anyone install a 4 point bolt in roll bar?

[thunderzy]

I have an autopower 4 point roll bar for my 79 firebird. Has anyone ever installed something like this in a second gen F-body? I'm looking for some tips, or maybe a write up on the isntall. It will be a bolt in application until I'm fast enough to require a full cage. The car is being converted to full road course track duty with roll bar, 6 point harness, and fire extinguisher. This is not a daily driver, or even a weekend cruiser.

[astroracer]

I put a 4 pt in my'73 Bird back in '83... What do you need to know?
I think mine was Competition Eng. Bar. Had to cut the package tray and trim the ashtray openings in the rear side panels to fit the bar through.

[thunderzy]

Astroracer, thanks for the response. I need to know everything from start to finish. I'm a total newb and this will be my first big instal on the car. My biggest concern is placement. How did you decide was the perfect place to bolt in the front 2 legs? I will take out the interior, especially the carpet, and most likely the rear seat as it will be useless. I need to complete the install this saturday as I intended to participate in a track day at waterford hills the following weekend.

I noticed you're a Michigander also, awesome. Did you make it to woodward last weekend? What a mess it was due to the storm. My brother in law that lives on 13 and coolidge told me 3 houses on his street caught fire.

[astroracer]

The rear two legs dictated where the front landed. The 4 pt. I used bolted thru the rear trunk pan and gloved the stamped rail. The rail was angling outboard at this point so the rear bars had to be located precisely. Once they were in the front bar fell into place. I kept all of the rear seat stuff, it was fully usable. I don't know what your bar design looks like but you should still be able to use the rear seat.
Get started early Saturday if you want to have it done, you will be stripping the interior out to get it in.... AND TAKE PHOTO"S!!! :)

[thunderzy]

Thanks astro. It's an autopower race roll bar with fixed cross and diagonal bar. It will make the rear seat near impossible to get in and out of. Plus I'm going with aluminum fixed back seats. You can see it in this link

http://www.autopowerindustries.com/rollbars.asp

[wmhjr]

I have a 4 point bolt in roll bar. Matter of fact, I just removed it for using the car on the street for the next few weeks, at which time it and the racing seats go back in for RTTH.

My experience is of limited value to you, as I have an A-Body convertible, used on the street, and specifically wanted the ability to bolt the setup in and out easily. Your setup will need to be very different.

[Ron@JJCustomInterior]

Good choice on the autopower, the only company i have seen that i would trust with the bolt in applications. Not saying there arent other good companies out there, i just havent personally seen any.

[Gitter Dun]

Good choice on the autopower, the only company i have seen that i would trust with the bolt in applications. Not saying there arent other good companies out there, i just havent personally seen any.

I've had a 6 point Auto Power bolt in cage in my car since 2004 but I had it welded together. Great fit plus NASA and SCCA approved. At the time they were the best way to go for the money but it looks like they went up in price quite a bit since then.

[Bryce]

In my opinion the autopower bar has very small mounting pads.

Also, the main hoop usually has to be within 6" of the drivers head and 2" above the drivers head.

[Gitter Dun]

In my opinion the autopower bar has very small mounting pads.

Also, the main hoop usually has to be within 6" of the drivers head and 2" above the drivers head.

IIRC mounting pads need to be 27 square inches to be legal in SCCA and NASA for racing. The mounting pads are the least of your worries when buying the Auto Power cage.

Are you saying the Auto Power cage isn't 6" and 2" from drivers head? Also, where did you get that info?

[Bryce]

IIRC mounting pads need to be 27 square inches to be legal in SCCA and NASA for racing. The mounting pads are the least of your worries when buying the Auto Power cage.

Are you saying the Auto Power cage isn't 6" and 2" from drivers head? Also, where did you get that info?

At least 27 in^2 is the requirement I think. NHRA requires a 6" x 6" plate. Also SCCA, NASA and NHRA state 6" and 2" from the drivers head. I have no idea if auto power is correct placement. But a tall driver and a short driver would need to have different cage requirements.

[High Plains Mopars]

The car is being converted to full road course track duty with roll bar, 6 point harness, and fire extinguisher. This is not a daily driver, or even a weekend cruiser.

If this is a dedicated track car that will not see any road time, why mess with a bolt in cage? Yes, Autopower makes some good units that are accepted by SCCA and NASA, however, as a bolt together, removable unit, they make compromises to fit and fucntion to allow them to be used in dual purpose cars. If you car is single purpose, eliminate those compromises and have a reputable local builder weld in a good solid cage.

[thunderzy]

That is actually solid advice. I am planning on having a full cage welded in eventually. But first I need to find a cage builder in my area. Any suggestions? I'm in south east Michigan, 30 min from Detroit.

[High Plains Mopars]

Hmm, that I can't help you with. You might see if your regional NASA organization has a web forum. I'm sure you could get some input on there about who has familiarity with road race requirements and find some recommendations of vendors to look at.

[Twentyover]

That is actually solid advice. I am planning on having a full cage welded in eventually. But first I need to find a cage builder in my area. Any suggestions? I'm in south east Michigan, 30 min from Detroit.

http://detroit-scca.org/e107/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?31482

http://forum.specmiata.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=41;t=000095;p=0

[solarguy09]

The bolt in just doesn't feel right....

I am thinking just a Roll Bar mainly for roof crush protection...

[TheJDMan]

At least 27 in^2 is the requirement I think. NHRA requires a 6" x 6" plate. Also SCCA, NASA and NHRA state 6" and 2" from the drivers head. I have no idea if auto power is correct placement. But a tall driver and a short driver would need to have different cage requirements.

I went to the SCCA site and read the SOLO rules Appendex C on roll bars. It states the mounting plates must be 3/16"min thickness if bolted or .080 min if welded. It never states the total area required for the mount plates. However, in the GCR section 9.4 they only describe a full cage with the same thicknesses on the plates. In the GCR it does say that the total mount plate surface must be 144sq in divided by at least 8 mount points which works out to 18sq in per mount. Both sections talk about the 6" behind and 2" above measurment.

[SLO_Z28]

Ill be installing the autopower roll bar I bought from Mary Pozzi this weekend, Ill let you know what I find.