RoninRX7

I want to take my FB autocrossing, but i really dont want to have any door bars. Do you guys think it would still be worth doing? My plan is to put a bar behind the seats in the corners all the way up to the roof, and then connecting that to the far corners in the hatch. Would i notice a difference, or is the added weight not worth the stiffening benefits? Thanks

peejay

You probably wouldn't notice a difference. The rear half of the bodyshell is the stiffest part, and your main concern will be mainly trying the front suspension and the rear suspension together (hint hint - the legs ideally go to where the suspension loads come in). Your idea will do pretty much nothing worthwhile, either for handling or for safety.

no_name

perhapse the autopower bolt in cage would be best for you. I hear they are good, and am concidering it myself. Any imputs?

coldy13

What you're talking about is a roll bar, not a cage. It'll protect you if you roll your car(good luck trying to roll it on an auto-x course) and give you something good to mount a 5pt harness and a camera to, but do basically nothing for improving handling. A triangulated strut tower brace would help you more.

nick812

I am thinking about getting a autopower boltin chage. If anyone has a pic that would be great.

peejay

A bolt-in is exactly what not to get.

The purpose of a bolt-in cage is to provide safety *without* stiffening the chassis. That is why they were specified for Showroom Stock - they provide race car like safety without altering the characteristics of the bodyshell.

no_name

.... From what I read it stifins the chasis. Somone here installed one an they were saying when teh car was jacke up the chasis i not warp as much, an the doors closed without problems.

speedturn

iTrader: (1)

Bolted in cages have no where near the stiffness of a welded in cage. For maximum chassis stiffness to improve handling, the loads from the front suspension need a direct path thru the cage to the rear suspension. You must have door bars (not NASCAR style) to get this direct load path. If you are not going to do a well designed cage, with door bars and lots of triangulation and as many chassis attachment points as the racing rule book will allow, then don't even bother adding anything.