Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Ok, so on my e-body I carefully installed the door bar to clear the door handle and somehow didn't give any thought for clearance for the window crank being able to revolve. Obviously I can open the door to roll up or down the window. Is this legal ? I may redo the door bar anyway, just wondering how this is viewed. thanks

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

on gm cars I have used the vent window crank from a 67 Camaro. it's much smaller the than the window crank.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

would converting it to power windows be out of the question? It's easily done on most cars...a bit more work but more convenient. Joe

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Same issue on my 68 Mustang. I put an aftermarket crank from Lokar on it mostly for looks and the stock one was shot. I have to pop the door to crank the window and watch where it is when I close it, but it's mostly a race car.

The trick is to close the door with the crank off and the window up, then position the crank so that the window can be cracked up and down to cuss at the starter without opening the door.

Dale

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Yeah, you never know when you need to yell at someone. haha

an electric motor would do, need to think about that.

maybe the smaller crank would work

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

I have to have my windows working,maybe it's just me but can't stand to drive something that window or door doesn't work correctly,if I had to open door to roll down window,it would aggravate me LOL. other pet peeve is,it drives me nuts to drive a car on the street that is missing side or rear view mirror.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

I had & kept my power windows. Very nice to be able to get some air through the car while strapped in. Just roll them up as I roll into the water box. I could not reach across to crank the passenger side up while strapped in. Much easier all around. I have weighed both power & manual doors. Within 2 lbs of each other.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Without a doubt, it doesn't make sense to put a ton of money and time into a car and can't roll down the dang window. I have a S&W roll cage kit in it, and while it's a nice cage, the door bar is a PITA to climb over. I think I'll put a swing out kit on the drivers side and make sure it clears the handles. Probably should have listened to one of my "advisers" and put in the swing out bar in the first place.......

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

I have swing-out bars too. Makes working inside, under the dash, etc, possible. I put the pins in for tech, and before getting in to run. You get used to crawling over the bars eventually.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

I'm not going to question the safety aspect of the NHRA rulebook as I know the cage specs come from the folks at SFI, but you just can't have a crash bar that crosses the designated body points in the specs and operate a manual window crank. An electric kit for my Mustang would set me back something like $700. It's a 68 coupe and that seems to matter somehow.

Dale

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Dale, following the rule book, with my car, and the seat in the location that it's in, is what got me into the position where I can't operate the window. I've seen quite a few door bars that are not straight, they have some type of bend at the end where it meets the floor. Mine are straight now. I am presently thinking about a swing out kit with a bend at the end. I have mixed feelings about a swing out bar, no way in the world it's as strong as a solid bar.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Larry Woodfin's GT Truck over in the Builds section has a contoured door bar. Here's a link to the pic. It's on page 21 of his Super-10 thread.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...&postcount=204

He knows what he's doing, but this one hasn't been to tech yet.

BTW; I followed the book on my build, too. Even overbuilt it on safety stuff. I put a swing out on the passenger side for maintenance and stuff. It's not - in my opinion - safe in a crash. Drivers side is solid.

Dale

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Thanks Dale. I'll have to sleep on it. Maybe the best choose is to bend the solid bars on both sides so it's easier to get in and be able to roll the window down. Probably doable, but the bar won't be straight.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

A "contoured" bar is not as strong as a straight bar.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

I agree if we're talking in compression or tension. In the case of a side impact or roll over, a "contoured" bar seems more sturdy over a hinge and pin...........But both are used and pass tech. Personal preference I guess. Don't wanna do any testing though

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Depends on the hit. Bars that are contoured out are stronger in a side impact. Anyway, considering all the structure of a cage, there is a lot more if the structure that comes into play in a crash than just that side bar.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

I have a 70 Cuda also with s&w cage, I altered the door bar to be able to use the stock handle with the window net up. You can still wind the window down & up but it's a pita. Easier to have the door open. I can post some pics if you like?

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Yeah, a picture from the inside showing how it routes by the handles would be great. I have a challenger, not sure if the handles are in the same location or not.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

SFI specs allow bends in door bars, at least on a 8.50 car...not sure on the lower E.T. cars but doubt it. My personal opinion on swing out bars is not a big fan. Just looking at them in different variations not sure I'd ever put one in my personal car. I see no way ity could be as secure as a PROPERLY welded bar. BTW dale I've used a couple of the cheap, lite cable operated power window set ups from the newer cars on cars not designed for the...works great, however there is a little fab work involved. Can be done for less than 150.00 both doors less wiring and switches.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Ask Jeff Lane about power windows, a few years ago he had one fail in the down position (and if I remember right it was in eliminations, not qualifying), got booted and lost the round. I guess I'm a big fan of simple mechanical things that are less likely to fail. Also wonder how happy they are with 16 volt batteries.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

Mine have been fine with 16 volts for almost 6 years now. Faster.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

But, not curved down to clear window cranks. No room to curve one out in anything I have raced. Had to notch the arm rests to shut the door on straight bars.

Re: Roll cage door bar and window crank
 

At least this way you cannot roll the window down until you turn off the end of the track.