"Downgrading" a prod cage...

[Speed Raycer]

Lot's of things to consider when downgrading a cage.

When you cut the forward bars out (no bars are allowed to pass through the firewall-attached or not ), make sure that the remaining pads are legal for IT (assuming they're going to the strut towers).

I don't see a problem leaving some "stumps" You may end up doing more harm than good in attempting to cut them completely off. Same goes with removing the doorbars unless you're going to the same spot. Remember, the steel has already been welded to once in those areas. Gusset the crap out of the new bars.

[spdmonkey]

A year or so back I went from 2 door bars cramped up against my seat and ME and installed nascar style bars into the door. We cut the tubes as close as possible and then ground the welds off for a clean appearance. In fact you can't tell the other bars were ever there. I think it presents a professional image of the cage. One that inspectors/officials and fellow drivers see as good safe workmanship. Sure you can cut them off and be legal, but to someone that does not know you that may look "funny". Now these are IT cars and not professionally built cars, but I think it says alot about the guy running side by side with you at high speed if they are the type to care about how the cage in their car looks in addition to how it works. Just my opinion....

db