[Z06] RollBar vs HarnessBar
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins CO
RollBar vs HarnessBar
HI Guys, This is my 1st post on this forum. I just took delivery on my 07 Z06 1LZ, and want to make a few safety mods. I will add Sparco seats, but I am not sure which way to go on the restraint system. I was thinking a cage, but they are $2500 plus a pita to climb in/out, then a rollbar, but I think rear visibility will be greatly reduced, and now I am thinking a harness bar. My questions:
1. Does anyone w/a Rollbar or cage have any tips to get better rearview visibility? I want a local shop in S.CA to install, so any recommendations?
2. Has anyone with a harness bar been in a wreck? I am concerned they might not hold in a high speed impact.
Thank you for any and all ideas/suggestions!
1. Does anyone w/a Rollbar or cage have any tips to get better rearview visibility? I want a local shop in S.CA to install, so any recommendations?
2. Has anyone with a harness bar been in a wreck? I am concerned they might not hold in a high speed impact.
Thank you for any and all ideas/suggestions!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,610
Likes: 12
From: Philly Burbs PA
You probably want to post this in the road racing section, or the C6 Zo6 section, but from what i understand a cage isnt really an option for the new Z. You will want to go with a harness bar, forum vendor Gary Hoffmann makes harness bars, and really nice seat brackets, and I believe Pfadt makes a bolt in roll bar.
Good luck
Good luck
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
For street use a roll bar present a hazard. Since you won't be wearing a helmet the chances that you r head strikes the rollbar and cause head trauma is greatly increased. Even if you are wearing a harness the chances are good you will strike your head.
A harness bar supports the belt harnesses for track use and will hold up to the impacts you could see while on a road course. I would trusst that a harness will maintain its integrity in all but the very worst street crashes.
Later ... Larry S.
A harness bar supports the belt harnesses for track use and will hold up to the impacts you could see while on a road course. I would trusst that a harness will maintain its integrity in all but the very worst street crashes.
Later ... Larry S.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 5
From: Jupiter FL
You should post this in the Autocross and Racing forum, not here. But the first question I would have is, what are you planning on doing with the car? Unless you are planning on spending some serious time on the track, a roll bar is unnecessary, and as noted, can actually be dangerous on the street. For street driving, the C6Z has plenty of rigidity and roll over protection is not needed beyond what the car has built in. For HPDEs and track days, it's probably fine too. Unless you are running 10/10ths out there on the track, chances of rolling a Z are pretty low. Seats and a harness bar with a good harness setup are probably adequate for most HPDE driving, IMHO.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
Navigator
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Something else to think about is the use of a racing seat with stock seat belts. As far as I know, 4/5/6 pt harnesses are not DOT approved and therefore illegal for street use. Most racing buckets (assuming that is the style of seat you are going with) are too deep for the stock 3pt belt to be in a safe point on your hips in case of a collision. You may end up actually DECREASING the safety of the car with this route.
I have also been told by a lot of racers that the use of a 4/5/6pt harness without a cage is very dangerous. If you roll it hard enough to collapse the factory roof, the weight of the car is on your neck. With the factory belts, your body is afforded the movement to slip to the side, with the harness you are cinched in and your neck will crack like a stale candy cane.
The mods you are talking about are awesome if you take in the big picture, you might be best off talking to some of the racers in that forum as suggested before. I'm sure they will have a lot of advice for you.
Have fun with the new Z!
I have also been told by a lot of racers that the use of a 4/5/6pt harness without a cage is very dangerous. If you roll it hard enough to collapse the factory roof, the weight of the car is on your neck. With the factory belts, your body is afforded the movement to slip to the side, with the harness you are cinched in and your neck will crack like a stale candy cane.
The mods you are talking about are awesome if you take in the big picture, you might be best off talking to some of the racers in that forum as suggested before. I'm sure they will have a lot of advice for you.
Have fun with the new Z!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,748
Likes: 250
From: NJ
All Z06s have a built in roll bar built into the roof and tied into the frame, and if you crush that it is only because a cement mixer landed on top of you after you flipped. If you are doing HPDEs get a harness bar. If you are doing anything else... DON'T... if you have to ask what to put in for the type of racing you are doing you shouldn't be racing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
From: Naples Florida
HI Guys, This is my 1st post on this forum. I just took delivery on my 07 Z06 1LZ, and want to make a few safety mods. I will add Sparco seats, but I am not sure which way to go on the restraint system. I was thinking a cage, but they are $2500 plus a pita to climb in/out, then a rollbar, but I think rear visibility will be greatly reduced, and now I am thinking a harness bar. My questions:
1. Does anyone w/a Rollbar or cage have any tips to get better rearview visibility? I want a local shop in S.CA to install, so any recommendations?
2. Has anyone with a harness bar been in a wreck? I am concerned they might not hold in a high speed impact.
Thank you for any and all ideas/suggestions!
1. Does anyone w/a Rollbar or cage have any tips to get better rearview visibility? I want a local shop in S.CA to install, so any recommendations?
2. Has anyone with a harness bar been in a wreck? I am concerned they might not hold in a high speed impact.
Thank you for any and all ideas/suggestions!
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
http://www.bkauto.com/corvette/index.php
Harness bar, harness hardware, and fire extinguisher mount should be considered mandatory for HPDEs, camera mount and other items optional ....