My 1994 civic hatch has 119,000miles on it.

I am considering turning it into a track car. Does a car's chassis get 'tired' and start to flex more when it gets older? Do some of you guys weld in extra support (like a roll cage or more) to stiffen the body? Or do roll cages protect the driver only?

Thanks for enduring the newb questions.

 

cages do very much to stiffen the chassis. It's basically adding a new frame inside the original frame. And they are also there to protect you, if you are making a track car, it is a necessity.

Also consider seam welding the unibody.

 

what is the definition of seam welding? is that reinforcing the factory welds in the body?

thanks for the info. i am thinking of going for a serious auto-x setup with a small turbo.

i just discovered cornering and its a blast.

 

there are a lot of spots on unibody hondas that are just glued together, not welded. Seam welding is basically using a 2" on/2" off welding stitch to join those parts. Anything between the front and rear strut towers is welded.

Usually IT cars don't bother with this...and it's the rally cars that really need it to be done. The body on Rally cars take a lot more abuse though.

 

If you're planning on racing the car, check the rulebook for the series in which you may eventually participate. A lot of series don't allow seam-welding.

 

will an Autopower roll bar (4 point) provide any chasis rigidness per say, not as much as a weled roll cage I know, but noticeable difference.

 

Boy, I hope they don't - it's not legal

Kirk

 

Oh...is that why?

 

So does the chassis get more flex as it gets older(if it hasn't been reinforced since new)?