Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers?
Spoke with a shop to install a 6 point bar in my 96 Coupe. The car is a street car but will need a roll bar for some competition.
It will be a full custom using 1 3/4 DOM mild steel and no swing outs. They plan to run the door bars all the way to the frame bend just prior to the footwells (so the tube goes thru the floor next to the dead pedal on the driver's side) I'm hoping for a significant increase in rigidity after this....
Wondered if anyone has any tips from their experiences?
Thanks
:)
[Modified by No Go, 8:22 PM 7/7/2003]
It will be a full custom using 1 3/4 DOM mild steel and no swing outs. They plan to run the door bars all the way to the frame bend just prior to the footwells (so the tube goes thru the floor next to the dead pedal on the driver's side) I'm hoping for a significant increase in rigidity after this....
Wondered if anyone has any tips from their experiences?
Thanks
:)
[Modified by No Go, 8:22 PM 7/7/2003]
Elite Torch Red Member
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (No Go)
page mackeyred96, he has a 5 point with a swingout, custom job, top notch work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,172
Likes: 11
From: somers, ny
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (Mr Mojo)
If it's a street car you'll get tired of climbing over the side bar real quick. Get a swing out or a removable side bar. Most installs that i've seen including my own fasten the bottom of the side bar to the frame near the front of the door. Putting it thru the dead pedal will cramp foot space. Again, if it's a street car, that could be a problem. You'll also lose the ability to store the top in the back, unless you make provisions for it. The frame is right under the mounts that hold the top in the back. I had my rear bars bent around the mounts so the top still fits.
Good luck
Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,202
Likes: 9
From: St. louis, MO
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (ralph)
If it's a street car you'll get tired of climbing over the side bar real quick. Get a swing out or a removable side bar. Most installs that i've seen including my own fasten the bottom of the side bar to the frame near the front of the door. Putting it thru the dead pedal will cramp foot space. Again, if it's a street car, that could be a problem. You'll also lose the ability to store the top in the back, unless you make provisions for it. The frame is right under the mounts that hold the top in the back. I had my rear bars bent around the mounts so the top still fits.
Good luck
Good luck
TIA!!
:cheers:
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (Gary96LT4)
Getting mine done on the 26th. Through speaking with Neverlift, He said my car should 60' better with the bar in there too. I am spending the little extra for a swingout/removable arm. That way I don't have to crawl over it everytime I get in and out. That would be a PITA if you had to.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Bellevue NE
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (No Go)
Hey sir,
I wanna ride in that when I get back!!! :steering: Who's doing the work? I should be home the end of this month. I was hoping I could get you to look at a flywheel I bought. Going to do the same thing you did per your website, just want to make sure I got the correct flywheel. Take a run down I80 for me. :auto:
I wanna ride in that when I get back!!! :steering: Who's doing the work? I should be home the end of this month. I was hoping I could get you to look at a flywheel I bought. Going to do the same thing you did per your website, just want to make sure I got the correct flywheel. Take a run down I80 for me. :auto:
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (Jeff M)
My advice?? GET REMOVABLE OR SWING-OUT DOORBARS!!!!!! I cannot emphasize this enough; my car has a full cage and the door bars aren't removable (yet); it is a major PITA to get in and out of! The only way to do it relatively easily is having the targa off. I've got my Sawzall ready to whack the door bars and TIG some tabs onto them to make them removable. DON'T DO A NON-REMOVABLE ONE IF YOU DRIVE ON THE STREET!!!
-Jeb
-Jeb
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix AZ
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (No Go)
Don't run the front bars down into the footwell, have them weld them to the lower door sill, that is the structural part. Also, have them run the bar close to the windhield frame and weld the windshield frame to the roll cage. That will eliminate a LOT of body flex. If you are keeping the stock door panels you will also have to make sure the doors will still have enough room to close. When I bought my car with the cage already installed they had cut the door and weatherstrip lip out so the doors would close and when I drove down the track dirt and debris would blow into the car, making it a mess. I reworked the bars and had to buy a set of doors at a junkyard so I could reinstall the weatherstripping. Don't forget about clearance for the padding, too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,172
Likes: 11
From: somers, ny
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (zaragoza)
zara, a shop up in Poughkeepsie did it (CNF race cars). They specialize in building drag cars from the ground up, but the owner is sort of an old friend and did the job for me. I told him i could probably get a lot more vettes for him and he said no thanks....LOL!!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (No Go)
And their lies the rub....:(
Main reason for roll bar install is to increase rigidity...I would expect the door bars to be most significant to reduce the cars bending in the middle.
Minimum requirement is a 5 point harness...a harness bar would suffice, but I figure that what I'm doing with it-would be smart to add the full set up.
I know the 94 and up cars have a interior redesign that is more intrusive and I do NOT want to cut my door panels. We worked out some possibilities with the door bars, but they end up higher to be further out from the seat area...this will add difficutly to climb over. I don't think I would mind, but my passenger on the street would probably (skirt equipped!:))
I like the idea of tieing into the windshield frame and have thought of this before...I really like the option of hatch stowage. If the car drove well without the top in due to the bar, I might actually remove the hatch...right now it feels like a bowl of pudding-terrible and hence never comes out.
Thanks for the inputs...I can't see doing swingout/removable bars due to rigidity...
The pictures and a big help...does anyone have anymore? I have Mackeys' already...
Thanks a bunch...
:)
Main reason for roll bar install is to increase rigidity...I would expect the door bars to be most significant to reduce the cars bending in the middle.
Minimum requirement is a 5 point harness...a harness bar would suffice, but I figure that what I'm doing with it-would be smart to add the full set up.
I know the 94 and up cars have a interior redesign that is more intrusive and I do NOT want to cut my door panels. We worked out some possibilities with the door bars, but they end up higher to be further out from the seat area...this will add difficutly to climb over. I don't think I would mind, but my passenger on the street would probably (skirt equipped!:))
I like the idea of tieing into the windshield frame and have thought of this before...I really like the option of hatch stowage. If the car drove well without the top in due to the bar, I might actually remove the hatch...right now it feels like a bowl of pudding-terrible and hence never comes out.
Thanks for the inputs...I can't see doing swingout/removable bars due to rigidity...
The pictures and a big help...does anyone have anymore? I have Mackeys' already...
Thanks a bunch...
:)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,010
Likes: 26
From: Somewhere nowhere
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (ralph)
I would go to P-town for an install. it's only 2 hours from me.
I have to do something... either a harness bar, or a 4 point.
would he do another?
I have to do something... either a harness bar, or a 4 point.
would he do another?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Re: Roll Bar in Late Model C4 Coupe...Any Pointers? (larryfs)
Get a swing out or removable door bar. When I did my Open Road car I have a swing out on the drivers side and a removable steering wheel and it is still tricky to get in and out. On the passenger side solid bars are a real PITA to access. Now I am 6'3" and 260 so you height challanged might have it easier.
Jeffy'
Jeffy'
