NHRA legal swing out bars ??

[gnsrule]

I was talking to a chassis shop in town about doing a 10 pt cage in the 86. He's saying it looks like NHRA is gonna be doing away w/ swing out door bars sometime in the future. Has anyone ran into a tech problem running swing outs ?? It wouldnt be the worst thing if there welded solid, probably just a better way to go for strength anyway.

[The Raven]

I don't know about NHRAs rules or their planned rule changes, but I know I'd feel safer with a welded in door bar. Plus as you said it would help with over all strength, if triangulated correctly. The way I look at it, if it's designed to move, it probably will. ;)

[NastyGn]

I was talking to a chassis shop in town about doing a 10 pt cage in the 86. He's saying it looks like NHRA is gonna be doing away w/ swing out door bars sometime in the future. Has anyone ran into a tech problem running swing outs ?? It wouldnt be the worst thing if there welded solid, probably just a better way to go for strength anyway.

At this time the swing out bars are legal. This don't mean in the future they won't change the rules. I ran a swing out bar for years and never had any problem with any track that I went to, and yes they were NHRA or IHRA tracks. I have also seen many cars with swing outs that go faster than I do and they are certified by NHRA.

When I went to the cage I had the swing out bar removed because of a strength.

As for are they going to change the rules, I don't know. I would suggest you call your local Tech Rep and put the question to the people who make the rules

The National Technical Services center for NHRA phone number is (626) 250-2485.

Take Care

[turbodave231]

Looking at the NHRA 2004 rulebook, swingout sidebars are permitted on OEM full bodied cars running 7.50 or slower. There are lots of requirements listed, but when you look at them, Its all common sense.

I welded mine in solid. They are a PITA to get in and out and really fun working under the dash. I wish I'd put in a swingout on the driver side.

[RAMM]

The way I see it, Swing out bars work best for me. I hit the track maybe twice a year, but drive her on the street every day I come home from work and the weather is nice (in the summertime). Jumping over bars to me ruins the car in daily use. As far as track tech is concerned, up here in the T-Dot if they see some bars your as good as gold unless you have a hard time keeping the car straight down the track. And as the other guy said, its a pain in the a$$ if you ever have to do something under your dashboard.