Re: 3rd Brake light - windscreen ideas for roll ba
Paul,
I took a regular vanity rollbar (sourced it from VB) that I had installed on my car sometime before and modified it. First off, I stipped the paint and welded in a cross bar of 1/2" steel solid stock. I had cut it with a hack saw and used a grinder to fit it. I MIGed this in place, of course measuring very carefully to get it where I wanted it. I had to be able to reach under the window apparatus to unzip my rear window flap. Next I used a piece of 1/2" "L" stock and tacked it across the top of the 1/2" bar, again grinding it to fit. The tough part was bending the 1/2" steel strap stock back on itself to fit within the inner curve of the rollbar. I used a MAP-gas bottle torch and a maul to coax this material back on itself, it would distort alot. Finally got a piece to fit perfectly from corner to corner, tacked it in place then went about connecting the dots. That is, added longer tacks on everything. Next I used a piece of thin gauge steel sheet (22 gauge) and folded the edge over to make a solid lip, then formed it to make the light housing. Just made a big oval tube, if you will. Found the light at NAPA and trial fitted as I went. I left a flap inside the tube that I bent up to act as a floor for the light and tacked it all together, trimmed out the forward section to fit over the rollbar and welded it all up. Very little Bondo was needed. Drilled a hole into the bar for my wires. The light fits tight enough that I just swedged it in place. The easy part was getting a glass shop to cut me a piece of Triplex flat windshield glass to fit my pattern I had made to fit within the confines of my now-welded up frame. I use some rubber "H" channel from JCWhitney. They were kind enough to send several free samples of material for me to chose from. Left enough clearance between the steel frame (1/8" thick stock, thickness of the glass)and the glass for the thickness of the rubber. Painted her up, popped in the glass, fished the wire (low amp pull light, just tapped right into brake light wire)through the rollbar and out a little hole in the bottom side and bolted it right back into the holes in my floorboard. The light works very, very well and is equally visible from beneath the top.
The window drastically cuts down on wind-lash and now gives me a place to insert decals, such as p***-on-MG. I will put that one back in for the VTR convention.
You asked the time and I told you how to make a watch.
Bill