Track car diet - remove crash bar?

[benedwards64]

Just thinking about the next winter diet, has anyone with a track RX8 tried removing the front & rear crash bars? Any loss in rigidity etc or are they literally just dead weight at either end of the car?

It's safe to say that the car will never be returned to the road at this point...

[Dr. FrankenRex]

The front is actually also a bumper support, so your bumper may not sit right if you remove it - but I don't know what it'd do as never re-fit the bumper without it before.

Likewise, based on removing the rear bumper on the R3 it should be strong enough to hold its shape without it...

[benedwards64]

Thanks Dan. Nothing we can't fix with cable-ties I imagine - it's already had a pretty heavy shunt, hence the multi-coloured front

[PeteH]

Tis a good question. I left them on, because without them there really is very little tying the two chassis longitudinals together. I'm inclined to think they are quite an efficient method of stiffening. With a full weld-in cage, tied to the damper towers, I would be confident to remove them. Without that, I'd leave them.

[benedwards64]

Thanks Pete, that's a useful thought. We have a half cage at present which mounts near the strut towers at the rear, but obviously not near the front. Last time we did this was on an MR2 which is naturally very stiff (it has 5 bulkheads FFS!)

[Project-RX8]

I've recently had this debate with my brother and is ongoing.

I've stripped every bit of weight possible and he gets very frustrated but... he wanted to remove the crash bars and i said no.

I guess the question is, are you prepared to replace the shell if you have a good knock? Shells are cheap enough to buy but the hassle factor.

What i did do is cut the front beam so it's no longer a beam just to bump stops like a train has. literally cut the middle out, i needed the space for a intake.

The rear you could consider replacing with something lighter?

Or make use of it like attaching a rear diffuser or chassis mounted wing?

[Neilparry]

What about replacing the front one with a tubular frame to brace the chassis legs. I know it’s not eliminating the weight but it would reduce it somewhat. 🤨
I think you would be ok removing the rear one as it’s designed to withstand a rear impact imo.


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[untakenname]

As above, I think when linking both ends the increased ridigity would outweigh the weight savings compared to removing completely.
A few have swapped the stock for tubular in the US and Australia forums, mainly for increased airflow.

crash bar.jpg

[warpc0il]

The front crash bar is much more substantial on US-SPEC 8s - which is why the Revi Ram Scoop needs different mounting brackets for UK cars.

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[benedwards64]

Thanks for the inputs all. It might be getting some 'speed holes'....