hello,
I have a sw cage kit im trying to put into my 1998 vw jetta.
i have some issues mounting it, as it is super far from the roof.
its kinda far from the pillars as well.

here is a pic of the sides:


here is the roof, you can see i can fit 4 fingers between the headliner and the bar:


im thinking i could mount it a bit higher by either fabing a box to mount it on, or by mounting it on the rear seat area. you can see the area im talking about here, and where the bar is now:

what my question is, is if it is safe and legal to mount it on the rear seat area. i am not sure as i dont know if that is considered the rocker area. i think it is, as it is still between the wheels but not sure. i know i am still goot as to the rules for the bar being a max of 6in behind the driver head. i am 6'3", and the bar cant really go where the pillar is, as it would be almost in front of my head. Help? should I tell SW the cage sucks and get a new hoop or return it?

thanks.

oh, ive been watching the forum for a while but dont post much. here is my car:

here is a shot of the dash:

here is the exterior:

 

interested in opinions

bump

 

its pretty well known that the s&w bars are smaller/lower than needed because of variations in interiors etc. Insurance that the bar will fit everything.

Im sure if you call them up you could send the bar back and get one that was a few inches longer on either side, then trim to fit.

Ive also seen people build a box to support to the bar higher. Either way, I don't think I would mount the bar as far back as the seat sill.

 

Is the box thing legal?

 

I cant speak to that, that cage is a rabbit, not used for sanctioned racing. it is an s&w main hoop though

 

from what a old chassis guy was telling me it is legal to make a box and attach it to the rocker panel or frame rails. i would make it a little beefier then 1/8 though just for peace of mind.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chrisbmx68 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its pretty well known that the s&w bars are smaller/lower than needed because of variations in interiors etc. Insurance that the bar will fit everything.

Im sure if you call them up you could send the bar back and get one that was a few inches longer on either side, then trim to fit.

Ive also seen people build a box to support to the bar higher. Either way, I don't think I would mount the bar as far back as the seat sill.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
i never saw the replies till now. im planning on installing this thing over xmas break. why would mounting it on the seat sill be wrong? im not mailing the bar back...too expensive to ship and such.

 

Not sure of the rules your trying to abide by, but I did a SCCA cage in a CRX awhile back and mounted the main hoop on the rear seat sill and the tech guy said it was totally fine. I just have a huge pet-peeve of having a main hoop visible when looking from the side of the car. Id mount it on the rear seat sill myself. Worst part is trying to find a flat place where it wont be a PITA to form the 1/8" plate to fit nicely. GOOD LUCK!
Kyle

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chrisbmx68 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its pretty well known that the s&w bars are smaller/lower than needed because of variations in interiors etc. Insurance that the bar will fit everything.

Im sure if you call them up you could send the bar back and get one that was a few inches longer on either side, then trim to fit.

Ive also seen people build a box to support to the bar higher. Either way, I don't think I would mount the bar as far back as the seat sill.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

That really shouldnt be legal for NHRA, but i called my local tech inspector and told him about my corolla and how everything was going together, my main hoop is on boxes because of where it sits. He said he would let it slide on my car as long as everything else was right and the quality of the cage was good, thats what he cared about most.




Marcus

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jon@ForcedFabllc.com &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">from what a old chassis guy was telling me it is legal to make a box and attach it to the rocker panel or frame rails. i would make it a little beefier then 1/8 though just for peace of mind. </TD></TR></TABLE>

what would you use? 1/4"?

Id put it up on the seat sill if it needed to be. As long as you reinforce it and attach it appropriately, you wont have a problem.

 

i would rather have it hiden by the b pillar also, but im 6'3" and due to my seat position, if i puit it there, it will be in FRONT of my head....

id lke it a few inches behind my head. thus the rear seat sill.

thanks,
it will be in soon!

 

Nothing wrong with using a box. I did a cage in an A2 Jetta and in order to get the cage close to the A pillars I had to use a box to get the down bar fully supported.