Topic: KAPPA ROLL BAR FABRICATION/INSTALL

[InTheSky831]

Well, for the last few months we've been scheming, and I finally managed to cough up enough hairballs at the right time to get the bar done. I've been talking about doing this for months now, and I am extremely pleased with how it came out.

all this bar is supposed to do is let me solo, not compete. and that it will. this is much, much safer than a fiberglass hardtop (im not sure why some organizations will allow you to run with a hardtop and no bar and deem it safer...baffling...)
I know stuff like this can be a pretty debatable subject.

let me start by saying I wont appreciate smack talking on this bar, because im willing to bet this is much better than your (non existent) roll bar. Yes, im talking to the engineers who know everything. lol.

ok, that said, youre free to say whatever you like about the bar and add your input. I am okay with that

I really tried to do as much research as possible on how we were going to make this, and from what I saw the few people who braced it to the rear panel made a sammich plate in the middle. we decided to go with two reinforcement braces mounted on either side, which will definitely displace the weight a lot better in the event of a rollover. also, we used a double diag design in the main hoop because of space, and strength with the lack of space. also I was able to not cut into my tulip panel and I managed to turn my compartment into a functional shelf lol.

if your over 5-8/10, depending on leg length, you would hate this. im running fixed back bride's and a quick release, and im comfortable. I can get in and out of the car  with the seat all the way up and the wheel off, no problems. for me, I don't notice the bar is back there. until I look at its cold, metally goodness.

pics

















Hope you guys like it. hopefully I can answer any questions...if anyone is in the texas area and interested, my guys would be more than happy to do it again! yours might come out better lol. and it was a good price too for a custom one off piece/ I will try and get some pics up soon with the top down, its been too cold

[SKY888]

Hi Mark,

thanks for answering questions on FB.  I really appreciate it.




I know you are focusing mainly with scca/nasa.


I have a question....even with that "rear brace" you installed, that will still not be allowed in NHRA drag race, huh?

I wonder if you add another set of rear braces.........that will attach to the top part of the main hood....if that will be allowed in NHRA?

13.99s = roll bar needed.  I think this will pass inspection

I was just wondering for 11.50s and faster......they will be requiring a 6 pt roll cage.    So I was thinking of following your roll-bar set-up, add 2 more rear braces by the main hoop.....and add front braces.  So not so sure...if it will work out......


I really would like to keep the soft top........since I want to keep it as a roadster even with the install of rollbar/rollcage

[Mb.Brazen]

Looks great!!  Would this work with OEM seats?

[InTheSky831]

im sure it COULD work with oem seats, if you are short. I wouldn't advise it though. the aftermarket seats gave us so much more room to work with, and it was still minimum.

[Gentleman Jack]

Crap. This whole thing cause me to crap when I saw how much time and effort went in. Crap. This thing works and allows the top to function. Crap. I'm as short as you AND I'm balding. I have no chance of success in life. At least we are not as short as

[Sol Asylum]

Were you going to say Elff?

[InTheSky831]

there will be no way to add a full cage in this car without losing your soft top. for =11sec times I think this is fine though. im mainly focused on being able to drift and solo at local tracks, and go to PCNA events with previous customers and friends for fun. my car will never see competition and I am okay with that.

the design of our car renders it near impossible to fit normal guidelines. our rear bracing set up, imo, is better than the other ones that have been implemented. not only do I feel it is more asthetically appealing, it has more sound of a structure and better mounting points than ones ive seen in the past.

is it the best? No. it does not replace a legit roll cage. will it work? yes. it is very secure and meets or exceeds basic regulations for what I want to do with it.

that being said, its safer than a hardtop, which a lot of sanctions will allow in place of a roll bar.

when I finally get a prototype hardtop done, hopefully by the end of the year, we will be adding a full cage. hopefully by the end of the year. but for now this is good.

[InTheSky831]

GJ, this was completed in 2 days working very slowly. they could do this in one day, easily. my guys are awesome. we even had fun building it

[InTheSky831]

utilizing this design, you could also run high bars from the top of the main hoop to the floor and add a halo bar. it may suffice for the time being. I have been thinking about doing that as well, but I would like to make those additions bolt in.
 

but like I said for now this works for me. adding the quick release really helped out too, I can get in and out with the steering wheel removed, easily. but once again, this is NOT for the faint of heart. Only for people who desire performance over stock appeal.

if it ever stops raining ill take some photos with the top down. it looks so damn sexy.

[elff]

I would suggest adding diaginol bars that go down to the frame just to the outside of where your feet and the passengers feet will be.

That is to add additional strength to potentially prevent the bar from snapping into the back of your heads.

You can do them low enough so you can slide over them to get in and out of the car.

To me, this is more important than the ones going towards the back of the car.

I think it came out great, although I would have raised the horizontal bar a little so you could retain use of the storage compartment in the middle of the waterfall.

[InTheSky831]

it couldn't be any higher because of how low my Bride's sit. too high and they are more harmful then good if something was to twist.

door bars will not fit. period. we were going to run them, but I refuse to cut my door panels at this point. if all goes well, I will be making c/f prototype door panels sometime this year and I can suck them in at the bottom to allow use of door bars.

[InTheSky831]

also, I can use the compartment.



its just a shelf now lol.


I hate fumbling for the button anyways

[InTheSky831]

its tied in VERY well. the quality of the welds is top notch and the upper triangles are very strong. I think we are going to add another brace in the corners to "prevent" the corners from folding in the event of a roll, but I really feel its sturdy enough to trust.

[elff]

also, I can use the compartment.



its just a shelf now lol.


I hate fumbling for the button anyways

HAHAHAHA
Very True

I do like it, just my thoughts as I have been upside down in a vehicle and put a roll cage to a real stress test

[InTheSky831]

oh no, I COMPLETELY agree. I was kind of astonished with some peoples idea of a "roll" bar. its a waste of time unless done right because this is your life we are talking about!

ive flipped a car too. with no cage. it was fun!! do I want to do it again? HELL no.

[Sly Bob]

Great thread and thanks for posting it here. The bar really looks sharp and looks like it's really well done. 

[elff]

I am jealous and I think you have the best roll bar that also allows you to use the top.
Good luck in your race events!

[InTheSky831]

Thanks elff!!

[normsf]

when I finally get a prototype hardtop done, hopefully by the end of the year, we will be adding a full cage. hopefully by the end of the year. but for now this is good.

Hello, just in case youre not familiar. This one is our Race top for the Solstice. Thanks Norm

[normsf]

Hello the Sky Race top is done, where working as we speak on the street version. With weather seals and interior clamp down rather than duez fasteners.

[InTheSky831]

Norm I really really really like your products. I've heard nothing but good things and I plan on getting some stuff from you in the near future...the "prototype" I'm referring to ismore or less a side project for now which hasn't even made it past the drawing board anyways lol. Ive done a fair bit of body work/fiberglassing and I want to try and give it a shot. Worst case scenario I fail and buy yours right? Lol.

[InTheSky831]

And honestly right now your tops are well beyond my budget. I won't truly NEED one until my sky is a dedicated track car

[wspohn]

This makes a welcome change from the useless style bars.  I think that is probably the most useful bar I've seen and it should actually do some good in a roll over.  Limited use for the smaller framed drivers, but at least you proved that it is possible to put something useful in there and still have the roof work.

I've worked on some of the absolute worst cars for installing a race legal bar in. The Porsche 914 was a real challenge when it came out.  My old TVR race car had a roof that dropped off right behind the driver's head, and it drove the tech guys crazy, but as I pointed out (and they finally agreed with) nothing in the rules makes you, or for that matter even allows you to perforate the roof for a bar.  I never wanted to race the Fiero, but I expect it would have had some challenges for a race legal bar too.

[InTheSky831]

This makes a welcome change from the useless style bars.  I think that is probably the most useful bar I've seen and it should actually do some good in a roll over.  Limited use for the smaller framed drivers, but at least you proved that it is possible to put something useful in there and still have the roof work.

I've worked on some of the absolute worst cars for installing a race legal bar in. The Porsche 914 was a real challenge when it came out.  My old TVR race car had a roof that dropped off right behind the driver's head, and it drove the tech guys crazy, but as I pointed out (and they finally agreed with) nothing in the rules makes you, or for that matter even allows you to perforate the roof for a bar.  I never wanted to race the Fiero, but I expect it would have had some challenges for a race legal bar too.

thanks, and its much appreciated! It took me quite a while to devise a plan for this, and my buddys who fabbed it did an exceptional job. like you said though, the downside is it only works for us shorter people. for me, its perfect. I do not plan on competing with this car with the current set up, only solo. this is a STREET car...im building a Nissan 240sx currently that I plan on actually competing with. the sky is too dear to me lol.

I really hope that for some people this opens up their eyes as to how a proper roll bar should be. sometimes all it takes is a little creativity!


also ill try and get some pics of me sitting in the car...my head sits like 4 or 5 inches from the top of the bar, which is WAY more than the mandated 2"

[Gentleman Jack]

Being short isn't always bad. It sure helped Elff when he went rubber side up.

So, are you ever gonna race this car?  I don't think it will pass a tech inspection without a door on the cubby.