The question is can it be done? Is it worth it? I mean it's not like the backseats are really very usable for passengers anyway, they're just there for the color!
Obviously asking 'is it worth it?' is similar to asking 'how long is a piece of string?', but I get a lot of chassis bend on hard corners and I'm curious as to whether it'd help stiffen it up a bit.
If you want to stiffen the chassis, then stiffen the chassis, get some bracing bars welded in etc. A roll cage will stop you getting all magled in a rollover, hence the name
It's been done, infact a while ago somebody here or on the UK owners club posted some pics of some ready to bolt in ones from japan just for the FTO.
However if you're not intending on racing the car but just want it for improved handling I think there are other cheaper things you can do first and at the same time still retain the back seats.
For instance top and bottom front and rear strut bars. Then you could probably do a simple one piece bar from the seatbelt bases along the roof like a 'u' to stiffen the middle. That with good suspension I dont see how you would need more for non-track use.
'cat' from the uk fitted one to his and it stiffened up the chassis no end.....so much so,that when he took it out to replace it he said it felt terrible without it!
UK insurance co's don't like the idea much so i'd check you insurance co first.
Also it's worth bearing in mind that if you have a full cage and you have an accident without wearing a helmet,you're likely to smash your head open like an egg on the front section,so it's worth only fitting a half cage (rear only) for the street.
Mine had one when it was in Japan, the drill holes are still visible through the cut carpet in my car. I suspect it was taken out when it was bought over here.
I'm getting the chassis strengthening done at the moment which is no probs on the tech side of things.
The legal side is the annoying bit coz I can't find an Automotive engineer at the moment who HAS to approve it otherwise it can't be registered at all.......
there's no point putting a roll cage in a fto uless it has like 400hp, plus they are front wheel drive, cages more support the ass end of the car from twisting keeping the car more stable.
boost me, and then just clutch me, until i get my, loss of traction
yeah you just answered your own question... its more for handling instead of power.
imo i dont reckon its worth it though unless you have another road car to drive around the streets with so your makin the fto a full race car. good for driving/handling but your just makin it less + less easier to drive on the roads and if the roads are bumpy which most aus roads seem to be, then stiff chassis + suspension wont absorb the bumps (if at all) and will unsettle the car giving it much less grip... i went on a road trip with a few other stiff ride imports a while back and one guy had a late 70's stock commodore and he had so much more grip in the corners than all the imports because of the constant bumps unsettling our cars
