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roll bar
- Thread starter kbash
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R6MGS
Yoda
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Theres a few types of rollbars available....most are just for looks, unless you get one of the approved racing rollbars that is a requirement in some motorsports.
I have two standard("looks") rollbars that I haven't installed yet(hopefully this summer)and I am looking for one more for the LE.
I have two standard("looks") rollbars that I haven't installed yet(hopefully this summer)and I am looking for one more for the LE.
Joe Reed
Jedi Warrior
Offline
With a properly designed and installed roll bar, the unibody vs frame thing is a non-issue. It's all about the configuration and attachment. Most bars that would be of any real safety benefit would probably also be almost unusable on a street MGB. It would have to be too tall to allo the operation of the top. It would also have to be installed far enough back from the seatback to prevent your head from hitting it in a rear end collision. Proper bracing would take up interior space.
That's why the bars you see so often on BMWs, Miatas, etc. are called "Style Bars" and not "Roll Bars".
That's why the bars you see so often on BMWs, Miatas, etc. are called "Style Bars" and not "Roll Bars".
To be effective, a roll bar must be properly installed, with both diagonal and fore and aft bracing. On a unibody, it should be welded to some vertical member of the body, and the floor attachments should be adequately reinforced with backing plates top and bottom.
The commonly seen "style bars" can actually fold in a roll over, and more than likely will. I had a friend killed when she flipped her Jeep equipped with one of these, and it acted like a mouse trap on her neck.
If you want to install one, fine, that's up to you. BUT, just remember, it's there for cosmetics only, and don't let it lull you into a false sense of security.
Jeff
The commonly seen "style bars" can actually fold in a roll over, and more than likely will. I had a friend killed when she flipped her Jeep equipped with one of these, and it acted like a mouse trap on her neck.
If you want to install one, fine, that's up to you. BUT, just remember, it's there for cosmetics only, and don't let it lull you into a false sense of security.
Jeff
Bruce Bowker
Obi Wan
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
From a protection point on a unibody MGB, a roll bar would seem kind of pointless besides look's wise. In a crash would it actually make a difference, since it does not have a frame to give it support?
[/ QUOTE ]
Installed correctly with the correct materials and mounting - yes they do make a difference if you roll over. Unibody (MGB) won't make a bit of difference to help save someone in a rollover without a bar.
From a protection point on a unibody MGB, a roll bar would seem kind of pointless besides look's wise. In a crash would it actually make a difference, since it does not have a frame to give it support?
[/ QUOTE ]
Installed correctly with the correct materials and mounting - yes they do make a difference if you roll over. Unibody (MGB) won't make a bit of difference to help save someone in a rollover without a bar.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
Installed correctly with the correct materials and mounting - yes they do make a difference if you roll over. Unibody (MGB) won't make a bit of difference to help save someone in a rollover without a bar.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm curious...how can a roll bar that's the same height as your head (or lower) make any difference when you roll over? And that describes every roll bar out there that fits under a raised MG top....it looks good to come people. PERIOD!
Installed correctly with the correct materials and mounting - yes they do make a difference if you roll over. Unibody (MGB) won't make a bit of difference to help save someone in a rollover without a bar.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm curious...how can a roll bar that's the same height as your head (or lower) make any difference when you roll over? And that describes every roll bar out there that fits under a raised MG top....it looks good to come people. PERIOD!
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
If a person is so worried about rolling over in an MG that they put one of those 'sissy' bars on - they should be wearing a helmet as it will give more protection that the 'sissy' bar!
Oh, part of "installed correctly" is just that: 2" above your helmet!
Oh, part of "installed correctly" is just that: 2" above your helmet!
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Jeff...I've just ordered arm restraints and a window net for the GRM car....when it gets back on its wheels it gets a proper roll bar! 4-point w/harness bar & Paddy bar & NASCAR driver door bar...at least 2" above me sitting in the car wearing my helment.....oh & the bar will be padded everywhere I might come in contact with it....& my Kirkey racing seat will be secured to the roll bar also - that's properly mounted!
Bruce Bowker
Obi Wan
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Installed correctly with the correct materials and mounting - yes they do make a difference if you roll over. Unibody (MGB) won't make a bit of difference to help save someone in a rollover without a bar.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm curious...how can a roll bar that's the same height as your head (or lower) make any difference when you roll over? And that describes every roll bar out there that fits under a raised MG top....it looks good to come people. PERIOD!
[/ QUOTE ]
As I said - if installed correctly which implies correct height, (if it is too low that that would not be installed correctly), if correct material, which implies it is not a piece for only looks, if fastened correctly which implies it is bolted or welded at as many points as necessary.
Whether a top fits or not has nothing to do with if a rollbar is correct.
[ QUOTE ]
Installed correctly with the correct materials and mounting - yes they do make a difference if you roll over. Unibody (MGB) won't make a bit of difference to help save someone in a rollover without a bar.
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm curious...how can a roll bar that's the same height as your head (or lower) make any difference when you roll over? And that describes every roll bar out there that fits under a raised MG top....it looks good to come people. PERIOD!
[/ QUOTE ]
As I said - if installed correctly which implies correct height, (if it is too low that that would not be installed correctly), if correct material, which implies it is not a piece for only looks, if fastened correctly which implies it is bolted or welded at as many points as necessary.
Whether a top fits or not has nothing to do with if a rollbar is correct.
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Bruce - I bow towards your home state & ask forgiveness for doubting that you were also trying to set others straight...
rulle7
Jedi Knight
Offline
First thing I did when I got my Midget home was to take off the roll bar. Not only didn't I like the look of the thing, my daughter who sits behind/between the seats would head butt the top bar in a front collision and I or my wife would have BIG dents in the back of our heads in case of a rear collision.
I'm sure there's been cases when 'style bars' have saved lives, but surely more often the other way around.
I'm sure there's been cases when 'style bars' have saved lives, but surely more often the other way around.
Tony, this sounds very close to what I have installed, except for the window net. (All mine are open cars.) And, I have Nascar bars on both sides.
Are you using the padding with the offset hole, putting more foam at the possible contact points?
What are you going to run for belts?
Jeff
Are you using the padding with the offset hole, putting more foam at the possible contact points?
What are you going to run for belts?
Jeff
Bret
Yoda
Offline
We’ve been down this road a number of times and I think we’ll never see the end of this debate. But not wishing to be left out, here are my thoughts again.
Honestly I don’t consider my rollbar anything more than what it is – a sporty cosmetic addition. But as I’ve said before I do feel that is stiffened up my B (laterally speaking) significantly with the addition of the rollbar. Again not a reason for everyone to rush out & purchase one – as I believe that some folks actually like a little body roll and the same thing could probably be accomplished through other means.
That said – I’ll admit that I have driven my B pretty hard and because of the low center of gravity I can truthfully say that I’ve never felt as if she was going to flip on me. Now if I was in competition with others cars all around me, bumping & tapping each other as we entered & exited a turn – I’m pretty sure the risk of a roll over would be much more likely. Thus the need for a more substantial roll bar.
My $0.02 (again) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Honestly I don’t consider my rollbar anything more than what it is – a sporty cosmetic addition. But as I’ve said before I do feel that is stiffened up my B (laterally speaking) significantly with the addition of the rollbar. Again not a reason for everyone to rush out & purchase one – as I believe that some folks actually like a little body roll and the same thing could probably be accomplished through other means.
That said – I’ll admit that I have driven my B pretty hard and because of the low center of gravity I can truthfully say that I’ve never felt as if she was going to flip on me. Now if I was in competition with others cars all around me, bumping & tapping each other as we entered & exited a turn – I’m pretty sure the risk of a roll over would be much more likely. Thus the need for a more substantial roll bar.
My $0.02 (again) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
tony barnhill
Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
Jeff...I've got 5-point racing harness from SafEquip...& I've not gotten the padding yet so I'm not sure
Brett...discussing this subject is kinda like asking "what color should I paint my MG?"
Brett...discussing this subject is kinda like asking "what color should I paint my MG?"
Tony, there is dedicated roll bar padding that has much thicker foam on one side. Makes it kinder on the noggin if you bump your head.
A minor point you may want to consider is to pad anything under the dash that your legs or knees may hit. After my violent excursion in the Bugeye, the only damage to me was a bruise on one knee where it hit the steering column support. The bad part was that padding it was on my "things to do" checklist, and somehow got missed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I've tightened up my checklist procedures since then. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jeff
A minor point you may want to consider is to pad anything under the dash that your legs or knees may hit. After my violent excursion in the Bugeye, the only damage to me was a bruise on one knee where it hit the steering column support. The bad part was that padding it was on my "things to do" checklist, and somehow got missed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I've tightened up my checklist procedures since then. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jeff