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Swing out bar question

1K views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  bamabox 
#1 ·
Hi folks I have a Competition Engineering swing out bar kit for my 8 pointer that I'd like to use next year if I get back into going to the drag strip, right now I actually have the bar cut out where it runs along my driver door so I could get in and out much easier (haven't raced the car in a few years so didn't need the bar there). My question is, does the swing out bar kit have to be welded to be legal or can it be bolted in? I can have it welded but bolting it on would allow me to do it myself so I was just wondering what the rules dictate. The set up seems like you could actually drill holes and bolt the swing out bar onto the existing bars to make it work but I obviously want it to pass tech. The car is high 10's/low 11's so the bar is needed at my local track.
Thanks in advance,
Scott

EDIT- my bad, it's a Comp. Engineering swing out bar...
 
#4 ·
When I had my 8 point chrome moly bar installed, my builder, Steve Brown Race Cars said no for safety reasons, and he said I would hate it. After two seasons now, I know he was right. It would be more of a PITA fooling with that bar, pin and clip after getting in the Kirkey race seat, trying to twist and turn to get it latched. My old bones are not very limber anymore, and I kinda look like I’m doing yoga getting in, but it works. Getting out much easier. Just kinda fall out. And I’m 70 yo 6’ and weigh 220 if that gives you any guidance.
 
#5 ·
Whether you bolt it or weld it I would run a bar along the bottom of the floor tying the front portion to the main hoop. This adds some strength to the front mount when the door bar is open. When you swing the bar open the floor pan flexes b/c is so thin. Tying the front mount to the main hoop keeps it from flexing so much.

Here's what I did. I had to run the bar so close to the door sill pad that I made it removable:





ks
 
#12 ·
Good info here, thanks for the responses. I've thought about it some more and I will probably just have someone weld it in there. I like the double-removable option though, so who knows maybe I'll look into that and add the lower bar as well. My bar is indeed welded to the sub frame connectors. Right now it is just sawed off near the top and about six inches from the floor. I drew A crude rendition of what i'm talking about- the red part is what is currently cut out of my bar.
 

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#13 ·
Mine was welded in and looked just like your drawing then I cut out the same section as your pic and remade new ones to fit in between the stubs that were left attached to the car. I also capped the stubs off and smoothed the welds so they looked nice when the bar was removed. I didn't cap the side bars b/c I was going to have them chromed and I wanted them to drain during the process.

ks
 
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