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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

.... 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.

 

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.