[Prostreet69Z]

Ok this may sound like a dumb question but do you have to have a roll bar in a car that has been pro streeted? I am not to concerned with being able to drag race my car. It has been backhalfed and I was thinking about removing the roll bar so I can fit the kids in the back seat. I am basically rebuilding my whole car. Selling the 600+HP BBC and turbo 400 for a more driveable drivetrain. The car will have 29x15 or 29x18 tires, it has a ladder bar set up, sub frame has been tied. Just wanna make it more stock looking inside. Besides with my leg injury getting in and out of the car has become a major pain in my ass. Does anyone have pics of non rollbar tubbed out cars? I am getting all the parts before I rip inot it, I am hoping top document it all on here , Thank you for any help

[1969ProStreetCamaro]

Originally Posted by Prostreet69Z

Ok this may sound like a dumb question but do you have to have a roll bar in a car that has been pro streeted? I am not to concerned with being able to drag race my car. It has been backhalfed and I was thinking about removing the roll bar so I can fit the kids in the back seat. I am basically rebuilding my whole car. Selling the 600+HP BBC and turbo 400 for a more driveable drivetrain. The car will have 29x15 or 29x18 tires, it has a ladder bar set up, sub frame has been tied. Just wanna make it more stock looking inside. Besides with my leg injury getting in and out of the car has become a major pain in my ass. Does anyone have pics of non rollbar tubbed out cars? I am getting all the parts before I rip inot it, I am hoping top document it all on here , Thank you for any help

Brian,
While I don't have any pics of non-rollbar tubbed Pro Streeters, I don't think that not having a rollbar is a drawback since you say that you have no intentions of racing the car. The only negative thing that I can think of is a lack of structural rigidity without a rollbar but that could be overcome with additional strengthening on the frame. Post some pics for us when you can, we like to see pics of builds.

David F.

[fatblock]

Brian..I do not have a pro street car so i can only offer up my view.
A stock appearing interior is not going to take away from the steam roller look imo..
Some folks have a problem when pro street cars that do not perform at the track or simply come off as posers.I for one..do not see this.
No track time..no need for a cage.Dropping in a engine that sounds tough at idle at the cruise ins suffices and who needs dyno sheets.I have toasted many supposed 700 hp bbc,s right off desk top dynos.Seems like that is starting point for anything over 454 cid these days..
Pro Street has been debated on and off.The one common theme tho..is the back half and steam rollers are manditory.Sounds to me,you fit the basic requierment.

[rtj]

The back-half removes lots of sheetmetal, and all that sheet metal on the camaro carried load. Without the rollcage, you will lose a lot of structural support for the rear. Like said above, you could reinforce the frame.

I had a factory 427 68 vet and the body had small stress cracks due to flex and the car had a full frame. I have a 502 75 vet now and prior to putting in the roll cage the body was breaking up badly from frame flex. And both cars were only street driven.

Redesigning the cage so it is less intrusive in the rear may be the safest option.

[camaroman7d]

Originally Posted by Prostreet69Z

Ok this may sound like a dumb question but do you have to have a roll bar in a car that has been pro streeted? I am not to concerned with being able to drag race my car. It has been backhalfed and I was thinking about removing the roll bar so I can fit the kids in the back seat. I am basically rebuilding my whole car. Selling the 600+HP BBC and turbo 400 for a more driveable drivetrain. The car will have 29x15 or 29x18 tires, it has a ladder bar set up, sub frame has been tied. Just wanna make it more stock looking inside. Besides with my leg injury getting in and out of the car has become a major pain in my ass. Does anyone have pics of non rollbar tubbed out cars? I am getting all the parts before I rip inot it, I am hoping top document it all on here , Thank you for any help

It depends on what you use for frame rails or what kit you use. If you use round tube or 2 X 3" tubing you MUST have a roll cage to add support/strength to the chassis. There are a lot of newer kits out there that used 2 X 4" tubing and with this type of kit you don't have to run a roll cage.

[Prostreet69Z]

I probably wont ever drag the car have no desire to. I dont care if some people seem to think its not prostreet if it doesnt have a roll bar. I have already gotten enough slack for everyone cause its been prostreeted and its a real Z/28. I was in a near fatal motorcycle accident this past summer and getting in an out with the cage is really hard. I will have to check my frame rails to see if they are 2x3 or 2x4 thanks for your help

[1969ProStreetCamaro]

An option not yet discussed is swing out door bars and you could make the horizontal bar between the main hoop removeable as well or remove it permanently. Just a thought.

David F.

[67z28]

My pro-street does have a cage in it, however the frame under the car is built to the point that if I didn't want a cage I wouldn't think twice about it. I'm running 33 X 21.5 MT so it was a max effort. It's got a 2X4 square tube frame from the stock frame all the way to the back with cross supports. I'd say it is a lot stronger than the original chassis setup.

[tilley88]

You can x-brace the chassis for added strength, and/or redesign the cage. You probably won't be able to fit a full size rear seat in it anyways because it is tubbed? Maybe a Jeep rear seat will fit? You can work the cage around that easily. I too would be worried about chassis flex without a cage, especially if you have a hi dollar paint job.

[tilley88]

Not to mention the safety value of the cage with regards to kids. Even with the frame braced a cage really helps in a side impact. Plus the cool factor is enhanced when the kids get old enuff to drive it to school.

[Denvervet]

Everyone advises not to have a cage in with back seat passengers....do a search. Unless of course the kids are wearing helmets.

[tilley88]

That's a good point.......but you can build the cage where the rear down bars are over their heads and padded.

[rtj]

I saw a post the other day, a guy messed up his ankle bad in a crash because he forgot to pad the roll bar where it tied into the floor by his feet.

If you have a cage, you better pad it and wear seatbelts.

[Denvervet]

The typical closed cell foam padding wont protect you in an accident .....There is special approved padding that is better .