[Timbo85]

Hi all i'm new onsite i have a 89 hardtop sierra and was wanting info on how to put in a rollcage if possable. Do they make some to fit? will a cage from a soft top be fit or be made to? that sort of thing.

cheers

[Fatzook]

Hi Timbo,

"they" don't make any to fit, but you can usually pick up a simple 4 point rollbar from a soft top sierra for a good price if you keep an eye out on the for sale section. Your only issue may be getting it in there.

Or if your budget is not a limitation, you can have one made.

[Timbo85]

sweet thanks i'll keep a look out might have to modify a pit to fit it in

[Gwagensteve]

Timbo,

What do you want? A roll cage generally implies a 6 point cage that includes A pillar bars. A roll bar generally implies a four point cage ( so a hoop behind the seats and two diagonal bars down towards the rear corners of the load area.

Basically, any cage that fits in a soft top will fit in a hard top. A four point cage should go in just fine. A 6 point cage won't go into a hardtop without cutting and welding the cage into position.

Bear in mind though that generally, a 6 point cage that fits inside the cab will make you car LESS SAFE IN AN ACCIDENT.

That's why they are hard to make legal. It's because you will loose headroom inside the car and the likelyhood is you will hit the cage with your head in an accident.

6 point cages really require race seats, harnesses and helmets to prevent you from getting killed by hitting the cage in a crash.

Just a thought.

Obviously, an internal cage won't do anything to save your car in a roll - it's only there to save you.... which is pretty silly if you've been injured by striking the cage with your head.

My preference is for an external cage for the front two points. The rear four points can be done internally by passing though the roof.

Like this (obviously this is a ute, but it's relevant for the front bars):



Not only does an external cage make the car no less safe like an internal cage, it will save the car in a rollover.

Another option is to weld a kind of exo cage into the body. I have done this with my ute

You can see the front pillar here:



and the rear pillars ( in progress) here



This setup has saved my car from quite a few flops and an onto-the-roof roll.

there's another option:

"Roof sliders"





This car still has a six point cage, but there are no longitudinal bars above the doors inside the car.



Just some ideas. Sierras are terribly hard to put a roll cage in and keep the car safe.

Steve.

[zooky08]

hey gwagon i was thinking of putting roof sliders on my hardtop,
bolt above bonnet up a pillar and along the gutter rails
but how would you attach it to the gutters,pic above has then joined to a internal cage.
do i just weld the tube to the panels like you kind of did?

[Gwagensteve]

zooky08 wrote:

do i just weld the tube to the panels like you kind of did?

THat would work. Looks a bit messy, but it's effective.

Steve.

[zooky08]

Gwagensteve wrote:

zooky08 wrote:

do i just weld the tube to the panels like you kind of did?

THat would work. Looks a bit messy, but it's effective.

Steve.

since its outside the car, would i be classed as some kind of exo cage
does it need to be mod plated or any thing?
i would imagine its fine, since its not hanging of the car
it would be part of the body
could be wrong though

[Gwagensteve]

No idea.

Steve.

[mattybish]

just another slightly off topic question gwagen steve, what material have you made your exo cage on your ute out of, a mate and i are thinking of doing something similar to his 1985 drover ute, we have some 32 mm nb blue medium wall pipe, would this be suitable?

[Gwagensteve]

My junk is steam pipe, because I wasn't bending it and I have it lying around.

The silver cage is 1.75" CDS - proper cage material.

Steve.

[mattybish]

no probs steve, thanks a lot