Roll cage and stiffness

Brent 930 · 10-20-2004, 07:31 AM

How much stiffer will a roll cage give a coupe with a sunroof? Is it worth it for just that purpose alone?

Thanks

Grady Clay · 10-20-2004, 07:39 AM

Brent,

What is your sunroof 911 (year & model?)
What is the purpose you want to achieve?
What use do you intend for your 911?
What is your current suspension? Do you intend changes?
How far from stock appearing are you willing to go?

Best,
Grady

Brent 930 · 10-20-2004, 08:18 AM

83' 930 Turbo

Less flex

Drive it like I stole it, what else?

Stock HD's in front, front strut brace, rear sport shocks, 23/31mm torsion bars, 86-89' sways with Tarrett Eng. drop links and modified rear bar.

I'm considering better sways if there is a decent track around the area for next year.

I understand a roll cage will make the car look racey.

Thanks

petevb · 10-20-2004, 08:22 AM

Depends a whole lot on the type of cage. A simple bolt in cage with removable door bars won't help a whole lot. A complex weld in cage tied to the chassis in a number of places and to the suspension points can radically improve stiffness, but many of the things that make the cage stiffer also make it less streetable, like X door bars and diagonal braces on the window/ windshield openings.

What's the year of the car?

Chuck Moreland · 10-20-2004, 08:37 AM

Full cages really aren't well suited to street cars.

- Entry / exit is difficult
- You could tweak your melon on the cage in an accident, and you're not wearing a helmet
- You will never push the car hard enough on the street to appreciate the added rigity. If you do, you will soon be tweaking your melon as above.
- Chicks don't like it

Brent 930 · 10-20-2004, 08:41 AM

Hey I like your avatar, good point about the chick thing which is the most important part.

ErVikingo · 10-20-2004, 08:49 AM

It will considerably stiffen your car if you get the right rollcage. For street use you could go with a bolt in and perhaps remove the door bars.

You could consider a roll bar only and cover it in leather or leatherette for stock appearance. I did that on my SC.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

I really dislike cages in street cars for the reasons Chuck stated. You are just asking for trouble w/ an unhelmeted head and a bar.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

No matter what, I sure would feel more secure in a car w/ a rollbar than without. You may not want to go the full cage route for several reasons, getting in/out nuisance and boinking your head on it being the biggest. If you don't care for rear seat access then get a good rollbar that will be behind the front seats. You'll gain bracing from a side impact as well as a rollover. It will stiffen things up a bit, but it won't be noticeable to you when you drive it.

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

This topic HAS been beaten to DEATH in another thread. Here it is:
Installing a AutoPower Roll bar.

The statement in all-caps at the top of that thread refers to the "intelligent" discussion that continued, regarding the safety of roll bars in street cars. Here's where the fun starts

Enjoy the reading:
Installing a AutoPower Roll bar.

Dantilla · 10-20-2004, 12:40 PM

If you ever race some day, there are rules on what the cage requirements are. Some do not allow being tied to the suspension. It would be a shame to have to start cutting tubes out to get ready to race.

thrown_hammer · 10-20-2004, 03:17 PM

Dave,
Thanks for bringing that thread up.....

In 101 projects the author, a rather well respected chap that pops in here every now and then states that a rollbar makes your car safer. End of discussion.