functional bed with roll cage?

[s10rodder]

Anyone seen or heard of this being done? Is there anyway to build a roll cage without diagonal bars sticking through a lexan rear window into the bed? My last project had a killer stereo in it (before I decided going fast was a lot cooler than a nice stereo) and I\'d like to put a trimmed down version of it in the bed of my new truck with a bed cover over everything. I would go with just a small system and keep everything in the cab, but I have lots of left overs - competition quality components plus a custom fabricated molded fiberglass amp rack that took me a month to build.



Any suggestions? I won\'t be satisfied until I\'m running at least mid 11s and I know I need a cage to go that fast.

[whiner3]

work on rear end setup before you worry about anythign else, ihave seen cages that dont go through the back window but i don\'t think that they are nhra approved so they wont be legal, i think they have to have those hind legs to be approved somone correct me if i\'m wrong, you don\'t need a cage untill 11.99 so i\'d say worry about traction and power before the cage anyway, and why not put the bars through below the window and have ther\\ stereo between the bars you could fit two 12\'s realy easy plus you could have the box cover on

[s10rodder]

Yeah, I know. My next project is a 4-link back half with mini tubs and a 9\". After that it\'s a big roller cam. After all thats done, then I\'ll worry about a cage. I\'m just always thinking about 2 projects ahead so I get as much info as possible by the time I start the project. Hell, I\'m not even starting the back half until next winter.



It never hurts to plan ahead... WAY ahead in this case. If I was rich I\'d have the whole truck finished by this summer. But alas, I have to save up and buy everything piece by piece.



My idea from the start of this truck was, I don\'t care if it takes 10 years to finish, I\'m not gonna try to save money by taking the cheap way out. Only the best for my baby.

[Matthew]

On 2003-01-07 11:51, s10rodder wrote:

Yeah, I know. My next project is a 4-link back half with mini tubs and a 9\". After that it\'s a big roller cam. After all thats done, then I\'ll worry about a cage. I\'m just always thinking about 2 projects ahead so I get as much info as possible by the time I start the project. Hell, I\'m not even starting the back half until next winter.



It never hurts to plan ahead... WAY ahead in this case. If I was rich I\'d have the whole truck finished by this summer. But alas, I have to save up and buy everything piece by piece.



My idea from the start of this truck was, I don\'t care if it takes 10 years to finish, I\'m not gonna try to save money by taking the cheap way out. Only the best for my baby.

You can run your roll cage through the back of the cab either above or below the window. But you will need this cage when you back half your truck. For stability. I am back halfing mine and everyone that I talk to I need to have the roll cage for support for the four link. But to be certified for NHRA you will have to fun them above the window. Sounds like you have the right idea. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif

[DWG]

You should buy the NHRA rulebook. The track and speed shops carry them. Track inspection is strict especially when you start to go fast. If something were not up to speck then it then would have to be redone. There are all kinds of other safety issues that you must deal with so the book is a must have. Even using the book I must have had at least half a dozen problems that had to be corrected.

[DWG]

This is just an after thought. Putting a 4 link under your truck should be the last of you concerns. If your suspension is set right you can go in the nines without it. I run in the tens on nine-inch tires. Several of my friends spray there 406 and run in the upper nines. I can put down a 60-foot time of 1.48 seconds. At times traction is still an issue but still I would sooner put 6 k into the motor and trans than into a four link.

[martin777]

The local track here (http://www.okthunder.com/tech_guidelines.htm) is NHRA and you have to have a roll bar if you\'re quicker than 11.99. Need a cage/rear bars when you rip off a 9.99. Those rear bars have to come out at the top of the rear window because they have to attach within 5\" from the top of the main loop and can\'t have an angle greater than 30° from the vertical. IHRA rules are a bit more lenient so check with the track you\'re gonna run at. Those back bars will be the least of your worries if you\'re shooting for a 9.99. http://www.s10v8.com/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif

[jimmya]

my truck has a hidden cage under the rear window. the truck is stiff as any other, but I don\'t think it is nhra legal, but the tracks around your home town may not care, mine don\'t.

[Doug]

This is just an after thought. Putting a 4 link under your truck should be the last of you concerns. If your suspension is set right you can go in the nines without it. I run in the tens on nine-inch tires. Several of my friends spray there 406 and run in the upper nines. I can put down a 60-foot time of 1.48 seconds. At times traction is still an issue but still I would sooner put 6 k into the motor and trans than into a four link.



I completely disagree. Why after spending all that money on a motor, go out to use it, and twist your truck so hard the glass pops out. They also always say start with a solid foundation. The engine is definetly not the foundation, the chassis is, and on a drag car that centers around the rear suspension.

[jimmya]

a drag s-10 without a good cage is going to have traction problems much worse than the other guys.a 6- point is fine, but you must have some sort of x between the hoop and rear of the frame to prevent chassis flex. a 1.29 60 ft. proves I know what i\'m talking about.

[drivin2fast]

hey guys... alot of times your local tracks will let you go with a almost legal cage... most of the time they are really lienient because they want the $$$... the only real time you have to worry is if there is an NHRA event, such as a Lucas Oil race, or POWERade national... or even a National open...