Roll Bar Installation

[courtenay]

I'm eventually going to install the roll bar that's currently gathering dust in my garage.
Two questions:
1. It's used and kind of scuffed up. I'm thinking of having it powder coated before I install it. Good idea or not?
2. I also have a new top to install. I assume it would be easier to install the roll bar after I remove the old top and before I install the new top. Yes or no? In other words, how hard is it to install the roll bar with the top in place?

[mdrburchette]

I would pay the extra money for powder coating. That's a nice, durable finish. I installed my rollbar with the top on but in the down position. It wasn't an issue at all.

[leftfield6]

I installed my top, and then a few months later installed the roll bar. Won't say I really planned it that way, but both installs went fine.

As for refinishing it, I just painted mine, but powder-coating would have been nice!!! Mine already has a few nicks in the paint that I'm sure powder-coating would have laughed at!!

[124JOE]

bed liner spray wont scrach off

[kmac33]

Powder coating will be worth the expense. It will look great and be extremely durable. Shouldn't be more than $100-150.
If you want to go overboard like I did, and really want to spend some $ have it chromed.

[courtenay]

Thanks, folks - great advice, as usual. I'm going to have it powder coated and will do the installation before I replace my top.

[vandor]

You did not ask, but here are two rollbar tips:
-Once installed add high density foam rollbar padding (not the cheap stuff, that's useless). If you are ever in an accident and your head hits the rollbar you really want some padding on there.
-Put a large plate on the backside of the rear stays. If a truck rearends the car and drives over it, it will be the rollbar stopping it. Therefore the rear stays have to be solid both in compression and tension - with just some washers it would be real easy for it to just tear out the sheetmetal. Ideally you'd have some plates welded in that also tie in to a box section below.

[courtenay]

Good advice, Csaba. I wondered about that. Thanks.
Bruce

[AndyS]

X2 on the padding. you should never have an unpadded roll bar unless its a car you only drive while wearing a helmet. Had a friend that was rear ended in his alfa, and his head hit the roll bar. got a nice lump. lucky it wasn't worse.

[courtenay]

OK - change in plan. Tried to remove inner liner and decided it might be easier if the top was off. Also, I'm a pretty big guy and there's not a lot of room to work in the back area with the top on.

[courtenay]

Roll bar back from the powder coater. Looks great. Had it sand blasted first ($40) and then zinc and powder coated ($120) with a matte black finish. Very pleased with the look.
Removed the back seats and have trimmed the inner fender liners to get the thing in. Pretty tight quarters for a guy my size but doable - so far anyway!

[happybeachgoerm]

would u mind posting pics of the rollbar? with and without u in the car?? im 6 foot and only about 200 pounds,but i like to lean my seat back a bit cuz i have long arms and legs. i am looking at rollbar styles and shapes to have one built.

[courtenay]

Sorry, Happy, but I haven't installed the roll bar yet. The process of drilling through the floor for the vertical mounts has proven to be somewhat intimidating for me, at least. I did test fit it, though, and found that my seat would go back all the way and the seat back would tilt to the same position I normally have it. My head did not hit the bar. I'm 6'4".

[fiat218]

Sorry, Happy, but I haven't installed the roll bar yet. The process of drilling through the floor for the vertical mounts has proven to be somewhat intimidating for me, at least. I did test fit it, though, and found that my seat would go back all the way and the seat back would tilt to the same position I normally have it. My head did not hit the bar. I'm 6'4".

What do u do,cut thru the floor and weld it to the frame. Or some how bolt the bar to the frame

[leftfield6]

If it's the AutoPower bar, you drill through the boxed part of the frame and bolt through. Be careful, there's fuel lines down there. My bolts exit the frame almost immediately ahead of the attachment points for the bottom pair of trailing arms.