I've had the HT for about a year. Maybe just my mind playing tricks, but it seems to add just a little rigidity to the car. Anyway, I've been contemplating going back to the softtop (all parts currently removed), and if I ditch the HT, I want a bar.

I have been looking at various bars from the major manufacturers. Man, there are a lot of choices. I do not autox at this time, but there's a strong possibility I will get into it. With that in mind, I do not need anything race ready, just enough to pass whatever inspections the local meets might have. I do have a Robbins softtop, with non-zipper glass window. Obviously, I need to have the bar work with that. Working with the HT is a consideration, but I may just sell it. I will want to pad it eventually, but that won't be a major deal breaker if it isn't available. I'm fairly short (5'9"), so hopefully that won't be an issue (banging the noggin). I think I may move to racing seats (Corbeau Forzas) in the next year or so, so the ability to bolt in a harness bar is a plus.

So. Any advantages to stainless, or is it for appearances only? Is there someplace with a comprehensive chart showing what works with what? Any particular ones significantly better than the others? Single or double diagonals, and what criteria do I use to choose? Will most of them clear the various seats available?

I couldn't find one, but if there's a sticky on this, please provide a link and I'll read that.

 

Not much to it, a rollbar is meant as a safety device, buy which ever one looks the best to you.

Stainless rollbar? Gay as it gets.

 

I bought a Hard Dog Hard Core Single Diagonal Hard Top (HDHCSDHT).

SCCA approved, harness bolts on, etc. Simple and works.

Stainless = all for show. And a lot more money.

Edit - Before anyone calls me on it, I should specify that I've bought the HDHCSDHT and will install it in place of my HDDSB when I get home.

 

A rollbar used on the street needs padding. I like the SFI stuff that Racerpartswholesale has. http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/p...ollbar_Padding


Steer clear of shiny bars. Just get a black one.

 

Rleete.

Is the car primarily street or track use? An no, you aren't imagining things. Hard tops add a lot of chassis rigidity. What they don't add is any protection in a roll over. The hard top gives the illusion of added safety. Should have a roll bar either way.

 

/\ Much agreed! Take risks, not chances.

 

^ this.


also, my HT increases rigidity WITH my roll bar installed. It ties to the A pillar, where the roll bar doesn't.

 

Boss Frog has SFI padding for their bars. It makes my Double Maxx look rather beefy.

I have "used" a Hard Dog Hard Core Single Diagnal (HDHCSD) in a rollover with a 4-point harness and no padding, I'm 5'11" and didn't hit my head and walked away from the accident with little more than a bruised ego. All of the "big name" ones should do their job, it's a matter of finding the one that is most aesthetically pleasing to you. Since you have a non-zip glass window, you'll want to find ones that are NB compatable since that is what they come with OE.

 

It may be difficult to find a roll bar that works with a non zippered glass window soft top. I would check with the roll bar manufacturers or even call robbins to see if they have tried it with any bars. I would imagine you would be better with a bar designed for an NB, since they had glass windows, but even then, I'm not sure they work with a non zippered one.

 

rleete, how tall are you?

 

Looking at the Boss Frog website they claim all of their bars are compatible with the factory glass window and similar aftermarket. Hard dog claims the M2 hard core bars are compatible with the glass window soft top.

Again, is your car primarily street or track?

 

I think their claim is qualified and you need to use a NB top frame or modify the NA frame accordingly.

I thought the argument for padding was in the event of a rear end collision whereby you get pushed back and up in the seat and could whack the old melon.

 

mgeoffriau, 5'9" as stated in the OP. Car is primarily (nearly exclusively) for street. Possible autocrossing (nearby friend is pushing me to try it), but probably (virtual certainty) no track time.

Since it's a Robbins streamline top (NB style), I will be adding the straps to make it like the NB. Probably the springs as well, if I can find parts. No advice on single vs. double diagonals? Is it purely an asthetic decision?

 

One of the differences between the standard and hard top versions of roll bars is the height and positioning of the main hoop. That's why I asked useage. For primarily street you want the bar to sit back further. Safer when not wearing a helmet. Hard top versions sit back a little more. I have a Hard Dog HT and like the clearance for my noggin.

Single or double is personal preference. I have a single and it interferes more with your sight lines out the rear view mirror. Boss frog makes the Clearview model that has doubles further apart. For a primarily street car that might be nice. Personally the interference from the single diagonal doesn't bother me much and I put 20k a year on the car.

 

Thanks.

Now, what's the difference between the BossFrog clearview and the clearview Maxx? Or the double and the double Maxx? Both styles come in all finishes, so that's not it.

 

Im not tall enough to hit my head on my HDHCHT... I know, from experience.

 

Someday perhaps I will get a roll bar, and this thread will come in handy when I do. Subscribed!

As a tall person, I already find it difficult to see out the back with the top up, so I know I'd go with the clearview of some kind.

 

Just did a quick read at the boss frog site. Standard bars fit under hard tops, Maxx bars don't. Simple as that. If it's like hard dogs, the non hard top bars are taller and sit further forward. Maybe not a good thing on a street car. I'm a similar height and feel pretty good about my head clearance with my hard dog hard top bar.

 

I thought that the Maxx versions sat taller and further back and is why they won't fit under a hard top. If it sat further forward, it would fit with a hardtop (at least in my expierence with putting a HT over my Double Maxx). According to BF, the non-HT bars allow more seat recline, which to me, sounds like it sits further back.

As far a HardDog bars go, I love the look at the single diagonal...it's badassness on the eyes. I'd laos imagine, like the BF bars, that non-HT bars sit taller and further back.

 

I have a HardDog HardCore HardTop Double Diagonal Bar. They sit at a different angle to clear the side latches and that ends up placing the top bar further back.