Roll bar and Engman question, Trying to decide Options

[Joe Ricard]

Got my roll bar hoop the other day and fitted in the car. Works nice and sits just a tick above the targa bar.

Anyway I am going to put the forward diagonals from 4" below the curve of the hoop and have them end up 3-4 inches forward of the hand brake cut out.

I am also going to penetrate the fire wall and tie in the rear shock towers to the hoop.

is putting the Engman kit a good idea or would 16ga. scab plates under the bars at car connection points be enough. Remember lighter is better. Mainly concerned with stiffening the car for Autocross. at this point I wil never run Wheel to wheel racing in this car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[ottox914]

One other thing. The rear towers are NOT welded directly to the ends of the longs, but tied together with some sheet metal bits. I hear as rear spring rates rise, the towers can pop loose......that would suck. I saw some indications of that on the shitbox...minor, but not ignored.

Could you or someone post pics of this, or perhaps pics and where to look to see if this is a problem? With little arrows? While my car is not a red hot road racer like some of yours, it gets twisted a bit at the auto cross events I do. I have had a loud mystery klunk in what sounds to be the rt rear. Started when I lowered the car too much. I found front lower control arm hitting the tub. So I raised things up a bit, re-corner balanced things, raised the rear spring rates from 175 to 200, and went with a bigger front sway bar to keep things balanced. I still get the klunk, mainly at higher speeds with a sharp hit, like a pot hole or freeway expansion joint at 75 mph, although when the car is loaded laterally on the rt side at an auto cross, and I hit a bump in the pavement, I can hear it again, but not nearly as often as I hear it on the way to and from the event. I hate to think I'm tearing my car up, but I've checked the rear shocks, both are good, and checked every bolt I can back there, both sides, all tight, but still have the klunk.

Sorry. Ending hijack. Back to discussions on cages.