Quote:
Originally posted by racer-025:
I build my cages this way as well. Arguably, IMO this the best location for the front uprights in an IT cage. Since we are not allowed to attach the cage to the a-pillers, I believe that installing the down tubes in front of the dash, creates too much bend in the tube, thus being the weak point in a roll-over. Some cage builders reinforce this area.
Actually, the angle (bend) of the down-tube would not change since it is following the same imaginary parallel line of the same fixed plane (the windshield). The bend would just be further down the tube. The two front down-tubes will be connected, horizontally, by an intrusion bar that runs the length of the dash (where the windshield meets the dash). I thought that it would be best to keep the area of impact (the area that meets the roll bar in a crash) as far away from the driver as possible, within the limits of roll cage structural integrity of course. I also see the added benefit being the fact that the mounting points would be 1' more forward then mounting it staight down from the dash, effectively "tying" more the car together, thereby increasing structural/torsional rigidity (by whatever small percentage). Again, this is just my analysis.