How to make S13 safer?

[Ghettokracker71]

I want to make my S13 fastback safer to drive. Its a street duty ONLY car that is my daily ride;After a recent accident its got me scared about driving it due to heavy injuries at low speeds. I want to see if there is anything I can do to go about making it safer?

P.S. Don't flame me...I never said they were safe,I'm just asking b/c this fukin blows not being able to do ANYTHING,and considering I was going less than 40MPH...:ugh:

Current mods: Intake,exhaust,ML320 sidemarkers,clear bumper lights,16" wheels,and of course a bass system

[240speed]

roll cage it.....

[Ghettokracker71]

Would that help in an accident? honestly though..?

Hmm...I'd like to do a roll bar,but a cage seems like a little much for a street car. Plus I'd feel like such a fuckin ricer....Cage+loud exhaust+loud system :eek:

[ThatGuy]

How about stitch welds and Foam injection??

[Ghettokracker71]

(I hate asking stupid questions!) What are stitch welds?

Foam Injection...forgot about that:thanks!

[ThatGuy]

Reinforcing factory seams.

[240speed]

Would that help in an accident? honestly though..?

Hmm...I'd like to do a roll bar,but a cage seems like a little much for a street car. Plus I'd feel like such a fuckin ricer....Cage+loud exhaust+loud system :eek:

It'll keep the frame from squishing you into a pancake.

[Ghettokracker71]

In that case,where could I get a bolt-in one for my Fastback:)

So long as I can keep my subs/amp I'm happy,although I'd prefer not to sacrifice the backseat,I don't think thats possible.

[cdlong]

it's really not safe to ride in the backseat in a car with a roll cage. too much stuff that's really hard to hit your head on/get trapped under.

[crysis]

a roll cage isnt gonna make your car safer....the point of it is to make it stiffer and also so your head doesnt get smushed if you flip. the thing is, making the car that much stiffer, where does the energy go on impact? instead of folding the car to slow down impact you will make it a cement block hitting a cement wall.

[Gladman]

Are you on crack... roll cages arent designed just for frame stiffness....

-roll (roll over)
-cage (surrounds and protects driver)

If you do get a cage, you almost have to get a 4 or 5 point harness, and with that said racing seats are assumed....

If you really wanna be safe, you'd want a 8pt or more cage, no reclinable racing seats and 4 pt harnesses.

Crumple zones are designed into the front and rear of the car, not in the passenger compartment.

[Dutchmalmiss]

didn't the kouki fastbacks have airbags? conversion? ever been done?

[thx247]

get a car with airbags

[goodjuan]

i gotta say if you drive like a pansy and be defensive and keep a good head out, you should be all good.

oh yeah get yourself to an autox

safer driver = safer car!

[old_s13]

you guys are all making suggestions but not thinking right.

1) the s13 tested SAFER than the S14, and it has no airbags. Check the NHTSA web site for proof.

2) making the chassis more stiff with foam injection and seam welding isnt going to make it safer, it may actually reduce the safety because crumple zones will no longer crumple. SO...

3) Start with the basics!!!!

Lesson #1) Learn to be a good defensive driver, at the same time.. understand how to take charge when necessary in order to avoid accidents.

Lesson #2) Maintain and know your vehicle. Make sure your braking system is solid. If your pads are 50% worn, they're on their way out.. so might as well get some new ones. Buy good quality, such as Axxis Metal Masters -- you dont need much more than that for street. Use good rotors and make sure your fluid is maintained. AND, if you DO upgrade to Z brakes.. understand the system. TOO many people upgrade the front and not the rear (or master cylinder) and think they have a safe system, they dont. Tires and wheels are completely neglected by most people. Your tires are the most important items on your car, so spend money where it counts. Same goes for wheels, its not about having 18's.. its about having a good, strong, light, durable wheel that will support a nice wide sticky tire. There is a reason why I chose 16x8's for Los Angeles driving, its perfect.

Lesson #3) Seats. Buy good quality ones because your spine rides on it. If you can in an impact, your seats will absorb a big portion of impact. Same goes for safety belts. Ditch the lame auto seatbelts and atleast get some S14 belts, or, some harnesses. I run schroth 4pt w/ an autopower roll bar.. its as good as it gets for a street car without being outrageous.

there is no definate answer or insurance for this shit, you just need to take reasonable precautions and then the rest is on you. Be a safe driver and look ahead and you will be okay.

- Mike

[ThatGuy]

2) making the chassis more stiff with foam injection and seam welding isnt going to make it safer, it may actually reduce the safety because crumple zones will no longer crumple.


- Mike

Good point. Thank you for clearing that up.

[steve shadows]

:ghey: Good point. Thank you for clearing that up.

:mepoke: :angel:

hoooooooooooooraaaaaaaaaaaaaah marine :sadwavey:

[The ROMAN]

Full cages can be dangerous on the street. People have died from smacking their head on a roll cage in a minor street accident. So unless you want to wear a helmet all the time maybe just a roll bar would be a better idea.

[Ghettokracker71]

Thanks guys!


Autopower roll bar huh? Anybody got a link where I could buy that ? I can't afford it until I get a new job and etc. this summer,but its a definite will-do.

I refuse to pay $5__ + for a set of SEATS,so I am open to suggestions? I would like to go with the aftermarket racing seat if possible,as opposed to OEM bolt-ins like an S14 seat.

And of course,the racing harness' :)


BTW: I hate airbags. How did I get my S13? I was in the passenger seat of a Mercury Sable (taurus) supposedly really safe;Girlfreind drove into a ditch where the front passenger tire directly hit a large concrete pipe,the airbag pushed my head into the windsheild. The result: 3 cracked neck bones and a pretty bad concusion. After all the med bills were paid off I had enough to buy my S13,taxes,title,registration and pay off insurance for a year. I still have 6 G's in the bank when I turn 18,too:boink:

[aznpoopy]

seriously, i still have no clue how you managed to get so injured from such a minor collision. hows your recovery going?

roll cage, racing seats and a harness will NOT help in an accident like the one you had; really its for racing purposes only. if you want to be safer in a street car, take a defensive driving class or something. old_s13 has got the right idea here.

[ONYX S-13]

That's good and all but was it really worth it? I mean 3 cracked neck bones and a concussion for like 13k.......Too close of a call for my liking..Anyways hope everything goes well with finding those parts :bigok:

[ThatGuy]

:ghey:

:mepoke: :angel:

hoooooooooooooraaaaaaaaaaaaaah marine :sadwavey:

Just exactly :wtf: is this all about? And what did it have to do with Ghettokracker's question?

[Ghettokracker71]

That's good and all but was it really worth it? I mean 3 cracked neck bones and a concussion for like 13k.......Too close of a call for my liking..Anyways hope everything goes well with finding those parts :bigok:

If it was my choice I wouldn't have gone through it;Worst thing I have ever expereinced.

And I don't get how I got so hurt either,but I am :( I got home from PT not that long ago, still got a shitton of aches/pains :sadwavey:

EDIT:Thats the first,and only accident I've ever had was driving,most people I give rides to say I'm pretty good...I just fucked up:(

[hellion240sx]

auto power roll bar/cages, i did a search but not here, are not as good as you think. someone said that in roll overs they dont hold up all that great. also get one made at a shop, to where they build it in the car. i am throwing the back seats out so i dont care about that. have my two racing seats :D and i plan on building a system around it. anywayz try and see if you can get a 4 pointmade with a harness bar and a bar in the middle kinda vertical like for around 500-600 dollars. because the cheapest autopower cost about 350 to 400 shipped but installation is also gonna cost you a good bit :) just keep that in mind.

also a [point i would like to bring up is that our cars ( well s13 hatchback) hold up really good in roll overss. i have seen two or three that were involved in roll overs. one case this guy and his family went to a race and the got a flat, so they left it on the side of the road, when they came back some young hooligans just to be cruel, and when the came back the car was on the roof in the ditch! wel that was that. i went to get a rear brake caliper bolt that fell off when i was going 100mph trying to go to school cuz i was late! well anywayz when he told me what had happened i couldnt believe that the car was involved in a roll over.

in the second case there was someone on 240.org who was involved in a roll over and it held up pretty well, even his c/f hood! i might do a search later, peace
onyx i dont think he chose that :)

[Ghettokracker71]

Thanks for all the responces! Sorry I just posted now,I was out of town for 4 days..

[steve shadows]

Thanks for all the responces! Sorry I just posted now,I was out of town for 4 days..

shit sorry for showing some fucking support, fine ill just sit in my fucking b2 and drop jdams on your fucking front. :wtf: :gives: :hammer:

nvr mind marine

[Sirikool]

good suspensions and definitly get some good tires if u haven't already. Like ur post Old S13.

[old_s13]

auto power roll bar/cages, i did a search but not here, are not as good as you think. someone said that in roll overs they dont hold up all that great. also get one made at a shop, to where they build it in the car. i am throwing the back seats out so i dont care about that. have my two racing seats :D and i plan on building a system around it. anywayz try and see if you can get a 4 pointmade with a harness bar and a bar in the middle kinda vertical like for around 500-600 dollars. because the cheapest autopower cost about 350 to 400 shipped but installation is also gonna cost you a good bit :) just keep that in mind.

also a [point i would like to bring up is that our cars ( well s13 hatchback) hold up really good in roll overss. i have seen two or three that were involved in roll overs. one case this guy and his family went to a race and the got a flat, so they left it on the side of the road, when they came back some young hooligans just to be cruel, and when the came back the car was on the roof in the ditch! wel that was that. i went to get a rear brake caliper bolt that fell off when i was going 100mph trying to go to school cuz i was late! well anywayz when he told me what had happened i couldnt believe that the car was involved in a roll over.

in the second case there was someone on 240.org who was involved in a roll over and it held up pretty well, even his c/f hood! i might do a search later, peace
onyx i dont think he chose that :)

you're an idiot -- dont ever post again.

[mistert]

autopower is high quality stuff, i dunno what that guy is talking about. everyone i know who has had dealings with them only had great things to say, they have many choices in types of cages to buy. the guys at the shop that built my diff showed me some pics of their bonneville top speed car that auto power built the chassis for

[WhiteNissanS13]

Abs and brake upgrade?

[oojpeeoo]

put lots and lots of pillows everywhere

[legin2]

I am one of those roamers that dont really post, and I dont have a 240 yet (key word yet) but I just thougt this was a great thread. when I got my 240 I was planning on putting a bunch of new welds in the doors and around the doors, and in the engine bay if I ever had the ka out, and the foam idea sounded good too. I planned on caging my car and getting one piece seats 4 point harnesses as well. in a wreck it should be ok I would think.

[Ghettokracker71]

shit sorry for showing some fucking support, fine ill just sit in my fucking b2 and drop jdams on your fucking front. :wtf: :gives: :hammer:

nvr mind marine

Wtf are you talking about ?? :loco:

[ThatGuy]

Sorry to hijack Ghetto, he (rpsports) is responding to a post I made ealier. He made a post completely off topic to your question and made some silly immature reference to my profession. I ask him what exactly he meant by it, because with the smilies he put up it kinda upset me. There is enough hate flying around here right now without me trying to retaliate against this guy. :Ownedd:

Hope your questions were answered, and I hope your are feeling up to working on and taking care of your ride again soon. :bow:

-Barry

[Ghettokracker71]

Yeah I'm not a fan of the hatrid around here....Its no prob,I think I've got all the answers that are possible.

[old_s13]

i mean seriously now, making your car doesnt take much thought..

just watch ANY badassed TV show from the 80s and you'll quickly see how cars were prepped for launching, and of course, safety.

Examples:
- the A-Team
- Knight Rider
- Dukes of Hazard

ALL of the stunt vehicles had cages and harnesses to secure the driver while launching the car into spins and crashes. Jeeeeeeez.. simple, the end.