Looking to add a 6 or 8 point roll bar/cage setup in my 72 Cutlass. I would like to not jack with the backseat if possible as I have young kids that love to ride in the back when we go for a family cruise and I keep the throttle in check

Anyone used or have better suggestion for this kid of setup ?
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c.../model/cutlass

 

You're unfortunately going to find those generic roll bar kits are designed for race car use and not street comfort. Access to the back seat will be difficult at best, and the two stiffening bars that angle from the main hoop to the center of the car will eat up any rear seat legroom. The rear diagonals will need to be routed through the rear package shelf to avoid messing with the back seat, and that may be difficult. Keep in mind that the bars have to be located properly for this to be a usable roll bar and not just for show. And I suspect you'll want a swing-out kit for the front side bars. The right answer, though I suspect substantially more expensive, is to have a bar custom fitted to your car. That means bending it to fit the ceiling and contouring the diagonals to maximize rear seat room.

 

Thanks Joe I kinda knew that was prob the answer, you helped confirm that. Thanks again !

 

If you are not seriously racing the car, skip the rollbar.

 

One thing to keep in mind...the cross bar that runs between the two uprights of the main hoop...it’s right where a rear passengers head would land if you stopped hard.
It scares me to have anyone in the back seat of my car.

If you’re serious though...check out S&W. Their stuff is excellent and fits very well.
Even the diagonals back through the package tray as Joe mentioned.
-Pete

 

That crossbar halfway down the main hoop also makes access to the rear seat very poor. If the car runs slower than 11.49 sec in the quarter, a bar is only required on a stock bodied car if a convertible (NHRA requires a bar in them at 13.99 iirc).

 

Thank you ill check them out for sure

 

I would second this.

In the last page of my build thread, I have photos of an S&W cage going in my car.

 

I have been following your thread as I have my on going thread as well in the major build section, your craftsmanship is excellent !
I do want to get it on the drag strip for some fun runs but its also a driver. I like the main hoop more for possible harness options and better seats, and still make the back seat accessible for the kids (they are 8 and 4 currently), so I don' need a full on cage, just more for function of seat harness belts.

Question is since I don't want to mess with back seat/package tray, will the main loop be sturdy enough if it's tied down forward facing to the floor by the driver and passenger toe boards/frame ?
Basically this setup here...I took a stock image and just erased out the bars not mentioned by my suggestion

 

You will still need that crossbar to anchor the harness, and that's exactly the part that will cause major skull damage to rear seat passengers who don't have shoulder restraints. How quick do you really plan to go in the quarter?

 

Great point Joe....Exactly why I love using this site, always a wealth of info, experience, and perspective.

My Engine is about 4 months away from getting dyno'd to see what I really have, but on paper its a 550 HP +/- a few HP in either direction.

Motor: 455 - worked with CutlassEFI on all of the parts, I have done all assembly, just waiting to buy the heads from Mark in Jan when wife gives me the green light again
Trans: TH400, shift kit, gear vendors OD setup (have not installed the Gear Vendors yet - waiting on the 455 before I do) - rocket 350 still in the car so I can putz around
Rear end: 3.42 w/Posi unit, 30 spline axels (just recently did this - sourced parts from Monza)

 

Find someone with a roll cage in a similar car.
1. Try to get in the drivers seat.
2. Try to get out of the car.
3. Try to get in the back seat.
4. Try to get out of the back seat.
After you have tried #1-4, you'll have answers.
.....Just my two cents worth.

 

Thanks for the compliment. You will need rear support bars on the main hoop or else the area of the main hoop above the door bars is unsupported...could be bad in a rollover situation. You have the option of a removable harness bar but, I don't know if that is legal. It wouldn't even matter if you were slower than 11.49 like previously stated. You can also do rear bars that bend through the package tray to save the back seat. Access to the back seat will still suck with a cage no matter what, the front seats are a different story.... pass out helmets to the passengers.