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After doing a bit of research, I decided a roll bar would be a good investment.
I've looked around at every pre-made roll bar for our cars, and they all have at least one thing I don't like.
At first I was looking at the Wolfe Racecraft six point, but unfortunately it mounts to the floorboards.
I then looked at the Maximum Motorsports bar, and I must say, the main hoop mounting system is A+++. Unfortunately, the rear bars aren't offered in an x-brace, they don't mount the shock towers, which is somewhat of a big deal as I'll be doing a Griggs coil-over kit, and it's made of mild steel instead of chrome moly.
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/Street-4-point-Mustang-Roll-Bar-no-door-bars-no-harness-mount-2005-hardtop-P1289.aspx
Then I checked out Cool Tech LLC and their Boss 302 roll cage. I really like their design, but like the MM bar, it isn't offered with a rear x-brace and it's mild steel. It does, however, have rear shock tower brace mounting system that looks fantastic.
http://www.cooltechllc.com/Boss/Boss_Roll_Bar.shtml
After this I pretty much decided that a custom cage was going to be necessary. That said, I'm by no means an expert in cage construction or design, and there are plenty of companies and cage builders that have that kind expertise.
So first things first, I established what exactly I wanted in a roll bar.
Mounts to the main B-pillar gussets, NOT the floor pan.
The rear braces are in a x-brace and mount to the rear shock towers.
Made of Chrome-Moly tubing. I haven't figured out what diameter, thickness, or material spec yet though. I figured I would research some different class requirements for roll bars and go from there. Opinions welcome on this one. I did find this page though, which looks like a great guide:
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/welding-how-to/pages/chrome-moly-detail.aspx
Completely removable door bars. Really these aren't a big deal; I may not even end up doing door bars, but if I do I would like to be able to take them out.
I'd also like to be able to do most of the welding outside the car and then put it in the car to finish it. I know the MM bar does exactly that because it's a bolt in design, but I'm not sure if I want that or a weld in design.
Next I did was take a closer look at the various cage designs and look into how I wanted mine to be made.
As far as I could tell, the tubing design and construction is a pretty standard process and could easily be done by a competent cage builder easily.
That said, attaching the tubing to the chassis seems like an area that is a bit more complex. Something that I'd rather rely on a major company to design and test specifically for my car rather than a custom piece.
I called Maximum Motorsports and explained my situation. I asked if they would be willing to sell me a pair of the replacement gusset plates separately. Lo and behold, they actually sell those plates individually! They told me it was a recent decision though, so it isn't up on their website. I went ahead and ordered them. $190, plus shipping. Not a bad deal at all.
Next I called up Cool Tech. They said they would have to call me back however. I'm interested in finding out if they'll sell me just the mounting plates for their shock tower brace, as the actual brace is mild steel. That or see if they could make me one in Chrome-Moly unpainted.
I haven't decided who I want to build the cage though. Someone local would be nice, so if you guys know of any in Oklahoma, let me know. The one recommendation I did get was this guy:
http://www.mickeyschassisworks.com/
Anyways, that's where I'm at now with this project. Hopefully I'll have a better idea of what exactly I want in a day or two. I'll update then.
I've looked around at every pre-made roll bar for our cars, and they all have at least one thing I don't like.
At first I was looking at the Wolfe Racecraft six point, but unfortunately it mounts to the floorboards.
I then looked at the Maximum Motorsports bar, and I must say, the main hoop mounting system is A+++. Unfortunately, the rear bars aren't offered in an x-brace, they don't mount the shock towers, which is somewhat of a big deal as I'll be doing a Griggs coil-over kit, and it's made of mild steel instead of chrome moly.
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/Street-4-point-Mustang-Roll-Bar-no-door-bars-no-harness-mount-2005-hardtop-P1289.aspx
Then I checked out Cool Tech LLC and their Boss 302 roll cage. I really like their design, but like the MM bar, it isn't offered with a rear x-brace and it's mild steel. It does, however, have rear shock tower brace mounting system that looks fantastic.
http://www.cooltechllc.com/Boss/Boss_Roll_Bar.shtml
After this I pretty much decided that a custom cage was going to be necessary. That said, I'm by no means an expert in cage construction or design, and there are plenty of companies and cage builders that have that kind expertise.
So first things first, I established what exactly I wanted in a roll bar.
Mounts to the main B-pillar gussets, NOT the floor pan.
The rear braces are in a x-brace and mount to the rear shock towers.
Made of Chrome-Moly tubing. I haven't figured out what diameter, thickness, or material spec yet though. I figured I would research some different class requirements for roll bars and go from there. Opinions welcome on this one. I did find this page though, which looks like a great guide:
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/welding-how-to/pages/chrome-moly-detail.aspx
Completely removable door bars. Really these aren't a big deal; I may not even end up doing door bars, but if I do I would like to be able to take them out.
I'd also like to be able to do most of the welding outside the car and then put it in the car to finish it. I know the MM bar does exactly that because it's a bolt in design, but I'm not sure if I want that or a weld in design.
Next I did was take a closer look at the various cage designs and look into how I wanted mine to be made.
As far as I could tell, the tubing design and construction is a pretty standard process and could easily be done by a competent cage builder easily.
That said, attaching the tubing to the chassis seems like an area that is a bit more complex. Something that I'd rather rely on a major company to design and test specifically for my car rather than a custom piece.
I called Maximum Motorsports and explained my situation. I asked if they would be willing to sell me a pair of the replacement gusset plates separately. Lo and behold, they actually sell those plates individually! They told me it was a recent decision though, so it isn't up on their website. I went ahead and ordered them. $190, plus shipping. Not a bad deal at all.
Next I called up Cool Tech. They said they would have to call me back however. I'm interested in finding out if they'll sell me just the mounting plates for their shock tower brace, as the actual brace is mild steel. That or see if they could make me one in Chrome-Moly unpainted.
I haven't decided who I want to build the cage though. Someone local would be nice, so if you guys know of any in Oklahoma, let me know. The one recommendation I did get was this guy:
http://www.mickeyschassisworks.com/
Anyways, that's where I'm at now with this project. Hopefully I'll have a better idea of what exactly I want in a day or two. I'll update then.
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