Since I refuse to have one installed that I can't store my top in, I'm going to start complying pics of everything I can get a hold of. I've found a shop here that builds custom bars, does extremely good quality work, and I might just be the guinia pig to get a C4 design setup by them. For those that don't have bars that you can put the top in the back, that's okay as well as I'm still need as many pics of installed bars as possible. Specifically the mounting points, door bars, swing-outs if you have them, any pics as it's being installed, etc. The more info the better. :yesnod:

 

http://www.nhra.com/contacts/tech_faq.html



Putting curves in the bars to fit the top kinda makes them useless.

 

Thanks for the pics, but I'm not sure what you mean by your post? I know there are several forum members that have them and they've said they are legal? Not sure what you are implying? One of our clubs members has one as well, but since his is a ZR-1, the rear setup would be different.

 

NHRA, and other groups will void a bar that has bends in it. It comprimises the rigidity of the bar.

In the ZR-1, interior space is the same as any other C4.... only the body work is different.

 

Strength is all about triangles. If you curve the two bars that come down from the top one you greatly take away their ability to absorb any shock that the top bar may get from the front preventing it from crushing back/down.

 

On the cars I've seen it done one they where not visibly curved. That's not to say they didn't curve back once they went through. That's why I'm trying to get some install pics as well.

Edit: Here's a pic I picked up from the last time I posted this question. It's "Hoovers" 10sec car.


[Modified by R94 LT 1, 4:15 PM 8/17/2003]


[Modified by R94 LT 1, 4:22 PM 8/17/2003]

 

I take it from what you've posted this door bar wouldn't be legal?



BTW, if this image doesn't post, I'll upload them on my server and repost in a bit.

Got them on mine now. Guess his server doesn't like remote linking.


[Modified by R94 LT 1, 4:23 PM 8/17/2003]

 

pics aren't working


Check out Ramrod92's roll bar in C4 Gen, he has the bends for top storage.
What Scorp is saying is that the bars will not be NHRA legal, if your local track is OK with it, then that's all you have to worry about. But if you were to go to a NHRA event, you may not pass tech.

 

R94,

I just had a bar installed by Neverlift. He has a certified NHRA person that inspects all of his work, mostly 9sec and less cars that require that type of cert. Anyways when I was talking to him about my bar I asked if he could accomidate the roof. He just laughed and said there is no way your going to get that roof in that car and be legal at the same time. The answer was a positive NO.

If your going to do it and have the roof be able to fit, the bar is not legal. There is not other way around it. Now sure I'm sure that you will be able to show up at a strip and get through tech, but remember more and more of these cars are running quicker and quicker. In time you will see the tech people getting wiser and wiser. And eventually you will be told that the bar is not legal and then you will have to either slow down or have it fixed.

The rules of racing while not always the most convienent or inexpensive and put in place not to make out lives miserable, but rather to protect us from ourselves. 95% of us race on the weekends for fun, and then return to families that count on us for much more important things.

I will get down off my soap box now and close with the reminder of what is happening with the C5 vettes and the cages that many had installed with 4x4 plates. NHRA just banned that type of system and several C5 guys that already had cages installed and now forced to have them welded in. Not easy or cheap.

Hope you make the right choice so someone doesn't have to for you. :cheers: :thumbs:

 

Thanks for the post ski_dwn_it. You right in that I wouldn't want to do it twice. I'm at the point now, that I may try to do it like the pics above and if it doesn't pass, then have two more center bars put in. That or find a way to attached the top to the center bars as they come down. :D Best of both. Probably completely obstruct the view out the back though, so it would be for transport only.

 

Thats what i plan on doing when the time comes. I'll look into welding some mounting points for the top into the 2 bars and the top will just have to be stored at a different angle than normally.

 

:cheers:

 

Keep me informed if you figure something out scorp. :yesnod:

 

I put in a TPIS bar and I got a rain coat top that folds up so I can fit it in the back. When I go racing I put on the hard top to stiffen everything up. For normal street use I just use the folding canvas top. It looks kinda junky when it's on but I rarely drive with it on, just use it to secure the car when parked places.

 

This is the only one I could find. Contact Bluewasp on here and ask for pics of his GS with a rollbar. I had a few pics but my computer ate them.


[Modified by ZAD54, 8:17 PM 8/17/2003]

 

is that the rare kim baker bar?? or custom?

 

Now that's what I'm talking about. :yesnod: Also, if any of you have shots of it being installed and your door bars as well?

 

Isnt the bar in the pic above legal, considering that the bars dont bend?

 

Actually I just looked at his site. Don't think he can get the top in with his roll bar.

 

That's what I've been wondering, but what you see and whether they bend below what you see maybe a different story as well.