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Challenge Roll Cage Sticker

Discussion in '348/355' started by Ira Schwartz, Jan 31, 2007.

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  1. Ira Schwartz

    Ira Schwartz Formula 3
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    #1 Ira Schwartz, Jan 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    For those of you who've inquired about the legality of running a Challenge car on the street, here's the sticker attached to the roll cage of a 348 Challenge car as part of the Challenge kit installation- for whatever it's worth.
    As I've opined before, the laws vary widely from State to State, and in some places it's possible to register and tag any car with a title. Whether that makes it "legal" to drive on the street is another matter altogether, since I suspect that every State requires stuff like horn, turn signals, headlights, etc.- equipment which many of these cars lack.
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  2. Dr.T348

    Dr.T348 Formula 3

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    #2 Dr.T348, Jan 31, 2007
    The original challenge cars were little more than race prepped street cars. Horns, turn signals, headlights were generally left intact as there was a minimum weight requirement of 3050 lbs wet minus driver and fuel. 348 Challenge cars were required to run stock cats and stock engines. I don't think there are any DOT rules for suspension mods. The only equipment in the original challenge kit that would not conform to DOT would be the roll cage, race harness, and straight pipe muffler (there was a challenge muffler that was basically the spider muffler for noise restricted tracks). If you are running seedline challenge wheels they would not be DOT legal. The original challenge series in '94 used stock 348 rims.
     
  3. Ira Schwartz

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    #3 Ira Schwartz, Jan 31, 2007
    I concur, more or less, but note that brake ducting later replaced the front turn signals (when the Speedlines replaced the stock wheels). Seems that many, if not most, Challenge cars no longer have horn, headlights, cats, etc., and as you said, the exhaust, harnesses and cage pose possible problems.
     
  4. plugzit

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    #4 plugzit, Jan 31, 2007
    I'm surprised that a roll cage would be illegal on the street. I wouldn't argue the point because I know many such laws don't make sense. Any idea why a cage would be illegal?
     
  5. Dr.T348

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    #5 Dr.T348, Jan 31, 2007
    I think that the roll cage is bad if you hit your head on it without a helmet. That would be the only reason. 5 or 6 point harness with quick release? I don't know why it would be illegal except most racing harness have an expiration date.

    Ira, mine was raced in '96 and all the turn signals, horn and lights were either left in or put back in. The only thing that still in is the rear roll bar. I don't have a sticker like that though.
     
  6. Dr.T348

    Dr.T348 Formula 3

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    #6 Dr.T348, Jan 31, 2007
    Oh, you forgot removal of thermostat, disabling of ABS, and removal of steering wheel lock. I don't think those are illegal, but necessary for street use.
     
  7. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #7 No Doubt, Jan 31, 2007
    When the thermostat heats up, it plugs the bypass. If the bypass isn't plugged, then water doesn't circulate through the radiators. Were Challenge cars replacing the thermostat with a plug?


    Oh, I'm also pretty sure that 348 Challenge cars are *legal* for Alabama street use, by the way.
     
  8. jm3

    jm3 F1 Rookie

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    #8 jm3, Jan 31, 2007
    yes, it shows how to do it in the 355 challenge manual. basically 1/2 pipe tap and 1/2 pipe plug

    The roll cage messes up Federal law by not remaining consistent with what was already crash-tested by Ferrari. For this same reason, you cannot add running boards to a car/truck with side airbags, and why the Motorex deal fell apart.


    Jay
     
  9. Dr.T348

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    #9 Dr.T348, Jan 31, 2007
    Yes, mine had a plug in it that had to come out for the thermostat to fit.

    Challenge cars are street legal in all states as they maintain there title in almost all cases. They should pass emissions in all states as they had to run stock cats too. The roll cage does not comform to DOT and is not legal in street cars, as are racing harnesses and slicks.
     
  10. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 fatbillybob, Jan 31, 2007
    Why was the tstat plug used? and what does it look like? Any pictures of the plug installed?
     
  11. Ira Schwartz

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    #11 Ira Schwartz, Feb 1, 2007
    I think you're right about the cage- even with padding, whacking your head on it could pose a real danger, although you don't flail around much with harnesses on. As for the harnesses themselves, maybe the feds are afraid that no one would actually fasten them on the street, as they're a pain in the ass.
    My guess is that your turn signals, horn, etc. were reinstalled when the car was returned to semi-street configuration. Maybe the sticker disappeared then too, assuming you still have the entire cage (I've seen one that has only the rear "roll bar" portion remaining). My car is still as-raced, so it still has the sticker, cut-off switches, brake ducts, exhaust (or lack thereof), etc., etc.
     
  12. Ira Schwartz

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    #12 Ira Schwartz, Feb 1, 2007
    I don't think that everyone disabled the ABS, although it was my understanding back then that it was supposed to be. Hell, in a spin I WANT to lock 'em up, if only to lessen the chance of veering back onto the track into the path of another car.
     
  13. Dr.T348

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    #13 Dr.T348, Feb 1, 2007
    I try and find it and take a picture.
     

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