Info: 8.50 Roll Cage for Casper:

[McRat]

If you want to run faster than 10.00 at an NHRA dragstrip, you will need your rollcage "certified" by the technical staff at the NHRA.

I called 626 250-2485 and spoke to Pat Cvengros. We set up an appointment to inspect our cage. He brings an ultrasonic micrometer to measure the bar thicknesses.

It will cost you $130 for the "sticker" which needs to be visible to track tech officials. If you want to powercoat, do it before inspection. It is good for 3 years.

Get an NHRA Rulebook before you start. You need 1 5/8 OD tubing, either .083" if 4130 Chrome Moly, or .120" thick if mild steel. Casper was fitted with seamless .095" 1.625 tube due to the SCTA (Land Speed Racing) requirement.

But let's get real. I will die someday, but I'd rather not have a pickup truck decide when. So I had more than the minimum done to protect the driver from injury.

Mitch Howe of Mitch's Custom Fabrications (El Monte, CA 626 442-2100) did the rollcage. Thanks out to Chris (Neens) for turning me on to Mitch.

Now here's the pics,

Please excuse Bill Gates and Friends. Windows Vista sucks very badly and MSPaint doesn't actually work correctly anymore, so I can't put text in most the pictures.

 

[mytmousemalibu]

Awsome Pat!

Please excuse Bill Gates and Friends. Windows Vista sucks very badly and MSPaint doesn't actually work correctly anymore, so I can't put text in most the pictures.

Thats HILARIOUS!!! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[malibu795]

looks nice pat

 

[McRat]

Features:

The seat is mounted with 8 bolts, and is a Kirkey all aluminum circle track item. 4 at the floor, and 4 connected at the rollcage. You can lift the truck by the driver's seat if you wanted.

5 point harness is directly mounted to the rollcage in 4 places, and only the submarine strap (3" wide) is mounted to the reinforced floor.

Main hoop has 3 cross bars, not one. One diagonal, one shoulder high, and one at rocker panel height.

Cage is directly welded to the frame in 8 places: 2 for the 30 deg supports, 4 at the main hoop, and 2 for the front hoop.

Rocker bars and door bars on both sides, all welded, not removable.

Front hoop goes through dash, and has a dash bar hidden inside supporting the hoop.

Cross bar on the roof and passenger side to triangulate the cage for more strength.

We figure this cage is at least twice as strong as the minimum NHRA requirement, yet weighs only 135-150 lb.

Expect to spend about $4000 including seat and harness, all told.

 

[Tinker Brat]

my moms running a 9 i'll be thereics:

 

[coldLBZ]

Looks awesome Pat, wow.

 

[NelsonDiesel]

awesome job with the cage. The dash looks great !!!

 

[The Neens]

has a dash bar hidden inside supporting the hoop.

Great idea...Cage looks awesome...

 

[Stingpuller]

Cage

Very nice. It looks like you found a good fabricator. Now lets go racing!

 

[J Spruill]

just curios did the nhra officila say anything about teching a 4x4 to go this fast?tje work loos very nice...

 

[MACKIN]

Must be fun getting in there to sit.


There's no door swing bar (pinned) that is certified available?

 

[McRat]

just curios did the nhra officila say anything about teching a 4x4 to go this fast?tje work loos very nice...

The only time we had a problem at local tracks is in Bakersfield last February. I'm not sure the problem was with the track official or the NADM to be honest. They reduced the track to 1/8mi for the ProStreet guys. I'm guessing the NADM was the issue, not the NHRA.

Nothing I can find in 2008 indicates 4x4 can't run 9's with proper setup (crank centerline).

 

[McRat]

Must be fun getting in there to sit.


There's no door swing bar (pinned) that is certified available?

Yes, we could have made the door bars swing out, and the cross cab diagonal removable, but felt a solid bar was safer.

 

[MACKIN]

Yes, we could have made the door bars swing out, and the cross cab diagonal removable, but felt a solid bar was safer.

Are you keeping the airbags active? Just wondering if you can go with a removable type steering wheel for easier in's and out's of the cab.

With all the racing and truck pulling today I'm surprised there has never been any accidental airbag deployment.

 

[McRat]

Airbags are non-operative now.

Yes, a removable wheel might be a great idea.

So would some seat padding. I drove for 40 minutes in Casper on bumpy highways and my legs fell asleep.

 

[duratothemax]

Airbags are non-operative now..

Is that a requirement for the rules Pat?

cage looks really nice; I like the hidden dash cross support piece.

ben

 

[ruffmanatv]

Looks great Pat. I can't wait to see some land speed record vids.

 

[Fingers]

Thought you would bracket and bolt the cage to the frame. Not a criticism, just a personal preference.

 

[Trippin]

Looks good other than the seat mounting. I'm not a fan of having a roll cage tubing pointed perpendiclaur to my body. I don't think that would pass NASCAR tech. The trouble would arise when backing it into the wall at high speed.

I really like the look of everything else. I'll have to talk with Mitch about doing some work on "White Lightning".

 

[McRat]

Thought you would bracket and bolt the cage to the frame. Not a criticism, just a personal preference.

The only time you are allowed to bolt the rollcage in, is when you have a unibody like a modern Camaro. If you have a frame, you must weld. This is true for both NHRA and SCTA.

Our vette has a frame, so it's welded. Our rollbar in Casper wasn't really legal since it was bolted, but I did tell the shop it was to be weld, they just didn't do it.

Pretty much we are on the road of no return, and have turned it into a racing truck. It will remain street-legal, but it is no more a street truck now than any other ProStreet truck. Yes, it can be driven on the street, but it won't be comfortable or safe to do so without a helmet.