Door crash bars

[rboyle]

Is it legal to remove them and any tips on how to on a 1973 Nova?
TIA
Already gave up.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by rboyle

Is it legal to remove them and any tips on how to on a 1973 Nova?
TIA

No, it's not legal. Nor is it legal to remove window regulators, etc.
However , seeing there's no tech, it's not enforced anymore.
PM me and I'll tell you how I would do it on a '73 Nova bracket car ;-)

[Devo]

Not legal but on our '87 Grand Prix bracket car, I chopped off both ends at the welds with a cutoff wheel, (After cutting out most of the inner door panel to make room). It wasn't easy but damn, they sure are HEAVY!
dev0

[nickh]

Mine were easy because we made sheet metal door panels, as Devo said you will be amazed how much they way. My Nova was a bracket car and weighed 2520 minus driver with sbc aluminum heads.

[Bob Shaw]

I would never take the crash bar out of the driver's door.

[Devo]

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

I would never take the crash bar out of the driver's door.

I take the left lane and run close to the wall !
...actually, my '66 nova never had crash bars, maybe we should require them.

[MAURICE BLENDHEIM]

Originally Posted by rboyle

Is it legal to remove them and any tips on how to on a 1973 Nova?
TIA
Already gave up.

I've done it several times over the years (before plasma cutters). It takes 2 people, one that is good with a torch and a good helper. Fill a large cooler with ice and water, soak a large heavy bath towel in the cooler, wet the inside of the door. Fold and place the cold soaked towel on the outside of the door skin in the area of the cut, quickly cut from the top down with a torch. If it doesn't completely cut on the first attempt, move to the other door. DO NOT COOL THE WARM PANEL IF FIRST ATTEMPT FAILS, the door may shrink and distort panel. Be patient and restart procedure once the door cools naturally. Try this on a junk door first to see how things work, if you can. The object is to keep the door skin COLD while cutting. I have done this on several finished cars to help trim some weight, to compensate for the owners "Second Cheeseburger Syndrome". Hope this Successful Method helps...MB.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by MAURICE BLENDHEIM

I've done it several times over the years (before plasma cutters). It takes 2 people, one that is good with a torch and a good helper. Fill a large cooler with ice and water, soak a large heavy bath towel in the cooler, wet the inside of the door. Fold and place the cold soaked towel on the outside of the door skin in the area of the cut, quickly cut from the top down with a torch. If it doesn't completely cut on the first attempt, move to the other door. DO NOT COOL THE WARM PANEL IF FIRST ATTEMPT FAILS, the door may shrink and distort panel. Be patient and restart procedure once the door cools naturally. Try this on a junk door first to see how things work, if you can. The object is to keep the door skin COLD while cutting. I have done this on several finished cars to help trim some weight, to compensate for the owners "Second Cheeseburger Syndrome". Hope this Successful Method helps...MB.

I wouldn't do it that way.Too much chance of damaging the door skin /paint.
I would say I'm qualified to use a torch, after 50 years. You're talking to a guy that cuts pressed on bearings with a torch, without damaging the under surface.

[Gmirza]

I’ve heard of guys removing the door skin, cutting the bars out and putting on a new skin. They didn’t start putting them in the doors until around 1973, mopars anyway. I doubt you can get the old door skins anymore.

[Rory McNeil]

I have to wonder if tech has ever requested a door panel be removed to check to ensure any crash bars are still intact? IF one was to attempt to remove said bars, without damaging the paint on the doors ,( of a bracket car, of course!), a cutoff wheel on a die grinder would be a good way to do it.