My 454 SS build

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fastfreddys454ss

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Sorry, but I feel compelled to comment. I'm hoping this is for show only, and it being a bolt-in cage, I suspect that's the case.

For reference for anyone building a roll cage, never put an S-bend in your cage. It compromises the compression strength of that length of tubing, and won't pass tech at any event with experienced tech inspectors that requires a true roll cage.
I have went through the 2020 NHRA rule book a while ago and i can’t find anything about how many curves you can have in a roll cage on the windshield down bars. The previous pic design I posted on accident. I don’t want it to curve like that. It wouldn’t be that easy to do. I am just going to have two bends in it. (see this pic)

As far as bolt together. I want to get rid of the bolt together. That is the why I bought the bender. As far as mounting. All the nhra rule book says is all vehicles with oem frames must have the roll cage welded or bolted to the frame. But it doesn’t specify how. My plan is to bolt it to the frame this time. But not everything goes as planned. As far as passing tech. Every tech is different, i have seen a lot of really good ones. It can also just depend on how lazy they are, or if they are in a bad mood, etc........ I have seen cars not pass that should have and other pass the shouldn’t.

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Erik the Awful

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It might pass NHRA, I don't know how strict their inspectors are on cages. I do know that in Lemons racing, that won't pass. You can only bend in one plane. You can't bend one way, and then bend another direction. If you flip the car, that will fold up.

Also, please don't skimp on the spreader plates. http://thegarageblog.com/garage/it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time/#more-10656

Here's a good primer on cages and other safety stuff: https://24hoursoflemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/How-To-Not-Fail-Lemons-Tech_v3.5_040419.pdf

Our previous race car clipped a tire barrier at 70 mph. The barrier sucked the car into the concrete wall, and the car went from 70 to 0 in less than a second. In the video (not posted online, sorry!) you can see tires and debris flying. The windshield shatters. Nothing intrudes into the cockpit at all. The left front suspension was ripped from the frame and the front end was irreversibly bent. Our driver walked away and was only a little sore the next day.
 

MrPink

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It might pass NHRA, I don't know how strict their inspectors are on cages. I do know that in Lemons racing, that won't pass. You can only bend in one plane. You can't bend one way, and then bend another direction. If you flip the car, that will fold up.

Also, please don't skimp on the spreader plates. http://thegarageblog.com/garage/it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time/#more-10656

Here's a good primer on cages and other safety stuff: https://24hoursoflemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/How-To-Not-Fail-Lemons-Tech_v3.5_040419.pdf

Our previous race car clipped a tire barrier at 70 mph. The barrier sucked the car into the concrete wall, and the car went from 70 to 0 in less than a second. In the video (not posted online, sorry!) you can see tires and debris flying. The windshield shatters. Nothing intrudes into the cockpit at all. The left front suspension was ripped from the frame and the front end was irreversibly bent. Our driver walked away and was only a little sore the next day.

you are 100% correct, the cage illustrated will not pass NHRA inspection, nor most other sanctioning bodies.
 

Bbamf

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What a build!! FastFreddy I see you are up in Gresham! I just moved to Roseburg after a long stint in Salem! I just traded my buddy a 78 longbed for this 93. He has had it for 20 years and I am definitely going to take some of your ideas! Let me know if your going to take yours to any PNW shows! I would love to see it in person!

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fastfreddys454ss

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What a build!! FastFreddy I see you are up in Gresham! I just moved to Roseburg after a long stint in Salem! I just traded my buddy a 78 longbed for this 93. He has had it for 20 years and I am definitely going to take some of your ideas! Let me know if your going to take yours to any PNW shows! I would love to see it in person!

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Looks like it’s in really good shape. The guy who had it before you, gave you a really good start. You should start a street build thread. Post some pictures all the way around the truck, engine bay an interior. Give us some specs of your truck now and what you plan for the future. Would be cool to meet up at one of the PIR cars show.
 

skylark

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What a build!! FastFreddy I see you are up in Gresham! I just moved to Roseburg after a long stint in Salem! I just traded my buddy a 78 longbed for this 93. He has had it for 20 years and I am definitely going to take some of your ideas! Let me know if your going to take yours to any PNW shows! I would love to see it in person!

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Welcome to Southern Oregon! I'm in Grants Pass and @ccreddell is in Medford. I was just up your way last Saturday.
 

Wh4t3v3rs

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Champion radiator and 500 amp alternator

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If you don't mind me asking, but could you give a little more information about that 500 amp alternator.
 

Wh4t3v3rs

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Champion radiator and 500 amp alternator

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If you don't mind me asking, but could you give a little more information about that 500 amp alternator.
 

fastfreddys454ss

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If you don't mind me asking, but could you give a little more information about that 500 amp alternator.
It’s a custom alternator called a GM mega amp made by Quality Power. It replaces the stock cs130. It’s smaller but sit in the same footprint as the stock one. I was wrong on the amperage of the alternator. Its not 500 amp. They told me that any automotive electrical system couldn’t handle 500 amps anyway. It’s a 320 amp alternator. I haven’t seen a higher amp alternator that will charge 180 amps at idle. I meant I payed $500 for it. They also painted it black for me when it was disassembled. They do have 150 amp ($325), 200 amp ($375) and 250 amp ($410) alternators in the mega amp . Although it’s a lot money. It cost me about the same as buying a second battery tray, a second optima yellow top, a battery isolator, a bunch of wire and saved me a lot of room under the hood. It’s a 1 wire hook up. The only thing you need to do is run a 1 gauge wire from the alternator to your battery because a standard cable will limit the all the amp output.

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