Chrome Roll Bar

[94conv.]

I have seen these chrome seat hoops they are selling for the C5 convertibles, does anyone know of anything like this for the C4 convertibles, I love the look.

 

[Ken]

^^^

 

[94conv.]

I emailed exotic muscle.com and breathless performance, they both had a harness bar that went across from seat belt to seat belt and had the hoops but it wont fit the convertibles, too bad for me but since they were like almost five hundred bucks, I can live with out them, but...... if they use the stock seat belt mounts, how hard would it be to give a fabricating shop the dimensions and have them fabricate it so it was narrower right bhind the seat next to the lid then have it chromed, how expensive do you think that would be +/- the $500. for premade ones?

 

[BigRed]

You know, how hard could these things possibly be?

If we're not talking about NHRA standards just cosmetic this could be fabricated easily.

Whats the pipe diameter of these things? 1 1/2?

So either do it yourself OR have a welder/fabricator take the pipe and bend it. (Various ways of doing this).

Now you have horse shoes.

On the ends of the horse shoes heat them up and beat or roll them flat. (Little bit of work not to bad though)

Thse flats will allow the pipe to be mounted to the rear of the seat fibreglass and/or through the floor boards and on the frame (probably have to make another bracket here).

Your done! take em to a place that chromes and apply.

I dunno for me these kind of things are quite simple to do. Which also means to a metal shop it would be just as easy.

If you went this route you would spend WAY LESS, Pbly be able to get granted for NHRA standards (With a little more work) and be envyed for being the only car in the world who has YOUR CUSTOM pipes.

You could even have them engraved or inlayed with another alloy setting yours different from any others. And little do they know it cost you less than half (Im betting)

Yours would be mild steel (We call it skid 40 A105) which would be better than TIN.

 

[94conv.]

Thats an excellent idea for the hoops, big red. What if you use the existing mounting point of the upper seat belt, anlge the pipe downward toward the seat, get it even with the outside then up along the edge of the seat till you get to the lid ( this is where I think the others have a problem and the harness bar currently being sold wont fit convertibles) flatten the bar where is goes between the seat and lid, so you can have as much rearward seat travel as possible then hoop the pipe the diameter of the top of the seat and down to the lid and flatten the pipe the thickness of the lid and down to the lip of the beginning of the hatch part in front of the compartment, run it flat along that edge to the other seat and up and do the same flattening in front of the lid and around the top of the seat and angle back to the other seat belt mount. If their is enough bolt left from the seat belt mounting point you could just bolt over top of that. If there isnt I bet there might be enough to mount some kind of plate to extend another mounting point beside that. I'm going out to the garage and measuring and checking distances and taking the seat belt mount cover off, or loose enough to see under it. Then tomorrow if all works out I'll run it over to the fabrication shop here in town and see what they think. I think we could be onto something here but we'll see what they say. I'll reply back when I find somthing out.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

BigRed and 94,

I like your thoughts but why not use 317L stainless steel. It polishes up to a beautiful finish without the need to have it chrome plated and welds easy with a SS rod. A pair of 40 – 50 MM hoops made of 317L thick wall tubing and bolted to the frame would support an upside-down Vette with a few Caddies and SUVs stacked on top of it.

 

[94conv.]

ok, you guys seem to know your metals, I have always been under the impression stainless is expensive, I have bought it in plain sheets before, 36" by 36", and it wasnt as bad as I had thought it was going to be, but definately alot more then a sheet of tin. So cost wise do you think the 307L stainless would still be cheaper then to use the 40 A105 mild steel and have it chromed.
I haven't had anything chromed before so I have no reference.
Thanks for all the input, these should look awsome on the car if it turns out.

 

[robert kirk]

Spanish is right. The stainless is the way to go. You should be able to build the whole thing for less than 500. Buy the metal at steel yard, not a polish, or fab shop. A 20 foot joint of 095 stainless is less than 150. This will infact hold the car up upside down. If you tie it in right it will also help with body flex. This will help your 60 foot times. robert

 

[BigRed]

Here it is.

Stainless is more bucks yes but way easier to finish AND to bend and fabricate.

BUT.

A105 Mild could possibly be used as a actual NHRA standards roll bar with some proper schematic's

PICK! Choose your flavor! Pretty or functional!

(Wishing I had a convert now!!)

 

[Ken]

Now what would have happened to this post if I hadn't bumped it back to the top? I'll tell you what would have happened; it would still be languishing at the bottom of the stack, and would have disappeared eventually. Then you'd have to repost it. As it was, it went almost a full month without a response. And I don't even get a "thank you." Waaahhhh!! :cry

_ken :t

 

[94conv.]

Thanks pal, and thanks for the info on the sidepipes as well, for now all orders on the power effects side exhaust are back ordered, so I still haven't done anyting on the exhaust end yet.


Theres someone here in town that builds late model cages and builds up bomber class race cars, he is coming to check out the car wed. evening to see what he thinks, he has all the hydolic bending machines. I went to the fabricating shop here in town, and they didnt have the pipe benders, fortunately I ran into a guy at work tonight and got the connection so I'll let you all know what he says on wed. night.
A big Thanks to all you guys!!!

 

[94conv.]

I had the car checked out last night for the roll bar, they said it wasnt going to be a problem at all except for the bend between the seats but they could do it. They mentioned Chrome powder coating. I have never seen this on anything, has anyone on here?
Cost wise, they said it would be aound $100.00 for the coating.
I personally like chrome, but they were saying the chrome powder would be close. I have no idea.

 

[jdm86]

We had some parts done for my sons datsun 510, the stuff looks great, and holds up well.