Does anyone know of a company making pre-fab NHRA legal rollcage kits for the AMC Javelin? Or maybe a roll cage kit for another car with similar interior dimensions that would be fairly easy to modify? Our '74 Javelin is coming along nicely and we hope to have it on the track this season. Thanks for your input!

Weird that this topic came up...my buddy who owns a chassis shop is doing a 69 amx cage because the owner knew the kit type one he put in was doodoo.
The new cage thats done actually came out real real nice and it shows with nice tight bars and proper mounting points.

My adivice is def have a good chassis shop do one,it's so worth the money to do so.

Another benefit is you can discuss where and how you want the bars... done to fit you.

Did you try S & W or Comp Engineering ? Ron

This has nothing to do with your question but I love the car....we have 2 AMX's and a 71 jav. The jav is not much further along than yours. Keep up the good work

Thanks so much for the input, and the kudos on the car!

I will check out the companies Ron suggested for roll cages and I will call our local race shop as well. If anyone needs any Javelin interior parts I do have that stuff for sale, you can find the post in the 'AMC for sale' section.

I'd like some additional advice because I have read so many different things online regarding nhra roll bar/cage rules. Am I correct that if the car is over 10 seconds a roll bar is ok, less than 10 a cage is required? I can't see the car going faster than low 11's with our combo, and I'd rather not add too much weight after carving so much weight out of the car. Then again being safe is smart, and I'd imagine a cage would further stiffen the car. Could a roll bar legally be converted into a cage if we ever go fast enough to need it?

Thanks again for all your help!

Where in Ontario are you? I should be able to help find someone to do a custom at a reasonable price.

Steve

We're located in Niagara. Thanks in advance for your for your advice!

Art Morrison would be good to check too. I don't know if they have a " stocking " kit , but claim they will CAD one up for any car.

The rule has been you need at least a 5 point rollbar down to 10.0 with a stock firewall. I dont know anyone who has ever used a 5 point bar (No pass door bar) as mine is a 6 point bar and I should be legal to 10.0 as at 10.70's it has always passed tech. I dont want a full cage since mine is a 99% street car and I drive with no helmet on the street. Here a pic as you can see some of the bar. Ron

11.00 to 11.49 needs a roll bar using 1 3/4 OD tubing. 10.99 (or 135MPH) and quicker needs a cage using 1 5/8 OD tubing. Mild steel min. wall is .118, CrMo is .083. ERW usually requires .134 wall to insure that's it's legal because the wall thickness on that is usually on the thin side. It is also usually a softer grade of steel. DOM is a better tubing and can typically use .120 wall. CrMo spec is .083.

A bar can be upgraded to a cage, but you usually have to cut out the door bars and you will still have the big, heavy main hoop. If you think you will want a cage at some point, do it from the start.

Saving weight? Use chrome moly. The difference in weight is substantial. Comparing .083CM to .134MS in a typical cage is around 50# lighter. CM requires TIG welding and closer attention to the fits of the tubing joints. Don't let your cage be the first project of a pal with a new TIG machine.

Someone who knows how to design and fit the bars and uses the right construction techniques, can make the cage fit the car and the driver, look good and be snug to the body. But it takes time and time is money.

You dont need a cage in a stock body car with the stock firewall until 9.99 or 135 mph not 10.99. If you did they would not let me race as I have a 6 point bar. Its 11.49 to 10.0 for a rollbar. Ron

The difference is the the windshield halo,just do it from the start and do "J" bars also