Safest/Best Half Cage?

[scsponger31]

I have been holding off on doing a cage, as my kids still like riding in the car, but I have gotten to the point that I am the only one in my level run groups with out much for safety.

Not willing to go full cage just yet. Watson seems like the Popular route, but the likes of RSR or CMS look a little beefier. Different mounting points too.

Would love your feedback!

 

[blacksheep-1]

the watsons are good bolt in cages, but if you can afford it, get a custom cage fit to you not a generic one

(and screw photobucket)

 

[scsponger31]

I can afford it, I just dont want to gut the car. Still trying to toe the line with street and track. I know it is probably a lost cause.

 

[blacksheep-1]

did the Watson in project superbeater...

 

[JeffV8]

With a Watson 4 point Roll bar or any 4 point you will lose the back seat.

 

[scsponger31]

Ya. That has been my main reason for holding back.

 

[EF1]

When I put a bar in my 2011 it came down to the Watson or one from Maximum Motorsports. The MM is a little more work to put in, but is less expensive to buy initially. The Watson bar is a straight bolt in and doesn't require anything other than drilling some holes. The MM bar comes broken down and requires the rear legs to be welded and the bar painted. I opted for the welded in harness bar and diagonal. I had it powder coated a textured black that blends into the interior. In the end it cost about the same as a Watson.

There are some differences in mounting. The Watson bar mounts to the existing sheet metal B pillar braces and the rear legs bolt to the flat metal in the trunk area behind the rear seat. The seat backs must come out due to the leg placement. The MM comes with fabricated B pillar braces and the rear legs mount to the curved inner fenders where the structure seems more substantial. You cut the interior panels around the bar, but can leave them in. The seat backs can also stay in to absorb noise. The diagonal brace on the MM bar is an option and you can get it with or without a harness bar. a removable harness which makes the back seat more accessible is an option.

 

[BKBoss302]

There is also the Competition Motorsports which appears to allow for a little further setback for the front seats. If you are tall that may be a consideration. I thought about this one before I went another route.

CMS Performance Roll Bar for Ford Mustang S197 2004 - 2014 – competitionmotorsport.com

CMS Performance Roll Bar for Ford Mustang at Competition Motorsport

competitionmotorsport.com

I purchased my Boss in late 2019 and thought about a half cage to keep it semi streetable. That lasted about a week and then I gutted it out and went with a full cage. For me it was all about maximum safety.

 

[Hye Power]

Id go with and went with Cms, if you carry a passenger the watson doesn't have the diagonal bar to protect the passenger only the driver, where the cms cage has both.

 

[scsponger31]

Id go with and went with Cms, if you carry a passenger the watson doesn't have the diagonal bar to protect the passenger only the driver, where the cms cage has both.

There is also the Competition Motorsports which appears to allow for a little further setback for the front seats. If you are tall that may be a consideration. I thought about this one before I went another route.

CMS Performance Roll Bar for Ford Mustang S197 2004 - 2014 – competitionmotorsport.com

CMS Performance Roll Bar for Ford Mustang at Competition Motorsport

competitionmotorsport.com

I purchased my Boss in late 2019 and thought about a half cage to keep it semi streetable. That lasted about a week and then I gutted it out and went with a full cage. For me it was all about maximum safety.

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I think CMS is the winner!

Ill probably end up with a full cage at some point.

 

[Theviking]

Friend of mine installed a Watson bar in his Boss. They claim it's easily removable but sure doesn't look like it would be much fun.

Mustang Roll Bar - Watson Racing

Quite simply the finest 4-point Mustang roll bar on the market. After extensive engineering, we are excited to introduce our new bolt-in 4-Point Roll Bar.

www.watsonracing.com

 

[GAR944]

Id go with and went with Cms, if you carry a passenger the watson doesn't have the diagonal bar to protect the passenger only the driver, where the cms cage has both.

Ask for an Australian version of the Watson 1/2 cage, we get the double diagonal given RHD.

 

[twistedneck]

There is also the Competition Motorsports which appears to allow for a little further setback for the front seats. If you are tall that may be a consideration. I thought about this one before I went another route.

CMS Performance Roll Bar for Ford Mustang S197 2004 - 2014 – competitionmotorsport.com

CMS Performance Roll Bar for Ford Mustang at Competition Motorsport

competitionmotorsport.com

I purchased my Boss in late 2019 and thought about a half cage to keep it semi streetable. That lasted about a week and then I gutted it out and went with a full cage. For me it was all about maximum safety.

Your car is looking very good BKBoss302. I'm taking my car from once a year to 3-4 times a year track days. The first thing i'm doing is getting a fire system, but right after that harnesses and a harness bar OR 4pt bolt in cage. Is there a benefit to the 4pt over the harness bar? its 3x the cost to purchase. Also, do you know of a thread where they discuss what resistors to jump to prevent seat belt warnings?

 

[twistedneck]

TheViking, what made you chose the 4pt over just the harness bar?

 

[scsponger31]

I ended up ordering a CMS a few weeks back. Will post pictures once it is received and installed.

 

[stevbd]

Bringing this thread back to see if anyone has experience installing a roll bar in an S197 with the glass roof option? MM specifically says their roll bar won't fit, Watson Racing says theirs does, and CMS doesn't seem to mention it. Any thoughts or advice, or other options or considerations I should be thinking about? Many thanks.

 

[Ewheels]

Is there a benefit to the 4pt over the harness bar?

Don't know if you got your answer already or not but in case you haven't: the 4pt offers rollover protection while the harness bar does not. Really the harness bar only offers a way to mount harness belts but brings zero safety value to the table. I would advise against a harness bar.

 

[Tonymustang302]

I just ordered a CMS for my 500…the way it installs sold me. I dont want to drill into the body to the extrerior

i wont give watson any money with the absolute garbage full cage they sent me, acknowledged they screwed up some welds, then charged 20% restocking fee when URW deemed it unsafe with 1/4’’ to 1/2’’ gaps in the welds.