New best, and I've arrived at the crossroads

[mmissile]

do whatever is going to give you the most pleasure with your car. life is short, and someone else will eventually do what they want with it.

 

[LemonWedge]

Thank you, that means a lot! Mine was a 318 2bbl. Still have the original KK-1 paint.

Yep those are US Mags U102's. 15x7's in the fronts on 215/70 and 15x8's on 255/60 in the rear (rubs a little bit on the drivers side ridge in the wheel well when turning)

That's interesting; mine is tighter on the driver side as well. With 255/60's it does not rub at all, but with the 28x9 slicks it rubs just as you describe. I've got them both (street tires and slicks) mounted on 15x8 US mag wheels just like yours. I run Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T's in the exact sizes as you on the street.

 

[496BEE]

They did a really nice job on that bar. That's how I would want my side bars to be bent if I do go that route .

I wrestled with this as well as I drive mine often. I finally gave in this winter. I just finished painting it and re-installing the interior. I actually enjoy driving it in traffic as I now have a 5 pt. harness and feel much safer should I get in an accident. The shop that did it did a great job in accommodating the fact that it is primarily a street car.

Painting it red helps it "blend in" as does the fact they installed the main hoop to perfectly match the angle of the B pillar.

Congratulations on the new best!
View attachment 411408

 

[HT413]

I wrestled with this as well as I drive mine often. I finally gave in this winter. I just finished painting it and re-installing the interior. I actually enjoy driving it in traffic as I now have a 5 pt. harness and feel much safer should I get in an accident. The shop that did it did a great job in accommodating the fact that it is primarily a street car.

Painting it red helps it "blend in" as does the fact they installed the main hoop to perfectly match the angle of the B pillar.

Congratulations on the new best!
View attachment 411408

That bar is t!ts.

 

[HT413]

Yeah it's a big decision. Only bar I'd put in that car is a custom cromo bar with the hoop hugging the b pillar and rear supports hugging the roofline.

I wonder if coming down through the package tray at the speakers is legal.

 

[Dodge 330]

Yeah it's a big decision. Only bar I'd put in that car is a custom cromo bar with the hoop hugging the b pillar and rear supports hugging the roofline.

I wonder if coming down through the package tray at the speakers is legal.

That's where they brought mine down.

 

[Tex013]

Some of mine . Chromolly .
Door bar and taxi bar is removable . Uses clevis fittings and 1/2" pins

Tex

 

[Tex013]

Tex

 

[383man]

Congrats on the new best !! The bar deal is up to you and you only. If you plan to race it more and hope to go faster then I would put it in. I did a 6 point bar in my car and to be honest it could come out and no one would know it ever had a bar. Its welded in of course but you could cut the bars off at the floor and then grind the welds flat. Then once you put the carpet back in no one would ever know it had a rollbar at one time. And take it from me you can roll a low 12 high 11 second car and get hurt pretty bad as that happened to me in 1982 and the 6 point rollbar saved my life. Good luck what ever you decide. Ron

 

[Budnicks]

LemonWedge
I'd personally elect to put a bar in it, if you continue to race it...
It will help to stiffen the car & a bit safer too, win win !!

than you can still try to go faster &
not be afraid of tech or getting booted...

but it's your car, do what you think is best

"it can always be removed"

Some of mine . Chromolly .
Door bar and taxi bar is removable . Uses clevis fittings and 1/2" pins

Tex

View attachment 412103

Tex

View attachment 412104

nice setup Tex

 

[Budnicks]

I wrestled with this as well as I drive mine often. I finally gave in this winter. I just finished painting it and re-installing the interior. I actually enjoy driving it in traffic as I now have a 5 pt. harness and feel much safer should I get in an accident. The shop that did it did a great job in accommodating the fact that it is primarily a street car.

Painting it red helps it "blend in" as does the fact they installed the main hoop to perfectly match the angle of the B pillar.

Congratulations on the new best!
View attachment 411408

Here are a couple of shots of the bar before the interior went in.

View attachment 411414 View attachment 411415

That's a nice doable setup too...

looks great

 

[LemonWedge]

If I do it, it will definitely be custom fit. And I like what I see in some of thes pictures! Tex, when you say "taxi-bar", are you talking about the main hoop cross support. If so, I'm pretty sure that is not NHRA legal. That bar must be welded. Nice looking fit, for sure, though. I'd like to see more pictures of it.

 

[Dodge 330]

If I do it, it will definitely be custom fit. And I like what I see in some of thes pictures! Tex, when you say "taxi-bar", are you talking about the main hoop cross support. If so, I'm pretty sure that is not NHRA legal. That bar must be welded. Nice looking fit, for sure, though. I'd like to see more pictures of it.

I chose to keep mine welded but a friend has swingout door bars and removable center bar in his Dart. No one has ever said anything about his at TRP, KID or Mo-Kan.

 

[Tex013]

If I do it, it will definitely be custom fit. And I like what I see in some of thes pictures! Tex, when you say "taxi-bar", are you talking about the main hoop cross support. If so, I'm pretty sure that is not NHRA legal. That bar must be welded. Nice looking fit, for sure, though. I'd like to see more pictures of it.

Yes cross bar , not sure its NHRA legal either - but here in Australia it is teched . Same fittings as Chris Alston sells . BUT since then they have changed rules 3 times in 6-8 months. Though it is welded in hoop and back stays they want to call it a removable cage ? #uckers , especially as head of tech @ ANDRA (NHRA equivalent) said was good to go
But that's another battle
Also here in Aust you cannot have a fixed side bar in a street registered car . Fixed taxi bar in coupe means no rear passengers . Not enough head clearance so no back seat now .
Tex

 

[Shorthorse]

Track tech is always interesting. I raced at one track that had drive through tech. I didn't even come to a complete stop as I handed the guy my card through the window. I went to Chicago once and they took about 10 minutes per car. I overheard the tech guy bragging about all the cars they failed. Some will give you a warning and let you race and some will not let you make a pass. You never know.

 

[Dodge 330]

Track tech is always interesting. I raced at one track that had drive through tech. I didn't even come to a complete stop as I handed the guy my card through the window. I went to Chicago once and they took about 10 minutes per car. I overheard the tech guy bragging about all the cars they failed. Some will give you a warning and let you race and some will not let you make a pass. You never know.

The track I raced at this weekend said they do tech on an "as needed basis". Granted the event I ran has a lot of guys that have run the same stuff for years but I didn't even have to pop the hood! Another track had a guy die last year in an import that was way too fast without the right equipment. After that they started doing more diligent tech. Before that I had run in the 11's with no helmet and a lap belt!

 

[dvw]

Hate to say it but that side bar isn't legal, nor is it strong. No tube on the oppsite side of the bend. Rules state it must pass between your shoulder and elbow while in the driving position. Removable shoulder bar is also illegal. Tech may not catch it. Then again you may make a 6 hr tow some where and get turned away.
Doug

 

[LemonWedge]

I race at the same track most of the time, and the tech guy just collects my card. He's been over my car in the past, though. I assume he's confident that my car is either done right, or not fast.... either one works for me (haha). I know a guy who runs in the low 11's with no door bars at all. He says they just haven't asked him about it (??). What I would be worried about would be if I were to qualify for a big race somewhere at another track, make the trip with visions of winning something big, only to get turned away. I think most tracks don't want to turn away paying customers, but you never know when you're going to run across a tech guy that's serious about legality.
The door bars are the toughest spot in a street car with a nice interior. That armrest is a buzz-kill! I'm sure I'll figure it out one way to the other. Thanks for all the reply's, guys!

 

[Dodge 330]

Hate to say it but that side bar isn't legal, nor is it strong. No tube on the oppsite side of the bend. Rules state it must pass between your shoulder and elbow while in the driving position. Removable shoulder bar is also illegal. Tech may not catch it. Then again you may make a 6 hr tow some where and get turned away.
Doug

I usually race the same 3-4 tracks anyway. As long as they don't have an issue with it...

 

[dvw]

My sons been 9.55@142 with just a 6 point bar. No one has ever said anything, yet.
Doug