Mufflers in the state of California, and, putting in a roll cage

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tulok
  • 15 comments
  • 781 views
Tulok

Tulok

Messages
977
EDIT: can you move this to cars in general? i accidentally posted it in nissan O_o"
Are mufflers required in California? Is it just that we need to keep the volume down to a certain level? Can you tell me please?
and also:
how hard is it to fabricate/weld a custom 6-8 pt rollgcage?
EDIT: what can i do to save my life in a roll over.
what is needed, and do i weld or bolt the cage on?
 
CARB, CARB, CARB... only way to avoid hassle is to have a CARB certified exhaust. Supposedly now, you can ask for a test that will prove whether you meet the sound requirements (should be under 90-something DB, but I last heard this a long time ago)... but without a muffler, no way are you going to pass that.

Okay, had to look it up. 95 DB. Yup... no way a muffler-less car is going to pass that, unless it doesn't flow squat (and even then... you know how godawfully loud 5hp scooters are when you remove the muffler? :lol: )

Best bet, stump up the money for a CARB-legal system... and get your certification for the noise level.

----

As for the roll-cage, if it's needed to meet sanctioning-body or track requirements, you probably need to read the rulebooks, as they'll tell you what gauge is required. Also, a lot of though has to go into an effective rollcage... if you've never done it before, best to look for a car like yours equipped with one and ask lots of nosy questions and take lots of pictures... you'll need it.
 
I dont need one for a track, but im almost certain i will,
pretty much the only reason i want to rid the muffler is because i fear it may get a hole knocked in it, because it sits flush with the bottom of the chassis...

just to recap:
its ONLY for sound right?
 
Let me say this:

Do NOT put a roll cage in a street-driven car unless you intend to wear a helmet everywhere you drive it.

I don't know if your car is meant to be track-only. But driving a car with a cage on the street without a helmet is MORE dangerous than one without a cage.
 
Duke
Let me say this:

Do NOT put a roll cage in a street-driven car unless you intend to wear a helmet everywhere you drive it.

I don't know if your car is meant to be track-only. But driving a car with a cage on the street without a helmet is MORE dangerous than one without a cage.
Click to expand...
I agree. I was thinking of putting a roll cage too in my car, until I really looked around. It's better to spend the extra money on a REALLY good roll BAR, which will probably protect you just as much in a rollover, and you won't have as much rick of hitting your head on anything.

IMO, it's also a good time to get a racing seat. Having just one of the two at any time isn't a good idea. Without the roll bar, a racing seat becomes more dangerous, partly because you won't move out of the way in a rollover, and partly because you have nowhere to mount the harnesses properly.

Then with just the roll bar/cage and stock seats, you will smash your skull into something.
 
Actually, I'm going to disagree with some of what PB says, but in general he's correct.

Unless it's a convertible, a roll bar alone is not going to offer too much protection and it is still going to present a danger in a street car. In a convertible, of course, it's going to help if it is properly engineered and mounted, because the folding top mechanism is essentially disposable in the event of an accident, unlike the roof structure of a fixed-roof car.

However, good supportive racing seats are not necessarily more dangerous. In the event of a rollover, even your shoulder belt should prelock and hold you in your seat. It's mostly a matter of luck if you happen to lay over sideways... and luck can go either way.

If you install a 4- or 5-point harness, you should probably use the stock 3-point harness on the street anyway. But what PB says about mounting racing harnesses is very true - you do NOT want to mount your harness to your front-seat seatbelt points, except for the lap belt(s). This makes the shoulder straps point down at much too steep an angle, and in the event of an accident, can lead to injured shoulder joints, broken collarbones, and spinal compression. The shoulder straps of a harness should actually be mounted to the rear seat belt attachment points in a sedan or 4-seat coupe. This keeps the belts over your shoulder at a shallow angle and prevents those injuries.
 
Was just reading a piece saying that 6 point harnesses are much safer than a 4 point, as a in a frontal collision the 4-point may ride up the body and then all the force will go into the abdomen.
 
thanks guys, I didnt really plan on putting one in any time soon hough,
I dont need a seat, because i plan on feeling many g forces... its because I need more leg room, I cant heel & toe without bumping the wheel, I am gonna go to a junkyard eventually, and find a thinner seat than mine.
I mainly want a roll thing, baecause when i stripped my car, i noticed how flimsy the roof was, it seems that it would literally fold like paper. could a simple bar shaped like an "n" make the diffeerenec in strength?
 
Perfect Balance
The force in a 6 point harness would be transferred to you crotch area I think. Man that's gotta hurt either way.
Click to expand...

6-points are better for real security, but would be a bit much for autocross or even track days. However, a 6-point is designed to keep the impact force concentrated across your pelvis because it's about the most solid point in your body. 4-points are designed to do that as well, but aren't quite as effective.
 
Tulok
thanks guys, I didnt really plan on putting one in any time soon hough,
I dont need a seat, because i plan on feeling many g forces... its because I need more leg room, I cant heel & toe without bumping the wheel, I am gonna go to a junkyard eventually, and find a thinner seat than mine.
I mainly want a roll thing, baecause when i stripped my car, i noticed how flimsy the roof was, it seems that it would literally fold like paper. could a simple bar shaped like an "n" make the diffeerenec in strength?
Click to expand...
Get a smaller wheel. My friend got a MOMO Monte Carlo for his car, 330mm, which lets me heel-toe in a Miata. It does a nice job at freeing up space.
 
thanks guys,i might take a trip tp the scrap yard, perhaps ill find a ew wheel or smaller seat to get/

thakns for the info guys!
 

Latest Posts

Back