My friend hit a light pole yesterday at around 20 mph head on and totaled his 83z28 because of it being a unibody and completley "collapsing" everything.What type of reinforcement is best 2 keep ur car from being totaled or best insurance policies 2 get it fixed w/ my 84 Berlinetta?

 

SFCs and a 12pt cage would be good start

 

I would recommend the dont hit light poles method.

 

i waS not asking a ***** ...........is there something less noticeble then a roll cage

 

get 2 sets of SFCs, one that runs along the rocker panels (Spohn) and a set that runs from the front to rear frame in the middle section of the floor pan (Alston), sold by TopDown Solutions (link on top of page)

 

id like to point out that none of that would help in the event that he smacked a lightpole head on.



therefore, i would 2nd the "dont hit the lightpole method."

 

after thinking about it a bit more the "don't hit light pole" method does appear to have some merit and would or should also apply to trees and other inmoveable objects. i retract my original recommendation for a cage and SFCs.

 

nah light poles are weak! I say do the cage and keep ramming them!!

just kidding!!

to get the type of support I think you're thinking about you need to do some custom fabrication. The sport I'm building my car for has a high risk of hitting walls and such. Because of this, not only am I doing SFC's and a 10 point rollcage, I'm also welding my own custom reinforcements throughout the body, in the engine bay, along the doors, and in the rear portion of the car. The goal is to be able to get the least ammount of structural damage if I do end up tagging a guardrail.

 

Get "stated value" insurance from a specialty insurance company. If you wreck an 84 Camaro, a regular company isn't gonna give you more than a grand for it. But if the car is worth $10k to you, get specialty insurance, pay the premium on $10k worth of coverage, and if it gets totalled (or stolen!) you get your $10k.

And don't hit poles.

kevin

 

I may be new and all but I am definatly gonna lean towards staying away from light poles, trees, and other non-moving objects.


Moving objects should also be avoided for the most part, car usually doesn't like running into other vehicles or people much.

 

i'd try subframe connectors first

 

Get subframe connectors. Alston styles can be used with Spohn styles, since they mount in different positions. But definitely get them. Also, get a wonderbar and strut tower brace.

Has anyone welded on their wonderbar? Pros; cons?