Convertible Roll bar??? Any suggestions?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Convertible Roll bar??? Any suggestions?
Wife got her 94 Vert for Xmas, and now is wanting some form of bar that is structural. I've searched and I'm having no luck finding anything. Thanks for help in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,118
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From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
If that's how she feels she should have bought a coupe and taken the top off. I have NEVER seen any C4 vert with a roll bar or support that didn't look ridiculous.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
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Mitch piper
his car 6 pt MITCH PIPER ROLLBAR
Another
Note the cutouts in the deck lid, and also the scrape marks on the side of the rollbar from raising and lowering the convertible top:
..and a cross-brace for strength and a racing harness :-)
Here's how it attaches behind the seats
BTW the GM AUX hardtop has a bar in it i f it helps. THere are also cheapo hoops to put in now also that are more for looks behind each seat.
his car 6 pt MITCH PIPER ROLLBAR
Another
Note the cutouts in the deck lid, and also the scrape marks on the side of the rollbar from raising and lowering the convertible top:
..and a cross-brace for strength and a racing harness :-)
Here's how it attaches behind the seats
BTW the GM AUX hardtop has a bar in it i f it helps. THere are also cheapo hoops to put in now also that are more for looks behind each seat.
Last edited by pologreen1; Jan 7, 2012 at 03:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Concord NC
Not to me unless the power levels are high enough to support them or the car is being autocrossed. This is her first car with this type of power level and she just said she would feel more comfortable if there were a bar. As Vette Daddy said.. if mama ain't happy...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
Here's mine. It's from Autopower. Fits under the Convertible top nicely.
It was on the car when I bought it, so I can't give any details of installation.
It does make it a little harder to get into the storage area, though.
good lluck
It was on the car when I bought it, so I can't give any details of installation.
It does make it a little harder to get into the storage area, though.
good lluck
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The top is easy to install (maybe 5-10 minutes with two people and still gives you the convertible for sunny days.The factory hardtop has a large "halo" bar built into it that is similar to the one in the coupe. That provides the strength and stiffness that takes away the cowl shake and for street use, makes the car a lot quieter inside. It will also provide rollover protection.
Depending on the class she runs in, consider a "Camber Brace" to further stiffen the front of the car. This brace ties the upper part of the frame together at the upper control arms. Then a good alignment. Vette Brakes has some good alignment setting on their website. Look at the "Advanced Street" values to start and changes can be made from there.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 358
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From: San Diego
Angelwings Tech makes a bolt-in that is easy to install, doesn't interfere with the top operation, and really looks good, too. And it's approved for HPDE and track day use at several tracks across the country, so if she gets the urge to see just what her Vette can do, she is set.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Either go with the autopower rollbar and do the fabrication work.
Or find someone that will build you a bar to your specs and do all the fabrication work.
Lots of places will build you one. Had Genesis One in GA build me one that is a work of art in my coupe. tightened it up considerably.
Or find someone that will build you a bar to your specs and do all the fabrication work.
Lots of places will build you one. Had Genesis One in GA build me one that is a work of art in my coupe. tightened it up considerably.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Plainfield IL
I searched high and low to find a roll bar for my '86 vert. I would up buying a set of chrome hoop bars from a CF member. They came with his car and he didn't want them anymore. Before I found the hoops I almost bought a roll bar for a Miata. The dimensions were close enough that all it needed was minor mods to fit.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2026
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Here is my story. In the fast lane going 80ish when the car in the lane next to me comes into my lane pushing me over to the center shoulder As I look ahead there is the concrete pillar for the overpass right in front of me. Yanked the wheel hard back into the fast lane. It was either that or be a mess on the pillar. Hit the car next to me putting me into a slide heading back towards the center divider. Hit the center divider hard probably 70ish (the white concrete barrier that is tapered wider at the bottom then smaller towards the top) the car went airborn and landed facing the other direction and spun along the center divider then across all lames and came to a stop facing the wrong way against the slow lane wall. Even through all that I didnt feel like the car was going to flip over. The car was shaped like a boomerang from the impact to the center divider. Doors wouldnt open. Climbed out of the targa top and hopped down on the freeway. Only injury was bruises down my arms and legs from the sideways impacts against the door and console. I can say for certain that car wont flip on you. If anything would have flipped a car that was it. Don't worry about a cage. These cars are solid as can be..
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 312
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Solid as can be for a 40 year old design that was compromised by upper management right off the drafting table and marginal at best when new...
There's a wrecking yard in my area with lots of C4s and they have some examples that are chilling to look at. Windshield crushed down flush to the tops of the doors. Hardtop roll hoop crushed down flush to the dash. They do turn over and when they do, you go ahead and you die.
The roll bar is a sensible desire on the surface but unless it's really done right, your wife should wear a crash helmet every time she drives to avoid a fractured skull in the event she has a violent collision and that lap belt allows her to bounce up and impact her head on the bar.
There's a wrecking yard in my area with lots of C4s and they have some examples that are chilling to look at. Windshield crushed down flush to the tops of the doors. Hardtop roll hoop crushed down flush to the dash. They do turn over and when they do, you go ahead and you die.
The roll bar is a sensible desire on the surface but unless it's really done right, your wife should wear a crash helmet every time she drives to avoid a fractured skull in the event she has a violent collision and that lap belt allows her to bounce up and impact her head on the bar.
