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9s for $9k

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by squirrel, Mar 18, 2025.

  1. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,333

    gene-koning
    Member

    Going out on a limb here, but I suspect the tech inspectors at the drag strip see more injuries from failed out dated seat belts or improperly installed roll cages, then they see from actual properly built roll cage failures.

    A roll cage with the main points welded directly to the sheet metal floor pan without the 6" square 1/8" plate between the cage tubing and the floor pan would be a big red flag. Tubing with joints that are only 60% welded and have gaping holes the rest of the way around are another big red flag.

    Most of us have seen the video of the 55 (or 56) Chevy doing the roll over past the guardrail where the driver is flipped out of the still rolling car. No one really wants to see that happen in real life, so the rules are written to prevent that from happening again, not many come out of those type of crashes as well as that lucky guy did.

    The reality is, most racers are more concerned about going faster then they are about being safe. Most of the comments on this post are concerning what is required by the rules to go "this fast" and keep the tech guy happy, not about what needs to be done to keep the driver safe at that speed.
     
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  2. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,365

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    The Days !!!
    First Drag strip on East


    IMG_3520.png
     
  3. I wouldn't say no way..
    There's what I do>
    Put you back brace in place and trace it on the main hoop it with soapstone or whatever.
    Remove back bar, and build up a little nub of weld on the main hoop at 12 o'clock , right above your marking .
    Now, put your brace back in.
    Shoot out about a half in. of wire from the nozzle.
    Get you head up there as far as you can.
    When the wire hits the nub, your arc will start.
    Drop down a tad and bring you bead down to where can see what you're doing .
    Same thing on the other side.
    If you've got a spare nozzle , you can squash it down in a vise to give yourself a bit more room.
    A clamp on bucket light helps a bit too , for us old fogies.
    It may not look perfect up there when you're done , but I've checked out the welds with mirror, but you should end up with a 360 deg. weld ;-)
     
    porkshop and rod1 like this.
  4. I thought of this rollbar debate when I seen this truck, can't say as I've ever seen the curved bar to main hoop before.

    Screenshot_20250620_191134_Facebook.jpg Screenshot_20250620_191118_Facebook.jpg
     
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  5. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 21,509

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    porkshop, bobss396 and Sharpone like this.
  6. Dick Stevens
    Joined: Aug 7, 2012
    Posts: 4,024

    Dick Stevens
    Member

    I'd say, not ideal but better than nothing
     
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  7. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,140

    squirrel
    Member

    My reading of the rules does not require the rear bars to exit the cab. But maybe someone will show me where it says it has to. (I mean for a roll bar, not a cage)
     
    porkshop, 41 GMC K-18 and 19Eddy30 like this.
  8. My friend that owns the Bizio truck had to go with a funny car cage to keep from cutting the truck cab for rear bars.

    FB_IMG_1752117675455.jpg
     
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  9. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,140

    squirrel
    Member

    That makes sense.

    They specify a minimum angle for the bars on cages, but not roll bars.
     
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  10. snoc653
    Joined: Dec 25, 2023
    Posts: 976

    snoc653
    Member
    from Iowa

    I’m certainly not an authority on this subject. But if the bar had to be braced rearward, I would think the same plate mount system as on the floor to subframe would work and allow bars to pass through the rear of the cab.
     
    porkshop likes this.
  11. Model A coupes have the sme problems with getting the correct angle on the rear bars without sticking out like the old 70's bolt in 4x4 bars with KC lights.
    My chassis builder friend worked hard to get these as low as he could while still being legal.

    20240723_190853.jpg
     
  12. TexasHardcore
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 5,540

    TexasHardcore
    Member
    from Austin-ish

    I'd assume if that rule does exist, then it's class specific and laid out in SFI Spec.

    For your typical roll bar or rollcage, I'm thinking as long as the bend is done by being drawn over a die and not crunched or kinked, then you're all good.
     
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  13. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,365

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Support other Sanctional bodies
    Out side of NHRA ,
     
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  14. AmishMike
    Joined: Mar 27, 2014
    Posts: 1,310

    AmishMike
    Member

    Best recent post by “borntoloze” - “carry on”.!!! Squirrel - how goes the “Ceep”???? Get or try 15 lbs boost yet?
     
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  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,140

    squirrel
    Member

    And there are no SFI specs for roll bars or 8.50 and slower cages.

    Thanks for the update.
     
  16. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,802

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Maybe it’s changed or more thorough at other tracks than the ones I’ve been at but tech doesn’t seem to spend much time on a cage in a 10.0 car, everything gets a quick look with the most attention given to the bars around the driver and window net installation. Nothing really sends you home but fix it before you come back is what I’ve seen. I’ve seen a few swing out bar ideas not go over well but have seen some shit aloud on the track that shouldn’t have been.
     
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  17. TexasHardcore
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 5,540

    TexasHardcore
    Member
    from Austin-ish

    Exactly.

    I really wanted to put a cage in my '56, but I didn't want to put the rear down bars through or above the rear window, and there's no way to have a legal cage without those bars unless a funny car enclosure gets installed, which now puts it into SFI territory and is way too much work and effort for a truck that may never see single digit ET's. I'll pass.
     
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  18. TexasHardcore
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 5,540

    TexasHardcore
    Member
    from Austin-ish


    The last car I had to run through tech was my last Foxbody Mustang. It had a 6-point mild steel bar in it. The tech inspector barely looked at the roll bar, and if I remember he basically reached his arm up and felt the weld at the main hoop and rear down bars on the drivers side. He was more concerned with the battery box hold-down bolts and that I didn't have a "push/pull" sticker that told what the battery disconnect did.

    FB_IMG_1745505394553.jpg
     
  19. 1964countrysedan
    Joined: Apr 14, 2011
    Posts: 1,135

    1964countrysedan
    Member
    from Texas

    As long as you roll bar engineers realize what yall did to an otherwise great focused Squirrel build thread...
     
  20. Please accept this "roll bar engineers" apology :rolleyes:
    I will do everything in my power to reverse the unfathomable pain I have clearly caused you o_O:confused: starting with removing any input I have had on this sad and pathetic topic that I alone brought to this thread :oops:
    I pray you will find it in your heart to, given enough time ... forgive me :(
    Once my posts have been eliminated from this thread, I fully intend to spend a week, naked and in total darkness, reflecting on my stupidity and how I can make the world a better place :(

    Edit: my posts have been removed. I hope others follow my lead and remove any and all mention of muffler bends, etc. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to disrobe and head to the cellar for my week of personal reflection and growth :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2025 at 9:06 PM
  21. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,365

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    I do not under stand , Yes there Is rules,
    Recommendations , ext !
    There Is No guarantees even Over built more then Certain rules ,
    Thousands of people get on a commercial plane every day
    No parachute,
    If on a Water craft Need Life preserver!
    Ride a Motorcycle some wear Helmets,
    Now there is Air Bag suits for Motorcycles,
    Horse ?
    Bull Riding,
    Running with the bulls .
    Life is full of Dangers , even walking
    Watch Ferrari : Race to Immortality , documentary theres a part around
    1950 Race maybe 24 hours at
    Le Mans ? Or another famous Race Track, car coming into pits , clip wall
    Car came apart threw pit lane & spectator crowd Like 180 People
    Injured 90 or 100 something killed .

    Study , watch History of
    Coney Island NY
    1920 - 40s Many injured and killed ,

    Close 20 year ago Eric tire when Square,
    Scotty
    Australian pro mod driver , car crashed
    @ bottom end jumped wall , are born
    Clipped Concrete telephone pole over
    100-200 feet side of track Cut car in half
    Final Round , Word Champion Run
    Won ,

    2010 ,Friend of mine Neal Parker A/Fc driver .

    Back in 70s I was up in burn out to starting line , I was about 8 , match racing Funny Cars , Spark plug came threw body peg me in chest ,

    To this day when @ track I stand on line
    Narrow track 40 foot wide after Tree
    Staging about 10 foot between fender's
    We get cars in 4:20-60 in 1/8
    Fastest and record Is a Funny , 3:70ish
    & Small tire , 3:83 car was set up to click
    Off @ 3 sec into run ,

    If Scared dont show or Do ,
    I feel safe in my full race car , but it can happen ,
    My street I will only run 1/8
    its @ the three digits little over ,

    Another friend of mine Would always say Jonny Rocca
    Happy Motoring
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2025 at 10:58 AM
  22. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 21,509

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    What was the question?
     
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  23. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,365

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Roll bar , Roll cage , debate
    Safety , One that think Rule book
    Prevents death , Is false
     
    dogwalkin likes this.
  24. Sounds a little like our local track, I guarantee you won't get closer to a car going down track as a spectator.
    Right on the other side of that fence is the racing surface, not a shoulder, some cars are so close it'll suck the beer cups right onto the track from the vacuum. They run top fuelers here and everything, Shirley Muldoney held the record forever with a 3.50 then Todd Paton came in with a 3.306-second pass, and also the speed record at 233.00 mph, both set during Nitro Night of Fire.

    upload_2025-7-17_13-7-4.png 100_2467.jpg 100_2463.jpg Screenshot_20221202-085323_Message+.jpg

     
    19Eddy30 likes this.
  25. AmishMike
    Joined: Mar 27, 2014
    Posts: 1,310

    AmishMike
    Member

    Wonder what will happen to sport of drag racing if bunch of people get killed standing next to a fueler. How is the squirrel’s build coming?
    Hope everyone can understand my sentence structure & wording
     
    Kommuter, 427 sleeper and Baumi like this.
  26. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,140

    squirrel
    Member

    I'm going to go racing again when there's a chance, the drag strips around here mostly shut down for the summer rains.

    Still other things to tinker with on Cheep, though.

    and there's a LeMons Rally coming up soon, in the PNW, and I have to go on it just because. Corvette? Cheep? Which would be worse?
     
    dogwalkin, swade41, SS327 and 4 others like this.
  27. AmishMike
    Joined: Mar 27, 2014
    Posts: 1,310

    AmishMike
    Member

  28. Harv
    Joined: Jan 16, 2008
    Posts: 1,387

    Harv
    Member
    from Sydney

    That photo reminds me of Jake and Elwood playing a bar in Kokomo...



    Benaraby Dragway in Central Queensland gets you almost that close:

    dragway.jpg

    Cheers,
    Harv
     
  29. noboD
    Joined: Jan 29, 2004
    Posts: 8,864

    noboD
    Member

    Thank you Squirrel, for returning your thread to what it's supposed to be. This my dick is bigger then yours argument gets old. I enjoy reading all the tech in your threads but the bickering gets old real quick.
     

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