1SlowFormula

OK so I was going to try and get the chassis done over the winter. 10pt cage window net harness and all that. But I will only be putting a littel more power down for most of the season, or maybe the entire season depending on money. So I think I would feel dumb rolling into the lanes fully done up with window net up and all just to click off a low 11 second run. I do plan on trying to get into the 9's or better within the next year or so and see it a waste of money to get a 6pt now then convert (which adds weight), or cut it out for a new cage later.

So the question is, can I just run it without the window net since I will be running slow, or would the tech guys see the full cage and not believe me when I tell them what I will be running? I have read the rules regarding what is needed per ET and speed, but also know that sometimes when the tech guys see a cage the look for/inspect everything.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

You can get a 6 pt done now, and add onto it to finish off the 10 pt, which is what I did.

But if I could do it over I would have just done the whole 10 pt at once, saves ripping the car apart twice.

As for the window net, safety is safety. I don't care if people laugh, I'd do it once the cage is there wether the car is running fast enough to need it or not.

1SlowFormula

Good points, but like I said (and it sounds like you agree) since I know it will be fast enough to need a cage at a later point anyway then I will go that route. Converting a 6pt to a 10pt adds unnessesary weight into the mix too, since the 6pt needs 1 3/4 x .083 CM tubing vs the 1 5/8 x .083 used in the 10pt, it's not much of a difference but a few pounds here and there add up...

I just spent the last week pulling every unused wire and stuff like that and pulled at least 10# so far, and I try and do what I can to get the weight down. I heard it before that when looking to remove weight and you run out of big items that if your trying to loose another pound instead of looking for one place to pull a pound find 16 places to pull out an ounce, it all adds up the same...

82 camaro

I have a 10pt cage and I never use the window net I have been 10.05 no proublems and I have been at three nhra tracks not one word has been said to me. So my answer is no you do not need the net unless your et falls below 9.99 or your mph is 135 plus.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I can honestly tell you that a foot of chromoly tubing in 1 5/8 vs 1 3/4 is exactly .097 lb more, just a bit under a tenth of a lb, so in 10 feet of pipe you're looking at one lb.

It wasn't enough so that I was gonna worry about it, as a matter of fact I had the rest of my 10 pt bent up out of the same 1 3/4 tubing, just so it looked right. Honestly, I measured it out I think I might have 7 lbs there because of it, but on the other side of it my car is only 3290 with my 280 lbs in it, still ahve the door bars, stock k member and a arms, all the engine bay harness still in place too. I figured it out the other day, I have about 250 lbs more that I can take out, if I do a speedglass windshield, pin on hatch with speedglass in that and a pin on hood and cut the cowl off, the car probably could lose about 400 lbs, I go on a diet and lose 50 and the car will be in the mid 2800's

Just a thought.... but you can get these cars alot lighter then you think if you really look at them and figure out what you don't need to go strait and fast safely... and you can still look pretty good doing it IMO.

TwoFast4Lv

iTrader: (8)

To answer the question. As far as NHRA is concern if you have a cage you MUST have a window net and use it. Even if it is a 13 second pass the window net must be used.

mrdragster1970

.

As mentioned above, any car with cage must use net. Even if it runs 19.20.
Don't know where '82 races, but he's wrong, & has been lucky they didn't notice.

.

1SlowFormula

thanks for the feedback everyone...

JL - I know that these cars can get light, I am hoping to have my raceweight (I'm ~ 200#) below 2900 at my next race. I too still have my door bars, stock K-member, and know of some more weight to pull, but it will take a little more time then I have. So even if you add a CM cage, window net, and misc safety items while doing the work mentioned above I am sure I can keep it below 3000#...

I just find it funny I have spent a lot of money to loose 10# here and there, but I still have the door bars in, but then again I think of that as a safety item until the cage...

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I have a cage and still have the door bars in.. how ya think I feel?


Last time I had the panel off I honestly tried to get them out and I couldn't get a wrench in there to remove the damn bolts.

TwoFast4Lv

iTrader: (8)

I had to make a wrench to get mine out

82 camaro

I have raced Moroso, Gainesville,Orlando,and Bradenton with the car set up this way.And in the 08 rule book page 104 it states Window net mandatory in any full bodied car requierd by rules to have a roll cage. And his car is not requierd do to the lack of et and mph. I have a net its just a pain to put it up and I dont care to drive with it up.

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

I believe NHRA rules is "if the car requires a cage for the e.t. it runs then the net must be used." I've seen plenty of cars with full cages in the 10s run at NHRA tracks that are hard in tech and they don't run the nets. I don't have my rulebook handy but I'll check it tomorrow for sure....

TheOutlaw1

Start off with a 6pt..then add on later as your car gets faster.. if you know the car is going the be faster than 9.99et get it all done at once and be done with it.. Its all about safety!

TheOutlaw1

you do need a net with a sportsmans cage

82 camaro

Read page 104 not needed unless you run 9.99 or 135 mph.
Villain 281 whats up I belive it was you I was talking to over in Bradenton during the NMCA race I had the silver third gen in the true street class.

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

As stated, General Regulations 6:3 and page 104 in the NHRA 2008 rule book states unless the car is required by the rules to have a cage, the net isn't required.

82 Camaro, yep that was me and my buddy Jason who ran true street with his blue '71 Nova talking with you at Bradenton earlier this year. Car ran good, maybe catch ya later this year!

Derek

JUICED96Z

iTrader: (2)

Agreed, and some tracks do more enforcing then others.

mrdragster1970

.

I have to admit, after reading it myself, the way it is written, 82 is 100% correct. I apologize.
Problem is in real world & on a few sites I hang at. Everyone has ran into same answer.
Any car with a cage, they require a net. We have discussed this several times.
I guess, everyone should carry the rule book in their car, for teaching the tech guys.

.

1SlowFormula

Tyson, I'm not sure if you recall since it has been a while since we talked about it, but I was planning on going the full cage route, and I thought you were going to send me a new quote since the one I had was old and the material costs have gone up since then...

82 camaro

I allways cary the net in the trailer if I was at a track that wanted it in its just a matter of putting it in the car. One min job.