The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Is anyone familiar with a main hoop. It is the part of the roll cage that the goes behind the front seat. the seat belts go on it. Since the Challenger is a unibody it doesn't have a frame where you would normally weld it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is bolting it to the floorboard an option?

One other thing, Will just having the main hoop serve any purpose or benefit me? I want it for a little added safety but for looks also.

A roll bar loop with just two mounting points is no use at all. The bar will just fold over with any serious impact and may even be a danger to you.

Three points is a bare minimum in theory but four points is considered the best minimum in practice for both safety and chassis strengthening.



Notice that even though this one is just bolted in there are plates under the floor to stop the bolts simply pulling up through the floor.

If you have chassis connectors it may be possible to go through the floor and weld to those as long as you also weld to the floor. However the chassis connectors may not be far enough apart to just go straight down onto them.

Here is a slightly stronger version of the same thing.



You might want to make something with elements from both these designs.

What if I have the main hoop and the bars that go beside your leg? would that work?

They really need to go up to the top of the roll bar and not just half way up. But yes. That would be better than just a loop by itself. But only just better.

I saw a 72 Chevelle with a hoop and a bar about three or four inches from the bottom that went forward along the outside of the seat that ended about even with the front of the seat. I think that would work for shoulder harnesses but probably not NHRA aproved. I was thinking about adding somethin like this to my car too.

A roll cage should be an extention of the chassis to add strenth to the construction of the veichle the type thats just bolted to the floor offers nothing more than looks.

This is the interior of an original factory 1973 over-the-counter parts kit NASCAR and ARCA legal stock car. From nose to tail, all the pieces were in the kit. Unfortunately I do not have more pics of this interior.

Von,

Another issue to consider:

Done right, as well as protecting you, a roll cage helps tie all corners of the car together, in a similar fashion to sub- frame connectors. It should stiffen the chassis, and help alleviate stress, if you're making (and using) lots of horsepower.