Cage turmoil!

[1986GT]

I am starting this thread because I am severely torn between getting a cage and not getting a cage. Here are the 2 causes of this.

NO!
1. On one hand it is a street car. I want use of the back seat and I do not want to climb over door bars to get in and drive. Also this car is a pretty clean example of an 86 GT and I have never been a huge fan of cutting and welding on a good car. I wouldn't give a damn if it started out as a 4 or 6 bang or something. That's just me though, everyone is diff. I also have a pet peeve to have to slit the carpet to lay around bars. It never looks quite right and I haven't seen to many good ideas to address it. I definately don't want the door bars touching the seats and I am not removing the door handle rests either which means they would have to be bent low. I have heard they are less affective that way though.

YES!
2. My car and I both would benefit. Me from safety and my car from rigidity. It is a t-top car. The frame is tied but still weak. When cruising in town, you can stick your finger in the t-top to a-pillar seam, hit the throttle and let off and it will pinch the hell out of your finger. Which is probably worse for the car than cutting and welding on it.

If I do it it will be a (what I call) full framed 6 point. When I take the t's out I don't want a bar running beside my head, it takes the fun out of it. I also want to tie the torque boxes in but I think keeping the back seats screws that. I wanted some fellow stangers ideas to maybe help push me one way or another. Thanks boys!

P.S. If anyone has any sweet cage idea pics or interior tricks for dealing with cages post them up.:bigthumb:bigthumb

[Black Horse]

If you are not going to be racing or participating in a class that requires a full cage I would do sub-frame connectors and some other chassis stiffening efforts that way you still have the stock interior but you won't be as "flexible".

- sub frame connectors with jacking rails
- strut tower brace
- rear shock tower brace

[1986GT]

Well Black Horse I have been setting it up for years to go fast in a straight line. Its a street car 99% of the time but I will take it to the track once in a blue moon. I have no interest in corners at all. It has no sway bar, skinnys and so on. Also it has ties on it already. Although they don't have jacking rails.

[mustangboy]

Strut tower braces are not just for cornering. They will stiffen the chassis quite a bit. I was surprised years ago when I put a front strut bar on a coupe I had. You could always do swing outs to keep from climbing over the bar and if bent just a little you dont have to remove the armrests. I've a a few cages and never had to remove the armrest. Also if you do the cage you may as well just render the back seat useless, it will never be used again. Also look up 5.0 magazine, they have been building a t top car for sometime now that has a really killer cage.

[1986GT]

Strut tower braces are not just for cornering. They will stiffen the chassis quite a bit. .
I didn't realize it would make that big of a difference in my situation I will give it more thought.



You could always do swing outs to keep from climbing over the bar and if bent just a little you dont have to remove the armrests.
From what I have seen and been told is if you have any kind of high horse car that hooks good it don't take long before swing out door bars don't fit very good anymore. Ever heard that?



Also if you do the cage you may as well just render the back seat useless.
This part really sucks. The fact is I have maybe used the back seat 3 times in 8 years. But the thought of never using it again for some reason still bothers me.



Also look up 5.0 magazine, they have been building a t top car for sometime now that has a really killer cage.
I am assuming you are refering to the coupe? Yeah that car is pretty damn cool but they had no interest in the interior at all in my opinion. They did whatever they wanted no matter what they lost. If you study the pics for a while and look at every detail it actually looks kinda shitty how they did a lot of it to me but what I am after is totally different than what they are after too. It kills me to see those bars running through the t opening when the t's are out.

As far as the tower braces are concerned I think the BIG weak spot on my car is straight through the middle of it from door to door. Which tower braces shouldn't have any affect on right?

[1986GT]

Going to Georges Chassis Works today to talk everything over and get a quote. Hes got to pick up tubing this week for 2 other cars so he said he could get mine too. He said he could start in 2 weeks and should be able to finish in a month. So I may go ahead and take the plunge. I will start a thread and follow the progress with pics if I do.

[foxtrot]

Get a swing out bar for the driver side,thats what I got,also I know a great little shop that does awesome cages K&M welding 513-623-9998 ask for Matt,These guys will do any cage for your needs with great prices.....

[1986GT]

I appreciate the hook up foxtrot but I am definitely using GCW though. His son has been my best friend since we were kids. He was doing cages before I was born and I trust him very much personally. Besides, I will get a hook up!!:bigthumb

Did not have time to visit him today so I rescheduled for tomorrow. I will keep posted.

[foxtrot]

I completely understand,just a suggestion,Good luck on whatever you decide..