Cage Tubing?

[*ryno*]

So what size and thickness cage tubing material are most of you guys using in building your cages?
I know the nhra booklet is good on requirements , but what about our pro touring world?

[Randy67]

Go here: http://www.scca.com/clubracing/content.cfm?cid=44472 and download the SCCA GCR (general competition rules). That may be more in line with what we do in pro touring. NASA probably has their own as well. SCCA cage rules are different that NHRA and are a bit more strict on design and tubing you can use.

[TheJDMan]

Cage requirements vary from organization to organization. You have to do some research with the organization you plan to participate with to determine what is needed. NASA uses cage rules that are very similar to SCCA. As Randy stated the SCCA GCR is a good place to start.

[NOT A TA]

I went through this a couple years ago trying to meet requirements of several sanctioning bodies. Here's the thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ge+fire+system

[*ryno*]

I went through this a couple years ago trying to meet requirements of several sanctioning bodies. Here's the thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ge+fire+system

thanks. great thread, lots of info.
i looked through all the sanctioning bodies and as mentioned many have different requirements.
what i would like to really hear is what real world street driven cars that see some road course,autocross etc have in them.
your car is what i consider a race car that can be driven on the street, although im not too sure how comfortable power tour would be in those seats, and climbing out of that cage every 200 miles for fuel.

im feeling its one of those ask for forgiveness, then permission deal. it seems for what we do, most inspectors will let some stuff slide.

id like to hear what size tubing most are using.

im going with 1 3/4" .120 wall for the main hoop, and 1 1/2" .120 wall for everything else.

[Randy67]

I would check first with an inspector, but I believe the hoop and the rest of the cage need to be the same size tubing. I'm not sure you can mix tubing sizes.

[Skip Fix]

I always wondered why SCCA would allow bolt in roll bars vs NHRA requiring weld ins.

[James OLC]

im going with 1 3/4" .120 wall for the main hoop, and 1 1/2" .120 wall for everything else.

If you do this then please do so knowing that your cage will not be legal for any sanctioning body - anywhere - for any event. it would certainly (probably) be better than nothing but that's about it - unless your going to be very light.

Almost every sanctioning body requires 1.75 x 0.120 for anything over 3000 pounds. This is the spec for all "required" bars. Supplementary bars are usually free but the foundation of the cage needs to conform to the rules.

FWIW the easiest to follow guide for a competition cage is this - http://www.nasarallysport.com/rules-...Appendix-B.pdf - it has more bars than some would use but it's essentially FIA specs laid out in an easy to understand format.

[Poopy]

If you do this then please do so knowing that your cage will not be legal for any sanctioning body - anywhere - for any event. it would certainly (probably) be better than nothing but that's about it - unless your going to be very light.

Almost every sanctioning body requires 1.75 x 0.120 for anything over 3000 pounds. This is the spec for all "required" bars. Supplementary bars are usually free but the foundation of the cage needs to conform to the rules.

FWIW the easiest to follow guide for a competition cage is this - http://www.nasarallysport.com/rules-...Appendix-B.pdf - it has more bars than some would use but it's essentially FIA specs laid out in an easy to understand format.

This ^^^ x2

I was hoping to make the 1.5" weight cut off, but my car [Volvo Amazon] weighed in at 2680 or something with no fenders, hood, fuel or cage. I had already bought 1.5" DOM and everything. I ended up using it for another project and going with 1.75" .120 wall, now I know I'm legal to run just about anything.

[*ryno*]

thanks for the info, ill review it.
that's kinda what im looking for, real world experience.
i started the main hoop and down bars, made it all out of 1.5, because it was my understanding that was what was expected from some other sac. bodies, but i have been wrong before, well maybe not, but ....

this will not be a full race car.

[James OLC]

Here is a really brief summary of what I found when looking at rules that pertained to what I was doing. All of the below are for cars weighing 3001 - 4000 pounds and is for the "main cage"; these are the most recent specs when I looked:

SCCA - GRC Section 18 - 1.75" x 0.120" DOM / Seamless / Alloy

NASA - CCR Section 15 - 1.75" x 0.120" DOM / Seamless

NASA Rally Sport Appendix B - 1.75" x 0.95" DOM

Rally America - 1.75" x 0.095"

Silver State Classic Challenge - Section X - 1.75" x 0.120"

PPIHC (Pikes Peak) - Safety and Construction Section 5.0 - 1.75" x 0.120" mild steel, 1.652 x 0.095" Alloy

Targa Newfoundland - 1.75" x 0.095"

FIA Section 253-2012 - 1.75" x 0.095"

* I strongly suggest that anyone building a cage do their own research first as these rules are certainly always evolving and changing. *

I believe that you can use a 1.50" tubing for ASCS (American Street Car Series) events