Looking to have one installed and have been looking at my copy of the IHRA rule book.............My question is which of the 8 points need to weld to the frame to be legal? My book reads "All cars with an OEM frame must have roll bar welded to the frame". Is that refering to the 2 points of the main hoop only? Yor thoughts?

I thought it was supposed to be all points???? not sure. My main loop and forward bars go to the frame, I was not going to cut up a support channel under the trunk to get it to the frame, welded a plate right above the body mounting bolt in the trunk and welded the rear bars to that. Mine is a 6 point bar, I've got a crossbar in the middle of the main loop to which the shoulder belts attach, but didnt put the bars that go to the floor,towards center of car, off the main hoop. I guess they'd be called main loop supports? Not much help, was I Craig :)

To be legal to 10.0 you need only 5 points.

The main hoop (2)
rear bars (2)
drivers side bar (1)

Of course it looks kind of goofy to leave off the passenger side bar, but technically its not needed. The 2 other points on the S&W 8 point (I think) may be just the two short pieces that go from the sides of the main hoop behind the seats to the floor. They are more for stiffening the chassis than for safety -- I did not install them in my car when I did my S&W kit.

Here's a pic of mine if interested

http://hobbystage.net/camaro/eric_68/1090092704-004076.jpg

Talked with some folks at S&W. Six of the 8 points need to go to the frame to be real / legal. The only two that dont are the two angle braces that run from the main hoop to the floor behind the seats. Sounds like a job for a hole saw to me! I bet there's many who think they are legal and are not. Makes Good sense to me, and would stiffen / tie the frame together. Let's go 10's! Cool. :)

I know mine is not "legal" in the true sense of the word, or by the talking heads of the NHRA. I was not going to and did not cut that support channel at the back to get to the frame, the rear bar is welded to a plate that is welded to the trunk floor directly above one of the rear body to frame mount/bolts. If I can't pass tech at an NHRA/IHRA track, I'll just continue running at the backwoods/hillbilly tracks :D

The two bars that go from the main hoop towards the center do a lot to stiffen up Ladder Bar and Four Link suspensions according to the Doorslammers book. If you're running one of those suspension set ups I'd put in the bars.

if you have a frame car, the 6 points have to weld to the frame-the 2 bars off the main hoop(not the rear bars) should also weld to the frame, right at the point where the upper rear sus. bars attach to the frame
having said that, and your not going for a certifacation, i welded one in for a friend with plates(can later be cut out if wanted) and once the carpet was in, you couldnt tell