cage question

[prostreet1967]

can someone tell me if this is legal. would like to stay below window but would hate to one day be fast enough to need to get certified and have to redo truck again. thanks

[vin63]

I cannot see inside the cab, but it is not legal for 10.00 ET, or quicker. Rearward bars from the main hoop have to be within 5" from the top of the main hoop, if you use tubing 1.5" diameter, or larger.

If you are planning on running at a NHRA track, be sure to invest in a rulebook.

[PGSigns]

You can get away with out the bars going to the back if the drivers area is built to the left hand steer roadster spec. What you end up with is a funny car cage in it and some more bars on the inside of the cab. A rule book is a good idea any time you are building a cage/ full chassis. Always decide how fast you may ever want to go in the vehicle and build to that spec. As you get into the faster classes the certifications change and the cage must meet an SFI spec.
Jimmy

[vin63]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

You can get away with out the bars going to the back if the drivers area is built to the left hand steer roadster spec. What you end up with is a funny car cage in it and some more bars on the inside of the cab. A rule book is a good idea any time you are building a cage/ full chassis. Always decide how fast you may ever want to go in the vehicle and build to that spec. As you get into the faster classes the certifications change and the cage must meet an SFI spec.
Jimmy

Not for quicker than 10.00 ET. For 9.99 ET to 7.50 ET, the cage has to meet SFI 15.1E through 25.4 rating with a full SFI 2.4B through 2.7A dragster cage or SFI 10.2 through 10.4 roadster cage configurations that is attached to the 4-pt cage (window bar).

[blackedoutharley]

What Vin63 said.....

[BigDan3131]

You have to ask yourself a simple question...Is my life worth having a proper cage to save me?. I know guys who run the below window style who race their trucks just once to see how fast it is. But if you get the bug and your time shows promise a Lexan window isn't such a big deal.

[moggey01]

Actually Tom Yancer had a Pro Stock truck that was built with the bars below the window. It was certified to run 7s, and he had the funny car cage in it.

[Marv D]

My 66 is built very similar and I can tell you Division 7 NHRA tech agrees with Vin63 and PGsigns,,,, Except that they will not allow anything 11.49 and quicker without the back bars, OR a funny car cage. Inside, outside, they don't care,, the tubes have to be in place. The rear supports must attach to the main hoop within 5" of the top of the hoop for a 'bar" or 12point "cage".
The 9.99 SFI chassis sticker get's real sticky and like metioned, There are a number of trucks with the Roadster / funny car cage 'inside' the cabin that meets the spec somehow. A couple of Yancers old truck chassis' are running in the sportsman classes around here in Az and Moggey is right,,, you can't see any back bars from the outside.

But to the point of the original question,,, I'm suspecting this is a brand new build, or a pro-street show truck / driver (and a VERY nice job BTW). I see no ice tank for a intercooler, the tire dressing on the MT Sprotsman tires, no rock dents in the tubs,,,,,, I'm guessing (as always), but were not looking at a sub 11 second ride are we? I think the bar / back bars are going to be a issue for the 10.01 to 11.49 ET range

[vin63]

Originally Posted by moggey01

Actually Tom Yancer had a Pro Stock truck that was built with the bars below the window. It was certified to run 7s, and he had the funny car cage in it.

Originally Posted by Marv D

...The 9.99 SFI chassis sticker get's real sticky and like metioned, There are a number of trucks with the Roadster / funny car cage 'inside' the cabin that meets the spec somehow. A couple of Yancers old truck chassis' are running in the sportsman classes around here in Az and Moggey is right,,, you can't see any back bars from the outside...

Yep, those chassises are built to the roadster spec as I mentioned earlier that's outlined in the rulebook...essentially a roadster roll cage (left hand drive) attached and built within a cage inside the cab. Similar to the roll cage of my funny car chassis (center steer), I do not have rearward bars to the back of the chassis structure.


So, if prostreet1967 is going to build a roll cage for his truck, I'm under the assumption that he plans to go quick enough to warrant it. If not, building a roll cage is not a good idea.

[moggey01]

You could probably do some creative bending and get the tubes within 5 inches and still make it below the window. I dont want the bars on my truck to show either, and I dont want a funny car cage for a street driven truck. LOL Ill just have to see what they will allow.

[hotrod 80]

Originally Posted by moggey01

You could probably do some creative bending and get the tubes within 5 inches and still make it below the window. I dont want the bars on my truck to show either, and I dont want a funny car cage for a street driven truck. LOL Ill just have to see what they will allow.

Not to high jack but HMP was pretty leaniante (nice clean passes). RPR not so much .

[vin63]

Originally Posted by moggey01

You could probably do some creative bending and get the tubes within 5 inches and still make it below the window. I dont want the bars on my truck to show either, and I dont want a funny car cage for a street driven truck. LOL Ill just have to see what they will allow.

The rearward bars from the main hoop must be a minimum of 30 degree angle from vertical and mounted to the rear frame structure. This is why if you go the route of building a cage for safety at the required ET and MPH, it's important to ensure the cage indeed protects you as opposed to looks. Otherwise, an inadequatly built cage can be quite dangerous to the occupant(s).

[prostreet1967]

hey what are yal using for solid mounts.

[Marv D]

as in solid engine mounts? They stress the side of the block in a high HP application and are typically used only to help control lateral movement.

Motor plates. Aluminum front plate and steel mid plate, poly mount on the rear of the trans is the typical.

[Captainfab]

Depending on what style mounts you are running, I still have these for sale

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=478578

[prostreet1967]

was talking about body mounts sorry lol. gonna do cage and back half in next couple weeks. i heard im good with plates to cab but gonna tie into to rear frame so i wanted it to be stout as possible

[raceman6135]

Originally Posted by prostreet1967

i heard im good with plates to cab

Just so that I understand the situation: you have a truck that was originally a full-frame truck, and someone has told you that you can just mount part of the cage to plates bolted to the floor?

I don't believe any sanctioning body, and for sure SFI, won't allow plates to hold any part of the cage unless it's a factory unitized body (aka "unibody") type of car.

As already discussed, outriggers are required, and the roll cage tubing must pass through the sheet metal of the floor.

[Marv D]

My cab floats on the stock rubber mounts,, I have seen builds like Regan's that isn't, but I took the rule book to heart and tied the cage to the frame with outriggers under the cab. With a backhalf, I'd think seriously about how you tie it all together. Your cutting the frame in half, then supporting it with the flimsy cab floor. Even with solid cab mounts I think your gonna see things flexing and breaking if it's making big power and hooking up.

[prostreet1967]

u have any pics of ur outriggers? ive seen some posted that dont look good. my truck is already back halfed but i havent tied cage to frame. going to redo backhalf in round tube so figured now would be the time to do it right.

[hotrod 80]

Here is one of mine off my old blue luv . To the right is the rocker of the truck cab and to the left is the frame rail , behind it is the cab mount . It is dirty in this picture . This is also mild steel and not chrome moly . You can see the main hoop welded to the top of the out rigger so it can be fully welded . then the main hoop was raised into place with outrigger welded to it and it is then welded on 3 sides . The top of the outrigger is welded when the the hole is cut for the next bar to the top of the frame .The next bar in the cab are Kickers that run from the crotch of the seat belt bar and main hoop , then angle inward to the top of the frame rail to trianglulate tha connection . Clear as mud ?

[hotrod 80]

Here is a good illistration . The proportion of the bars are probably not to scale ,, but it gives you an idea of the triangle .

[bcdeutsch731]

Here are some I have found.

[kpeztruck]

I will have to try and get some photos of my cage set up. My chassis man, Steve Tucker @ Southeast Hot Rods, cut throught the florr just inside of the inner rockers, and sank a
2x3 piece into the floor, and cut the cab floor supports out to accomodate the 2x3. He then attached the "rocker 2x3" to the frame rails with round chromoly as per sfi specs. Keep in mind that the structure must from a complete box under the floor. ( outer 2x3 to outside of framerail, inside frame to opposite inside frame to other 2x3. This must be done at rear of cab with main hoop, and front of cab with the front legs as well). I hope my word picture is clearer than mud. lol Paul

[bcdeutsch731]

Originally Posted by kpeztruck

I will have to try and get some photos of my cage set up. My chassis man, Steve Tucker @ Southeast Hot Rods, cut throught the florr just inside of the inner rockers, and sank a
2x3 piece into the floor, and cut the cab floor supports out to accomodate the 2x3. He then attached the "rocker 2x3" to the frame rails with round chromoly as per sfi specs. Keep in mind that the structure must from a complete box under the floor. ( outer 2x3 to outside of framerail, inside frame to opposite inside frame to other 2x3. This must be done at rear of cab with main hoop, and front of cab with the front legs as well). I hope my word picture is clearer than mud. lol Paul

I would like to see that if you could get some pictures.
Brett

[kpeztruck]

Originally Posted by bcdeutsch731

I would like to see that if you could get some pictures.
Brett

Here are some long awaited photos of my cage work. Don't hate on me for paint wearing thin on my cage in places. I had no idea the paint looked that bad, until I looked at the photos. Looks like I have some touch up to do come spring.
The first photo is self explanatory, but you can see the 2x3 sank into the floor just inside of the rocker.
The second photo just shows that the cage goes through the dash, and the 2x3 extends far enough forward to connect the front of the cage to.
The third shows the 2x3 just under the carpet, with weld beads to the floor.
The fourth shows the 2x3 from under the truck, here you can see it set into the cross cab braces, and the forward round tube that connects the 2x3 to the outside of the frame, even with the trans crossmember.
Finally the fifth shows the round tube that connects the inside of the frame together at the rear of thw cab.
Please note: the trans crossmember is able to be bolted in, and considered part of the structure, connecting the frame together at the front. I hope this is helpfull.
Paul