Roll cage installation behind dash

[thinkmonkey]

With my roll cage I want to put a bar behind the dash, or else I'll have to install it infront of it which would be too intrusive. Has anyone else done this? Any problems, pictures? Thanks guys, I love how everyone responds so quickly and helpfully. Great site this is.

-David

[santamaus]

On rollcages--where in the bay area is there a company that does this for Zs? Do they do them individually or is there a straight kit for them?

On chassis stiffness/flex/torsional stress: do the sway bar mounts usually break at some time? When did rear sway bars get added? Is there a decent way to fix or prevent these shortcomings?

Thanks,

Chris

[2ManyZs]

If you want the cross bar between the front uprights under the dash where it is out of the way, you will probably need to have a cage custom built.

I believe all the cage kits on the market will have the cross bar in front of the dash. This is because the kits have the front uprights mounting to the floor just ahead of the front corner of the door.

I had an Autopower weld in cage kit in my 280. It fit very tight to the dash and the cross bar was against the dash. It wasn't really in the way, but it was possible to to hit your knee against it. I have heard that Kirk Racing Products sells a decent cage kit with the Nascar style door bars but have not seen one installed in a Z but I would imagine they will be the same as the Autopower with the cross bar behind the dash. If you get it close enough to the steering column and dash it really isn't too bad in front of the dash, mine was a 2 inch cage so if you put a 1 1/2 inch cage in you would gain a wee bit of clearance.

It is possible to cut the corners out of the dash and run the top bar down the the floor so that the cross bar can be behind the dash. You'll have to remove the dash to do this so you can notch it out for clearance around the main upright. A custom built cage will cost you a bit more but it may be worth the money as you can fit it to the car and your preferences as it is built.

As far as the other question, the front sway bar mounts usually break because of the rust that always forms inside the front frame rail. The front frame rails always rust out from the inside out, so until the sway bar mounts pull out or a hole develops you don't know how bad the frame rails are. Only way to make sure they don't pull out is to replace the frame rails so that you know their condition before doing any type of racing, autoX or road racing.

Rear bars were added after 73, or possibly during the 73 model run.

[hmsports]

I've not seen any aftermarket cages that will place the knee-bar behind the dash. In order to do this, the a-pillar bars must extend further forward before angling down. The knee-bar goes just above the steering column. The bracket on the top of the column bolts to a plate welded to the bottom of the knee-bar.

The ends of the dash as well as some of the supporting structure within needs to be gutted.

I've build several cages in Z cars as well as other types. I'd be happy to discuss any custom cage ideas with you.

You can see a sample of one of my cages at Hanson Motorsports Cages. I also build my cages with NASCAR bars.

[Guycali]

It is possible to cut the corners out of the dash and run the top bar down the the floor so that the cross bar can be behind the dash. You'll have to remove the dash to do this so you can notch it out for clearance around the main upright.

Hey cool. I'm not the only one with this crazy idea of a custom cage that goes behind the dash. I don't think there is enough room to fit both the bar and the air vent tubing behind the dash so you'll have to sacrifice one or forego the other...

-Guycali

[Cuong Nguyen]

Hi all,

I have a chro-moly cage in my '73 240Z that is behind the dash.

I had to cut the dash and the metal frame inside to make it fit again.

I will post pics of it in my album section; they should be available once approved.

I will take pictures of the dash when it comes back from the motor trimmers (its being "reconditioned")

[Phred]

Cuong,

Awesome yellow Z. What type of discs did you use with the Brembo 993 calipers?

Phred

[Cuong Nguyen]

Hi Phread,

at the front I'm using 330mm BMW 8 series rotors (V8 & V12 BMWs) at the back they are 26mm thick, cant really remember what they are I think they are the fronts from a Z32 300ZX or 280ZX, anyway they were all bought new.

[Cuong Nguyen]

ok all,

I have posted the photos and they have been approved.

click on the link on the left to view them. The only bars that I don't have pictures of are the ones above my head (the roof section). As for the dash, the car is getting a new interior now, I'll have pics soon!!!

Any comments on the cage (don't forget that I had to make it so that the front parts of the cage could be "hidden" with trim as only a half cage is road legal here in Western Australia)

[zachb55]

Cuong, does your cage go accross the car, like underneath the dash? or does it just go up on each side and go through the firewall? Was it custom made then welded in your car by the people that made it or did they ship it to you then you assemble it?

-Zach

[Cuong Nguyen]

hi zach,

as show in this photo

http://www.240z.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2010

the cage does not go side to side under the dash.

the cage was made and welded by a guy that makes roll cages for a living and is made of chrome-moly tubing. it is not a kit type cage that is "bolt on"

[Z-point]

I could not resist sending this picture. It will become a group 4 rally car in Holland....some time.

This is also made by an expert in cages. When the guy send s me more pictures / different angles I will let you know.