| The
Extensive Roll Cage Essentially Becomes the Chassis of
This Camaro
The
unibody and front subframe construction of the ’68
Camaro is not known for its chassis rigidity or its
ability to handle high-torque drivetrains. Both would
be essential in this ultimate street machine. Equally
important would be an all-encompassing safety cage
to protect the occupants. Consequently, a chromemoly
steel safety cage was designed and built by Rick Lefever.
The cage would also serve as the car’s chassis
and provide many of the critical suspension, engine
and transmission mounting points. Not only would this
provide the required rigidity for handling and the
anticipated torque loads, it would also provide the
vehicle’s structural integrity in the event of
a crash.
Note
the triangulation to disperse loads throughout the
structure. The cage extends to the rear of the vehicle
to surround the fuel cell too. The cage also provides
the seatback and harness attachment points. There is
even a lateral bar running behind the dash. This bar
also provides the attachment points for the Tilton® pedal
assembly and the steering column support. The dash
had to be completely removed from the car during this
installation. The dash was later rewelded into place.
To add additional strength, the body doorsill was welded
to the bottom of the lower side bar – an extra
touch that would be easy to miss. It is important to
tie the doorsills and floor pan to the roll cage since
the lower seat attachments bolt to the floor pan. In
the event of a crash, the cage, seat and harness will
all move together as a single unit.
Although
the cage adds weight to the car, the benefits in safety
and chassis rigidity more than offset the weight increase.
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