What steel is used for NHRA approved roll cages?
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March 11, 2010 7:29 p.m. 96DXCivic HalfDork
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March 11, 2010 7:32 p.m. Streetwiseguy New Reader
Off the top of my head, 1 3/4 .120 wall seamless. I believe there is also a spec for chrome moly, but they don't recommend it for sportsman type builders due to cracking issues.
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March 11, 2010 7:41 p.m. rob_mrl New Reader
depends on how fast your car is... up untill you start getting pretty quick.... .120 wall mild steel HREW tubing can be MIG or TIG welded doesnt even need to be DOM. after that its chrome moly and tig welding
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March 11, 2010 8:36 p.m. SkinnyG Reader
1-5/8 .120 I'm pretty sure. I'm currently caging a Pontiac Firefly for both drag racing and hill climb.
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March 11, 2010 8:42 p.m. btp76 Reader
As of two years ago they didn't spec the material even for ETs in the 8.50 range. I did mine with ERW.
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March 11, 2010 8:46 p.m. tr8todd New Reader
Different sizes for different bars. No provisions for different weight cars. Built one in a 10 second VW Beetle a few years ago. Needed to read the rule book over and over because I couldn't believe what was required. Coming from a road racing background, I was dumbfounded by what drag racer call a cage. I insisted that we use DOM(not required), and I insisted on adding a diagonal to the main hoop(also not required), or I wasn't going to build it for the guy. The coolest part of that build was taking out the heater box channels and running 2 inch square steel tubing in their place to create a perimeter box frame. Cage was attached to the perimeter, and center spine and then went forward and back to attach the front beam and rear whatever they call it. Can you tell I have no love for Beetles, or for drag racing for that matter?
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March 12, 2010 8:24 a.m. zomby woof HalfDork
Coming from a road racing background, I was dumbfounded by what drag racer call a cage.
You should see the inside of some circle track cars
Unless you're a pro, I recommend using an arc welder to weld mild steel cages. It's too easy to lay a beautiful looking pass down with a mig machine that has too little penetration.
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March 12, 2010 8:54 a.m. itsarebuild New Reader
they do require DOM not ERW for any car requiring a cage due to speed. i would suggest reading the 2010 rules amendments thread. it covers a lot of details about when a cage is required and what it needs to be made of and incorporate.
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March 13, 2010 6:24 p.m. rob_mrl New Reader
you sure about that? im not disagreeing but I know allot of these companies that sell roll cage/bar kits sell in both ERW and DOM I thought ERW was good until you were at a certain ET?
DOM is better though I know it definitely doesn't bend as easily when building with it.
