I have just gutted my SF car and removed the dash for preparation to drop off the shell to the chassis shop to get a >135mph cage put in. I definitely want to put the cage through the dashboard. Well, from looking at all the stuff under the dash, I'm having trouble determining if I will need to remove all my plastic ventilation/blower motor/etc.. I would really really like to keep a heater in this car because I live in Colorado and it gets really cold. I also have an 85mile-each-way trip (with no toe vehicle) to the track and even in the summer it gets cold driving the thing home at night, foggy windows, etc.

My question is: how many of you have a NHRA legal rollcage (9.9 / +135mph) through the dash and still have heat? Pictures would be excellent at this point.

Next question: how much stuff did you have to relocate/modify/etc? Fuse box? Wiring? Basically, what all did you have to change under the dash to get your legal cage to work (while still going though the dash)?

 

I ran my cage through the dash without having to relocate anything. Now mine is designed for road racing, but placement should be the same. Where the two defrost vents are on either side of the dash is where my cage goes down through. I did have to remove the heater vents for both sides, but everything else is in tact. Heater works fine, I need it in PA. Are you planning on running a bar under the dash between the two A-pillar bars? If so, then you'll probably have to eliminate a lot of things. I wish I had some pictures to show you what I mean.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Specail Ed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I ran my cage through the dash without having to relocate anything. Now mine is designed for road racing, but placement should be the same. Where the two defrost vents are on either side of the dash is where my cage goes down through. I did have to remove the heater vents for both sides, but everything else is in tact. Heater works fine, I need it in PA. Are you planning on running a bar under the dash between the two A-pillar bars? If so, then you'll probably have to eliminate a lot of things. I wish I had some pictures to show you what I mean.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd love some pictures if you've got them So you had to cut into the ventilation, but it just "blows around" the cage? Did you ahve to cut into the medal part of the vents (part of the body) or the plastic vents (all under the dash)?

If I run the bar inbetween the apillars, it will be over the dash.

 

I removed the dash, made some templates from cardboard, and went from there. I did nothing to the metal structure of the car. On the driver's side there was one small piece of metal I had to remove, but that was it. Everything I removed was plastic from inside the dash. I removed the two vents and cleared a path for the bars to run through. Once both bars were through the dash, I slid the dash into place, then welded everything.

 

Any interference with the fusebox or any other wiring?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by servion &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Any interference with the fusebox or any other wiring?</TD></TR></TABLE>

None at all. It was easier than what I was planning on. There are some clearance issues you have to keep in mind like the hood release, but it wasn't bad. And I do have heat in the car. Granted I lost the vents in the dash, but the defrost or the blower at your feet works fine. Just think things through before you start cutting and welding. My dash is permently in the car unless I cut it out.

 

*edit* uhm.. ignore pls.. kthx


Modified by JL at 9:35 PM 1/25/2006