[R100RT]

Stangers,
I think most of you know about my project, 1965 600 HP EFI fast back. Given the possibility that my car will see track time, should I put a rollbar in? How much of my interior will I loose? Any suggestions as to the roll bar to use?
ty
RT

 

[Ponyboy289]

600 HP?! I think I would definitely put in a roll bar!

1965 289 Hardtop
MCA #45799
Mississippi Coast Mustang Club

 

[camachinist]

Depends on the intended use and the rules of the governing body...

Personally, I think you'll need more than a roll bar to effectively put that kind of HP to the ground whether going in a straight line or around corners...

Take a look at my race car page for an example of a roll bar (now modified into a full cage) that is typical of a car used in NHRA drag racing.....this is an application applying HP in the 400-450 range but could handle torque and HP that you are discussing...

It's all about converting HP into forward motion efficiently and safely and also protecting the driver if things go wrong....think geometry..*G*

Pat
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1570936&a=11937754&p=42910787.jpg

 

[Opentracker]

I had the same thought. Our '65 coup started off as a street car
with a few track days. Well, now it sees a lot of track days. We
put one in, and if nothing else it gives a great place to mount the
camera! Really, it is a must for any car that sees track time.

 

[R100RT]

I am building the car to run on the street. The engine will be a 331 stroker, mexican block, with twin Garett GTBB35 turbos
I have stage II TCP subframes, added torque boxes, 4.5 leaf springs, del alum bushings, TCP coil overs, upper and lower control arms and rack and pinion. I need to decide if and how I will add a roll bar. I don't drag race but I may run a few times to see what it does. I have no track experiance. I might start at a driving school. Hopefully, they will let me use my own car if it meets the standards.

 

[Guest]

well, let's see. 600 hp roughly estimates to a 10 sec car. IIRC, anything quicker than a 10.99 and you will be needing some sort of bar or cage to run at the tracks. it must be nhra certified to be legal. i would definitely put in a cage so as to limit the wasted horsepower through body flex. i would also add subframes to further tie the car together. if you wanted to do it right, you will definitely lose the use of your back seat. also remember, triangulation is the key for strength in building a cage.

Rubelle
65 2+2, 289 (early A code), c/r toploader, magna suspension, centerline convo pros

 

[camachinist]

IMO, the car definitely will need some triangulation...

Transmission and rear suspension type?...(I'm guessing 5 or 6 speed manual with an unequal link 4 bar) I know you have leaf springs (as do I) but getting all that HP to the ground will take a bit more than that...

Do I surmise correctly that you intend to road race the car (along with street use)? If so, check SCCA rules for your prospective class...that'll tell you what they allow...

FWIW, NHRA (drag racing) requires a triangulated roll bar in all closed cars running quicker than 11.99....my car runs that with secondaries shut off...

Of course, no rollover protection is required for the street and the stock unitbody of a fastback or coupe should provide reasonable protection in low speed accidents. I've seen a few early Pony's get upside down at the track and the drivers have walked away....in all instances the cars had roll cages....

One trip upside down on the guard rail will sell you on the benefits of that...

Good luck with your combo...sounds like a lot of fun...

Pat
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1570936&a=11937754&p=42910787.jpg

 

[camachinist]

Yeah, love those cameras...I built this bracket about 10 years ago to mount my 8mm video camera in the car...have gotten some great footage over the years...sometimes I'd point it at my competitors lane to shoot finish line fun....*G*

I imagine it would even be more fun in a road race car....

Never saw another bracket racer with a car cam....always surprised me...

Pat
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1570936&a=11937754&p=42910787.jpg

 

[R100RT]

Tranny is T-56, rear end is ford 9" with 3.5:1 gears and shelby underides. You guys are really helping me here. I don't think my intention is to road race, (wife will kill me as I remember her reaction to my autocross days). What do the tracks require just to play and not really race?

 

[camachinist]

Any track that you can spool the turbos up on and go around corners will likely require a roll bar, 5 point harness and a Snell approved crash helmet....

Unfortunately, from a track operators standpoint, when you're on the track, you're racing, not playing.....the safety equipment depends on who sanctions them and/or writes their insurance policy.

Only exceptions I can think of are autocross and street racing....

As long as you keep the car out of the 11's at a drag strip, you can go without a roll bar or 5 point harness....you'll need a helmet though...also, if you trunk-mount the battery, you'll need an exterior disconnect switch at the back of the car and to mount the battery in a certain way...

Find out the affiliation of the local track you want to run at and get a copy of the rule book....usually inexpensive and a wealth of information...you might even see some good tips for the street in there...


Pat
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1570936&a=11937754&p=42910787.jpg

 

[Guest]

They sell a roll bar where you can still use you back seat, but it doesn't seem to me like your car is a "driver"???

65 coupe 302
(rebuilding a 351W)

 

[Opentracker]

We run with the Shelby Club here in Calif. They have three run
groups. Yellow-beginer, Red-novice, Green-experienced. The
yellow and red groups do not require a roll bar. The red group
is a fast group, there are some very spirited drivers and cars
that could run in the green group but the extra safety gear to
run in the green is a cost issue for some. A roll bar is a good
idea for a street car that has some HP. A flip/rollover can
happen on the street also. We put safety before HP in our car.
In the last year we have spent more time and money making the
car safer, and next to nothing to make it faster. Good seat belts
and a roll bar are pretty much standard stuff for a fast car, street
or track.

 

[R100RT]

If you mean do I plan to drive it everyday, then no. I drive a F250 diesel everyday. I will drive it on weekends, to shows, past Vipers and Vettes, and to club events. Mustang plus has a roll bar that is a 4 point with removable cross if you want to use the back seats. Id rather not loose the trunk hatch.