Death Proof. Not a good impression. The other half of the time they're okay with it but they note it as a major pain in the *** and never want to ride in your car.
Say goodbye to your space in the back. Unless you strip the rear and take out the metal parcel shelf, then you'll actually get more space back there. I previously could barely fit one of my drift spares back there, after cutting the parcel shelf out and my cage I can fit 4 pretty easily and safely.
It gets old very fast. Half of the time your visibility out the back gets canned due to the cage. My rear view? Pretty much pointless since one of the front roof bars goes right across it. I can see a small sliver underneath it, then have to stare through a jungle gym in the back before I can even see anything behind me. Also, it effects it in other ways as well. Driver and passenger sun visors? I know mine don't fit anymore. it sucks big time having to hold your hand up driving near dusk towards the sun. Build up them arm muscles!
Like Max-G said, commit or don't bother. Seriously.
Now that I've preached that, in regards to your bolt in door bars:
What are you planning to run? Local series? XDC? Check with the people that run tech for the series or events you go to. If they say it's okay, then go for the removable door bars. Obviously they aren't as safe, but that's your decision. If they say no, then re-contemplate how badly you want to drift and whether it's worth it doing that to your Z.
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From: Rockford, IL
Nobody that does a pro-am series is going to allow bolt in anything for tandem. Maybe Billy Bob at the local speedway will allow it, but their philosophy is "Every car is built to roll over at least once." (yes, that is an actual quote)
That being said, as long as you don't have stupid crazy door bars like mine, its not that bad getting in and out. And once you've done it for a while you learn how to do it quickly and easily.
That being said, as long as you don't have stupid crazy door bars like mine, its not that bad getting in and out. And once you've done it for a while you learn how to do it quickly and easily.
And you do know that a full cage will turn even a minor accident into a concussion if you're not wearing a helmet. IMHO, you only put a full roll cage into a race car - and a race car is the kind of car where you wear a helmet EVERY TIME you drive it. Anything else is a street car and should not have a full cage installed.
And you do not tandem drift a street car... :-)
And you do not tandem drift a street car... :-)