Roll Bar should it stay or should it go

[DAC21]

Has one ever save your bacon in your Roadster? Street, not track. I'm debating whether to keep mine in when the restoration begins. The car belonged to my Sister back in the dark ages and my Father insisted it have a Roll Bar when she bought it from the original owner. Yet he went cheap with having just a two point floor anchor installation. Certainly not worth much, but would a four point matter? Seems this little 1600 fire plug has a pretty low center of gravity. (also assuming a proper seat belt system in place)

[Gregs672000]

Kinda doubt mine would save me, but who knows unless I go ask a specialist. I just think the car looks better with one myself, but not always! Depends on the "theme" sometimes.

[Alvin]

The car belonged to my Sister back in the dark ages and my Father insisted it have a Roll Bar when she bought it from the original owner.

If you are restoring the car back to its glory then I would include the roll bar. If you don't like the way it looks, remove it!

Certainly not worth much, but would a four point matter?

If you want to track the car, (depending on what group you run with) a 4-point roll bar with minimum 4-point harnesses will be required.


This is a common question, lots info/opinions/pictures here:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33685&p=309167&hili ... ar#p309167

[redroadster]

My 2 cents
It certainly helps strengthen the passenger compartment
That's why it's required race mode your toast if rolled without
You really need a helmet on though or extra thick foam covering ( which would come off instantly in a roll over )driving . I can bash my head into it side and top and have 1 or 2 X s. That should be the big question on it

[fj20spl311]

With a roll bar, you can add a bar that allows proper location of shoulder harness.

[RCMike]

If it is a 2 point, I would get rid of it ASAP. There is nothing there to try to keep it in place in ANY kind of an accident, it is going to fold over in the direction of any impact. It needs at least 4 points of reinforced contact somewhere.

That said I do not like a roll bar without a helmet at any point. It will bash your head, and steel bars into heads hurt.

[notoptoy]

I have a low windshield with Miata seats and a Roll-Bar (or should probably call it a "show bar"). In my case, my head is there to protect the roll bar in event of a roll over! I'm short and my head still sticks up over the bar by a bit. It's useless from a safety standpoint, but I did use it to place my "Bilstein" sticker that I got with my awesome shocks from JT!

[SLOroadster]

A roll bar adds significant rigidity to the car. It also allows the correct placement of shoulder harnesses to keep you in the seat. As for heads hitting the bar, why is your head anywhere near close to the bar? Headrests are a good thing, as is mounting the bar far enough back that your head isn't right next to the bar. With proper harnesses, you shouldn't be able to move out of the seat anywhere close to the bar. If you run no headrests, yeah there could be an issue, but with them properly adjusted they should be able to keep your head away from the roll bar.

Yes, a two point one is worthless. 4 points are better. Make sure the mounting plate is as large of a contact area as possible, with equally large plates on the underside, better yet, the underside plates actually attached to the frame.

Will

[theunz]

Here is a recent thread on this same topic.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33685

[rwmann]

Keep a 4-legged bar, and back up the subframe mounting points. Use a section of offset round high density foam or SFI-rated C-section foam padding to cover the surface(s) between the bar and your head or helmet to eliminate the minor head-hurters/helmet-slappers.

[bossbob]

I like the look of the roll bar and don't plan on racing, I have a 2 point bar given to me from Ray, he insisted it be for looks only and I agree. Still haven't installed it, but was wondering if I could convert it to a 4 point? The 2 points bolt on top of the package tray not the floor.

[DAC21]

I like the look of the roll bar and don't plan on racing, I have a 2 point bar given to me from Ray, he insisted it be for looks only and I agree. Still haven't installed it, but was wondering if I could convert it to a 4 point? The 2 points bolt on top of the package tray not the floor.

I was contemplating doing the same thing....adding two legs if I keep it on the car. I'm sure it wouldn't be a tough job for a weld shop to accomplish that.

[rwmann]

I would not even try to push the car with a two-legged bar mounted to the package shelf.

[DAC21]

I would not even try to push the car with a two-legged bar mounted to the package shelf.

True, In my case it is mounted to the floor pan. Still pretty worthless.

[rwmann]

Even if thru-bolted to frame rails, ineffective for anything but show.