Im installing a pre bent cage and wanted to know if its allowed to put a bend in the door bar for more elbow clearance. I only need an inch maybe 2 at the very most. Ive seen pics with it done but just wanted to make sure its the right thing to do be for i go ahead and do it.

Thanks guys

 

ive seen plenty of stickered cages with the door bars having a slight bend, whether it be a vertical bend or a horizontal bend for clearance issues. i would check with the tech in your area though. it always seems that when it comes to cages, the nw is pretty leniant but not with the other little stuff like steel valve stems/kill switches.

 

Cool thanks ill have to get a hold tech at my track. Still not sure if it changes the integrity of the cage at all. I just posted this over in the drag section im guessing those guys have better experience with what im looking for.

 

yeah no problem. especially when you see swingout cages, the bar has a slight horizontal bend in it. we have put minor bends in our door bars on customers cars and they pass tech. who wants to take a slice out of a original 427 cobra car door panel? haha, eventhough that car shouldnt even be drag racing in the first place. the older sportsman racers tend to want a swing out and you almost have to put a bend in those towards the bottom of the bar.

are you wanting to put in a vertical drop, im assuming? they are pretty strict about the door bar crossing your arm halfway between your shoulder and your elbow.

 

No i actually wanted to kick them outwards some. How they are now the bar is pretty much right on my elbow and when i add padding my arm will be resting against it.

 

Is this what you mean?



For the record, I did not build this cage, but as far as I know, it is an FIA-spec cage.

 

yeah they dont care how you bend them horizontally, but from what ive seen, they tend to frown at large vertical bends due to the lack of support to the leg area, hope you understand what i am saying, kinda hard to explain.

 

Ok yea i gotcha like the bar will still look straight if you look from the side but if you look down on it it will have a bend for elbow room.... Now i just need to find someone with a bender LOL.

 

yes exactly. sorry that is what i was meaning by horizontal and vertical. so you are wanting a horizontal bend/a bend towards the door. that is no problem at all.

i have seen some guys get lectured about the vertical bends of the door bar. some guys will put a large bend in the bar to make it easier to crawl in/out so they dont have to lift their legs up and then there is no protection to their legs.

kinda off topic, but do those pre-made cages give you enough material to make a slight bend and still have some extra to cut to fit?

 

Yep they did add enough. They notched one end and left it long so you can cut it to where you need and with mine ill have room to put a bend and get the floor area mounted where i need.

And thanks for the help man.

 

thats nice of them. ive only played around with one pre bent cage for a fox body which was a art morrison cage and that thing was horrible but the customer insisted he wanted that.

yeah, no problem. good luck with the install

 

thanks man ive got everything in place just have the door bars left and with the seat test fitting and what not just wasnt happy with where they layed out. But nothing against them the way its set up stock seat and stock door panel fit perfect. I was actually really surprised how well everything went together.

 

you can bend it without a problem.