Vent duct removal

#1

So, I don’t see any rule allowing removal of the vent ducts that are behind the dashboard, yet some of you have a bar on the rollcage that runs across the dash, joining the two A-pillar hoops. Now, there’s no way you can get the ducting back in there if you have a cage bar going across. Is this allowed?

Also, can we get a rule put in that allows us to cut a hole in the middle of the dash to run a center safety net? BMWCCA may start to mandate that next year and it would seem like a no-brainer allowance for SpecE30.

#2

not sure if you’ve already done your cage or not, but some pictures here show a lower dash bar
http://www.izzyscustomcages.com/BMW318Cage_2.html
Would this help what you’re talking about?

cheers,
bruce

#3

leggwork wrote:

[quote]not sure if you’ve already done your cage or not, but some pictures here show a lower dash bar
http://www.izzyscustomcages.com/BMW318Cage_2.html
Would this help what you’re talking about?

cheers,
bruce[/quote]

It is hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like there needed to be some cutting of the steering column and maybe gutting of the ventilation controls which are also illegal.

#4

traqrat wrote:

[quote]leggwork wrote:

[quote]not sure if you’ve already done your cage or not, but some pictures here show a lower dash bar
http://www.izzyscustomcages.com/BMW318Cage_2.html
Would this help what you’re talking about?

cheers,
bruce[/quote]

It is hard to tell from the pictures, but it looks like there needed to be some cutting of the steering column and maybe gutting of the ventilation controls which are also illegal.[/quote]

I can’t comment on the ventilation controls, but when you crack out the fracture bolts on the steering column, it drops down just enough to run a bar through… then you just replace the fracture bolts with (well-torqued) standard bolts and the steering column is back into its original location.

#5

The cage linked to was built for SCCA ITB. The IT rules state that modifications are allowed for installation of the roll cage.

I don’t recall completely (it was a few cages ago) but I think I was able to snake the bar in there without haveing to crack the steering column. Here’s a detail shot:


edited to make the pic a little bigger

Post edited by: IzzysCages, at: 2006/01/17 14:28

#6

IzzysCages wrote:

[quote]The cage linked to was built for SCCA ITB. The IT rules state that modifications are allowed for installation of the roll cage.

I don’t recall completely (it was a few cages ago) but I think I was able to snake the bar in there without haveing to crack the steering column. Here’s a detail shot:

[/quote]

Thanks for the info. It’s all moot on my car since I have the airbag steering column which has some extra metal in there so running the bar through the column is not an option. The bar will have to run right through all the vent ducts. I guess since Vic Hall’s cage is legal, then removing the vent ducts is legal.

#7

it is good to have you here!

Do you remember if you had to sacrifice the functioning of any other items to put that bar across under the dash?

thanks,
bruce

#8

The defrosters still worked as I sealed everything up around the tube. The front vents and the side vents no longer functioned and IIRC a couple of the diverter solonoids (I assumed thats what they were) had to go away.

#9

This thread is moot now since the 2006 rules allow removal of ducting.

#10

This thread is moot now since the 2006 rules allow removal of ducting.

#11

I would be interested in hearing if anyone was able to modify the ducts to allow at least a modicum of defroster functionality and still have a well designed dash bar. It would be nice to have if you wanted to keep the vehicle street legal.

#12

I think my cage builder was able to do so, but i won’t have the car back until this weekend to check. Also trying to keep my street legal…

#13

The dash bar pictured above allows the windshied defroster to work. The side window vents had to go away because of the downbars.

I’d like to think it’s a well designed dash bar. No bends/supports the bends in the downbars/not a dead load path/out of the way of the drivers knees/ factory dash still operates

:wink: