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Help with roll cage

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gixxer750
  • Start date Start date Aug 19, 2004

Gixxer750

Founding Member
Feb 3, 2002
789
0
17
Saint John NB, Canada
Aug 19, 2004
#1
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #1
I own an 87 Gt T-Top that I want to put a cage in the rear to help stiffen the car up. I have a guy that owes me a favor so I am going to pick up all the materials I need at cost. Question is, what size/type tubing, wall thickness etc should I go with?? Also does anyone have a good diagram of proper mounting points for a cage in a 5.0L ??

Thanks
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Aug 19, 2004
#2
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #2
I'd hook up with some of the guys racing in NASA or SCCA and see what the safety specs call for in terms of size/wall thickness. It will be chromoly tubing (higher yield/tensile strength) for more strength and less weight. Also you refer to 'cage' in the 'back'. Sounds like you're talking about a roll-bar more than a cage. That will help stiff things up, but not as much as a full cage that ties in 6 or 8 body points to the structure. The challenge is always that a really stiff/strong cage is properly triangulated - and when you do that, you pretty much rule out use of the back seat in any reasonable manner. You should have sub-frame connectors welded in, and the mounting points of the cage should be reinforced with steel plate, and they should tie in to the floor and surrounding structure in 2 dimensions. That is, the reinforcement plate should have significant weld area in both the horizontal floor pan, and the vertical rocker panel section. Same is true for any tie-in points - in the foot wells, firewall, or trunk - tie into two dimensions or planes for the most rigidity.

Be sure whoever you have helping you knows how to weld high strength steel (it's a bit trickier than mild steel), and understands a bit about structural design and uni-bodies. Most importantly for a street car - be sure that any steel structure that is within a 12-18" of a part of you or your passenger's body is padded with proper roll cage padding. Can't tell you have many injuries occur because a body part - head, hand, leg - gets slammed into an unprotected steel surface. Given the forces that can be generated, bones and even a skull can be fractured in a very low speed accident. Soft tissue damage can occur even during spirited cornering - taking a buddy along for an autocross pass. I still have the mark on my helmet from where it slammed into the upper cage bar on a particularly violent turn-in in a special 2-seater Sports2000 SCCA racer in which a professional driver was treating me to a 10/10ths lapping session as a passenger at a driving school. People think they're making the car safer, and they end up hurting themselves worse because they've placed an unprotected non-forgiving surface (roll cage component) right where a soft body part can be slammed into it. Body part loses that battle every time.
 

88stangmangt

Active Member
Nov 25, 2003
2,332
1
48
Stafford,VA
Aug 19, 2004
#3
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #3
a roll bar with t-tops would look so sick specially if it is chrome check out M&M.
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Aug 19, 2004
#4
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #4
I suppose 'sick' is good - but it depends on whether you like chrome or not. Not a fan of chrome here....
 

Gixxer750

Founding Member
Feb 3, 2002
789
0
17
Saint John NB, Canada
Aug 19, 2004
#5
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #5
Thanks for the info Micheal. Basicly just looking to go with a 4 point "bar" in the rear, with the structural cross braces. Losing the rear seat is ok, it has not been in the car for over a year now. Just something with two mounting points on the floor of the rear seat, and two points in the rear hatch. Then put a bar across in the back roughly halfway between top and bottom for extra support, and the X brace in the rear part of the hatch. If I get time I will throw together a quick drawing.
 

88stangmangt

Active Member
Nov 25, 2003
2,332
1
48
Stafford,VA
Aug 19, 2004
#6
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #6
with t-tops it's the only way to go....................................chrome all the way..................
 

Gixxer750

Founding Member
Feb 3, 2002
789
0
17
Saint John NB, Canada
Aug 19, 2004
#7
  • Aug 19, 2004
  • #7
88stangmangt said:
with t-tops it's the only way to go....................................chrome all the way..................
Click to expand...


You were saying check out M&M, do u have a link or anything for that?
 
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