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roll bars

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Glen_B

Glen_B

Jedi Trainee
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I'm in the process of installing a roll bar in Bugsy. I'm bolting it in rather that welding. This is the type of bar that is supported by large steel "feet" at the end of short angled legs that attach to the main hoop, bolted atop the wheel wells. The hoop legs end on the shelf just above the floor. Large backing plates will be used beneath each attachment point.

Has anyone had experience with a roll bar that actually got rolled? Did it fail? How did it fail?
(more paranoia ahead of the Missouri drive next year)

Thanks,
Glen Byrns
 
I would be more concerned with the back of my head failing upon impact with the roll bar if I get rear-ended, something much more likely than rolling the car.
 
Here in Texas, the roll bar serves to protect the back of my head from truck and SUV bumpers. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
I too would like to go where you are going with the roll bar. It seems a sensible thing to do. Do keep us posted.
 
and posts pics of the progress. This is also what my next project will probably be..
 
I tend to side with Carl on this one. I removed a roll bar from Tunebug -- came to about the middle of my head, and would have cracked my skull nicely if I had been rear-ended. If you can get one tall enough it would work fine, but the shorter ones that fit under the soft tops don't seem to be as useful as one might think.
 
Morris said:
Here in Texas, the roll bar serves to protect the back of my head from truck and SUV bumpers. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Click to expand...
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif I would agree!!! Generally speaking, and especially for street cars, it is really quite difficult to roll a Spridget!! I am not saying it doesn't happen, only that it is really quite rare unless you are <span style="color: #FF0000"><u>really</u></span> exceeding the limits!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
I finished the install last night. I used 10"x6"x1/4" mild steel backing plates shaped to fit the inside arc of the rear wheel wells and grade 8 bolts to clamp it all together. The mounting is extremely tight. I used a hole saw to provide access to the hidden box section behind the seat that serves as the lower leg attachment point. No other way to get to the final bolt. Seeing it bolted in, I'm now sure it will endure a rollover easily. It makes a nice attachment point for the shoulder belt. This one also has an old MGB dash light built into the center to act as a dome light when the top is on. With the existing domelight wire to help out, I'll snake in another wire for a third brake light in the top center of the hoop. Good and getting better. I'll post a pic or two tonight.

Glen Byrns
 
Glen....where did you get the rollbar from?
 
I got it from a guy in a parking lot. Seriously! Hooked up through spridgets@autox.team.net years ago and bought it used. I don't recall which lister it was. I've set it in place about once a year every year, thought about it, and returned it to its place next to the house. With next year's planned drive cross country, I looked at it with fresh eyes this time and finally took the plunge.

Glen Byrns
 
I found one simply looking at For Sale Adds. Shell For Sale. etc. Seller shipped UPS for something like $25.00 simply by pasting a shipping label to it. Took 3 days from CA to get here.

Saw a Spridget that got T-Boned by a Buick that ran a stop sign. That was the reason my Bugsy a '68 Sprite now has a roll bar. The Roll Bar allowed the Midget to slide sideways and kept the Buick from climbing on top of the Midget. Midget trashed by driver walked away.

Be careful with Roll Bar placement. Make sure top bows do not hit against the side of the rollbar as the top goes up and down. I get some large scratches down the side of the rollbar because I was just a hair off.

I used a combination of large spacers where I could fit them in and the largest steel backing plate I could find to secure the underside of the rollbar. Not a whole lot of room under there for a backing plate. Not the best in the world but better than nothing.

With a later Spridget not a Bugeye, rollbar sits far enough back that I don't bang against it with my head. Headrests on seats will not allow you to recline seat as much as was possible prior to rollbar install. My solution is a set of Miata Seats in the next few months that I plan to find and install.
 
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