Author Topic: Keep push bar or not?  (Read 5119 times)

Offline Mister_Fitz

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
    • View Profile
  • Your Track: Trackless
  • Your Vehicle: FED
Keep push bar or not?
« on: July 24, 2017, 02:09:36 PM »
Hi
My FED is supposed have been built 1966 and still have the old push bar in place.
I have always liked the look of the push bar in the back of a FED. But later I have started to think about if the push bar is making the FED less safe in case of a crash.
Are there any one else out there that has kept their push bar? Or is it recommended to remove them?

Offline gregm784

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 384
    • View Profile
    • Means Racing
  • Your Engine: 365" GenIV SBC
  • Your Track: Famoso Raceway
  • Your Vehicle: 1997 Stirling 200" FED
Re: Keep push bar or not?
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2017, 03:39:21 PM »
I see you point about backing the car into a wall with a pushbar.  It would be a one in a million shot, but the penalty is huge.  I love the look.  Tough call!
Greg
El Dorado County, CA
www.meansracing.com

Offline Paul New

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 743
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.47 @ 214 MPH SBC
  • Your Engine: 387" SBC
  • Your Track: Woodburn Dragstrip
  • Your Vehicle: 2005 FED
Re: Keep push bar or not?
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2017, 03:50:10 PM »
95% of us have a wheelie bar mounted back there I see no real difference

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Keep push bar or not?
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2017, 07:55:15 PM »
Rear upright should be thicker tubing/double wall

Offline gregm784

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 384
    • View Profile
    • Means Racing
  • Your Engine: 365" GenIV SBC
  • Your Track: Famoso Raceway
  • Your Vehicle: 1997 Stirling 200" FED
Re: Keep push bar or not?
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2017, 11:36:16 PM »
95% of us have a wheelie bar mounted back there I see no real difference

I have a single lower bar and two upper bars. I've seen them reversed, and i think of the damage it could do
Greg
El Dorado County, CA
www.meansracing.com

Offline THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 360
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.28@168 door; 9.00@147 6-cyl alt; 8.53@160 RED
  • Your Engine: 300 Ford six NA w/ crossflow and prod. heads
  • Your Track: Milan, Thompson
  • Your Vehicle: (3) Advanced Chassis altered , The Last Logghe altered, '30 RPU
  • General Location: North Coast
Re: Keep push bar or not?
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2017, 07:32:07 PM »
I suppose the push bar could be made to break away in an impact, by bolting it on with aluminum fasteners or just drilled or necked down common steel ones. Then it would be an energy absorber.

Offline BK

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 310
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.45 / 5.30
  • Your Track: Empire Dagway
  • Your Vehicle: Late 70's FED
Re: Keep push bar or not?
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2017, 03:57:10 AM »
I left mine on my car.
Its mounted where the down tube meets the lower frame rail that loops around the seat.
I doubt I could ever get the wheelie bars folded up and still have enough energy to cave that area of the chassis in.
Now a broken rod end on the upper wheelie bar strut. That might be something to think about.