Passenger Friendly Roll Cage

[gzig5]

I would like to have my cake, and eat it too. I'm considering putting a roll cage in my car due to my intention to run some large tracks such as Road America. Cage would be both for roll-over/crash saftey as well as additional chassis stiffness over the US Car Tool kit. Would also serve as anchor point for proper 4-5 point harnesses. Whether that all comes to fruition is to be seen, but the car is completely apart and now would be the time. I'd want to have swing out or removable door bars across the front seat area because I'm not a gymnast and just getting in and out of a low car can be challenging already. Keeping the back seat functional for one or two people would be nice and I know that most cages make that difficult if not impossible. Are there options for something like a removable cross bar behind the seats to make access easier? I know there isn't much room in the back to begin with, so is this just a pipe dream or has someone done or seen a cage system that would accommodate better access? Car will be street driven a lot and not just a track toy.

 

[Xcudame]

I see no problem with a swing out or removable door bar properly pinned. With my size (6' 3") there is no room behind me in the backseat floorboard, so I think your backseat idea is a "pipe dream" (your words). About all the rear seat is good for in an E-Body is a bag of groceries and a 12 pack of beer.

If you had excess to a pipe bender and welded your own cage, I guess you could make just about anything. Time and money.

 

[6PKRTSE]

Unfortunately, mine is not passenger friendly to get into the rear seat. However, I do still have the full interior. The cage just goes through the rear seat. We do use the rear seat for my cool shirt racing cool suit ice cooler for beverages on the street for shows and cruising.

 

[gzig5]

That's a bit more cage than I'm considering but it is nicely done, and required by that beast.
I also don't want to half-ass it making concessions for back seat access. As I keep looking at it, it's getting harder and harder to accomplish what I'm thinking about.

 

[Surfcuda]

Hey gzig5, here is a photo of the roll bar form my 70 Barracuda. It’s rear passenger friendly too. Maybe this will give you some insight on your design. If you were closer I would consider selling it.

 

[Surfcuda]

Photo didn’t load on last post. I will send a front view photo tomorrow that will give you a better idea of its shape.

 

[gzig5]

Photo didn’t load on last post. I will send a front view photo tomorrow that will give you a better idea of its shape.

View attachment 146477

Thanks for the pic. Looking forward to more information. Especially interested in where the four points land in the interior.

 

[Surfcuda]

Gzig5, here is a front view of my roll bar to include one of the mounting points. Hopefully this gives you an idea to create one that meets your vision.

 

[Surfcuda]

Thanks for the pic. Looking forward to more information. Especially interested in where the four points land in the interior.

To answer your questions: The rear points bolt into the wheel wells on side of seats. The front points bolt into the floor pan just before the door openings.

 

[HPP]

I would suggest contacting some of the tracks and/or organizations where you may want to run and ask them what requirements they have for bolt in roll bars. It would really stink to put and effort into the fab and install of a bar only to show up at an event and have them tell you it won't pass tech.

For example, NHRA would require this bar to be welded to 6x6x.125 plates that are then bolted into the car. However, I'm not sure if they would approve it without a cross bar. Of course your e.t. and mph may be a factor in that as well. The lack of a cross bar also means you would have to then be cognizant of the position of a harness mount to maintain proper angularity.