Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors
View Poll Results: Number of points on the cage?
6 point roll bar
8
42.11%
10 point cage
10
52.63%
No bar or cage
1
5.26%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

roll bar vs cage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 4, 2007 | 10:22 AM
  #1  
SS101's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 807
Likes: 1
Default roll bar vs cage

do you think i should go with a 6 point roll bar from wolfe or with a 10 point cage thru spohn (basically the same as the six point but with a halo, A-pillar downbars and additional contact point in the rear) neither requires modification to the dash or firewall, but would a 10 point be overkill??

my car will be a road racer that sees limited street duty (75 and sunny or nicer ONLY), with tons of power to play with. i like the idea of a cage not only because it keeps the roof off your head if you put the car on its top (definatly nice if you have a t-top car like i do), but also for the structural stability - i'll be running a moderate H/C combo on a 427 so containing the torque is a contributing factor - but if the added points really wont help all that much, i'll be happy to ditch the extra weight.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2007 | 10:45 AM
  #2  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

Do your homework.

At some point in time, you might decide to compete in a series in that car. It would be a shame to have to ditch all the time and effort spent on either cage only to find out it does meet specs for a series.

Having said that, neither the Wolfe or Spohn cage/bars meet anything close to road racing specs.

I know Wolfe only uses ERW tubing and suspect Spohn does the same. Almost all classes of road racing I'm familiar with requires DOM tubing.

Also, a bolt in cage is just about next to worthless as it bolts in through the floor pan.

This practice doesn't give you a solid foundation to build off of, it intrudes into the passenger compartment quite a bit, causing things like heads, arm and legs better contact points.

And consequently, doesn't add a tremendous amount of chassis rigidity,

Here are some pics of a cage we built in a 3rd gen ...

http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?showtopic=9223

Notice the base plates welded to significant structural points (where multiple seams come together).

And amazingly enough, the inside cage demensions are almost identical between 3rd and 4th gens. I was very surprised ...

HTH
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 09:13 PM
  #3  
anarchy99's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 802
Likes: 2
From: Memphis, TN---San Diego, CA
Default

that's great info mitchntx. My question though, I guess kinda related, if you put a cage in the car since it adds so much rigidity to the car, do you still need subframe connectors?
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 09:53 PM
  #4  
DanO's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
Default

wel built cage will eliminate the need for sub frame connectors.. although you can keep them in for peace of mind. (and even more weight)
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2007 | 12:36 PM
  #5  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

I agree with Dan0.

But to quantify ... a 6 point cage, like the Wolfe design, isn't a substantial enough cage to be considered "well built" in order to not use SFCs.

A 6 point like this and this will.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2007 | 09:52 AM
  #6  
99WS7's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
From: WY
Default

I went with a 6 point from wolfe cause of ease of instalution and it meets the track standards. Im a street/track car so for me I think it was the best choice....plus I got a kick *** deal on mine. If one day I decide to go real BIG well then I take it out...it wont be hard.
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 07:14 PM
  #7  
gun5l1ng3r's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Default

Wow, now the question is, will a cage allow the car to handle better than a car without a cage?
Reply
Old Jul 6, 2007 | 11:16 PM
  #8  
lethal93ta's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: bethel PA
Default

Spohn gets there roll bars from S&W race cars, its not on spohns site but there is a DOM 10 point that S&W makes its 400 bucks compared to the listed 200, and really the S&W cages need to be bent and notched, when I got my 8 point bar the only bar that was bent was the main hoop and we even bent that a little harder to match up the the cars better, I would think that halo would be bent in a 10 point kit as well but its a lot of work bending and notching a cage in a car, it took me and a friend 2 days to put mine in with my car allready gutted out and thats all he does is put roll bars in. heres a couple of pics of a S&W 8 point kit







Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 7, 2007 | 01:22 AM
  #9  
firebird6786's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, NY
Default

the wolfe 6point bolt in roll bar i got, the bolts go right through the front frame. do the cromoly cages meet road racing requirments?

Originally Posted by mitchntx
Do your homework.

At some point in time, you might decide to compete in a series in that car. It would be a shame to have to ditch all the time and effort spent on either cage only to find out it does meet specs for a series.

Having said that, neither the Wolfe or Spohn cage/bars meet anything close to road racing specs.

I know Wolfe only uses ERW tubing and suspect Spohn does the same. Almost all classes of road racing I'm familiar with requires DOM tubing.

Also, a bolt in cage is just about next to worthless as it bolts in through the floor pan.

This practice doesn't give you a solid foundation to build off of, it intrudes into the passenger compartment quite a bit, causing things like heads, arm and legs better contact points.

And consequently, doesn't add a tremendous amount of chassis rigidity,

Here are some pics of a cage we built in a 3rd gen ...

http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/index.php?showtopic=9223

Notice the base plates welded to significant structural points (where multiple seams come together).

And amazingly enough, the inside cage demensions are almost identical between 3rd and 4th gens. I was very surprised ...

HTH
Reply
Old Jul 7, 2007 | 03:07 AM
  #10  
mitchntx's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 2
From: DFW, Texas
Default

You would need to get a set of rules for the class you are looking at competing in and check.

For NASA and CMC,

Section 15.6.18 of the NASA CCR:

2201 - 3000 lbs.
1.500” x 0.120” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
1.750” x 0.095” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
1.750” x 0.120” ERW* (No issuance of log books for cars with ERW cages 04/30/03)
*Note- Specifications listed for reference for inspection of grandfathered vehicles.

3001 - 4000 lbs.
1.750” x .120” Chrome-moly / Seamless mild steel (DOM)
No ERW allowed.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:32 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE