Barracuda Chassis Stiffening - + Cage?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I'm looking into chassis stiffening with the intentions of a dual purpose car.

I have a bender, notcher and a welder; so I'll be making the majority of these parts myself for the car.

- Engine bay brace, I'll use 1.25" x 0.120" DOM - 3/16" mounts
- Inner fender to firewall brace; 1.75"x0.120" DOM - 3/16" mounts
- Radiator core support: 1.75"x0.120" DOM - 3/16" mounts
- Subframe connectors: ~2"x3"[?] x 0.125" square
- Torque boxes - UScartool

Anything I'm missing? I have the intentions of running a road course or two when I'd like to play with the car and would like to keep it in one piece.

Also, I'm entertaining building a cage in the car. Do most tracks require cages to run on? I'd like to run one regardless, probably a 6point with a low door bar, but I'd like to check on general specifications if I wanted to play on tracks with it.

Thanks!

[Surfmichaels]

This is not to everyone's taste but I thought this design would work nice as a mixed use bar. The center bar is for a 6 point harness and can be unbolted. I'm putting in a custom rear seat that will cover the lower bar.  Ill follow your thread to see what suggestions you get for engine bay....

[brads70]

Just a thought.....? What will your insurance say/thing of a cage? Around here they won't insure a street car with a cage.

[dodj]

Just a thought.....? What will your insurance say/thing of a cage? Around here they won't insure a street car with a cage.

Hmmm. Never knew that. How about just a 'roll over' bar? 

[brads70]

That was one of the first questions I was asked when shopping for insurance?
 IDK about a roll over bar? Some cars had that stock? Some Shelby's for example?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Hmmm. Never knew that. How about just a 'roll over' bar? 

Same question that came to mind to me, what is considered a "roll cage" to someone like Hagerty? 

[grimmey71]

Same question that came to mind to me, what is considered a "roll cage" to someone like Hagerty? 

I can't even remember hagerty asking me that, hope it not some fine print clause to get them out of paying me i case of a catastrophe

[dodj]

I can't even remember hagerty asking me that, hope it not some fine print clause to get them out of paying me i case of a catastrophe

I would have thought a cage would be ok, as long as it is really only a street car.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Better to call your insurance man than to be surprised later. 

[Surfmichaels]

The only reason I can think of that would cause insurers to care is because a full cage without always wearing a helmet can be very dangerous to occupants. A small rear end or side hit can impact your head on the bar. Even roll bars are recommended to wrap for additional safety.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I've heard that previously Hagerty would flat-out refuse insurance on cars that had a cage in them. Now it seems, at a higher rate, you can run as a "Pro-Street"

Pro-Street -a vehicle modified for drag racing, including at a minimium: roll cage, narrowed rear axle and enlarged rear wheel wells/wheels.

For the quick numbers I crunched, it's about a $220/year difference in coverage.

[Chryco Psycho]

with stock suspension I doubt you would see a significant gain with an engine bay brace & it sure is a pain to work around the engine bay

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I have no intentions of keeping torsion bars at the moment and the leaves may be on the chopping block too.

[grimmey71]

Back to the original question, I did everything you have mentioned plus, I added extra beefs from torsion bar mount to front frame rail. Plus stitch welded most seems I could think of. The stitch welding made a very nice difference.

[moparmaniac59]

You asked about tracks requiring cages; if you run 1/4 mile on a NHRA sactioned track (dragstrip), you will need a roll cage if your car breaks the 10 second mark (or faster) or the the 135 mile/hr mark. it's not req'd for slower cars. You'll also need a driveshaft loop, helmet and other accessories according to the speed bracket you end up racing in. 



                                                                            Matt B.