E30 Vert. Removable Roll Bar DONE!!

[Emre]

Hi, got a cage guy willing to set up a custom, hoop with 2 back bars with race track quality and strength, 4 point weld and bolt in bar for the E30 Vert, hoop and back bars, good idea bad idea??

Two problems: missing a diagonal bar; won't pass the broomstick test. Without those two things, there's no way it could ever meet SCCA regs.

[KenC]

That red bar is a security blanket at best. Bends in the rear stays and single bolt points? Yikes.

[DaveSmed]

Man, I hate shitting on someones parade, but if making the vert track legal isn't the primary concern, what the hell is the point?

That diagonal is required in there for a reason, roll bars sans helmets crack skulls, and barring that if its not for safety, all it does is add weight and raise the center of gravity. For no appreciable benefit.

If your concerned about rolling down mountains, invest in some driving instruction (with a hardtop car!)

E30 verts are not particularly unsafe cars compared to most other soft tops, especially of that time period. Hell, I should know.

[TimR]

Well 25 vert owners so far disagree. They want additional safety and looks, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RACE THEY CAN ADD THE REQUIRED BARS FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. If i choose to show up with a FULL cage, the National SCAA Tec. manager said FINE for certain events. Certinly appreciate KenC comment about the rear bar, i haven't run that by my cage guy yet. I only found the red cage yesterday. www.hanksvillehotrods.com Looks like racing to me.

[DaveSmed]

^ That's not a vert though.

On that note, here's some relevant pics.

[DaveSmed]

These aren't mine.

[geezerman402]

The vert body roll isnt all that bad. If anything it has a lower center or gravity.

Body roll =/= chassis flex

EDIT: The car in my signature sucked on the track so I bought a car with a roof.

[ill roller]

Keep us updated!

I don't really understand what all the hate is all about regarding putting a bar in a vert regardless of whether or not it has a diagonal bar. Plenty of people with convertibles run 4pt roll bars with no diagonal just for a little extra rigidity and piece of mind in case of a roll-over.

Yes, if you're trying to make a dedicated race car then you'd need a 6pt cage, and you'd be better off not bothering with the vert. However, I myself (and I'm sure a small amount of others) go to several track events a year, and want to keep our verts to enjoy top down driving on and off the track.

Here is my full cage... I wouldn't necessarily recommend this sort of thing on a street car, but with proper measurements to keep the bars as far from the head as possible, harnesses, and padding it is definitely doable.

[ill roller]

Double bars down the windshield? You mean the gussets? The cage is actually welded to the windshield frame there.

[flyboyx]

i want a roll bar like the mid 2000's mustang vert has. it is basically one big hoop that stretches from one side of the back seat to the other. it is also coated with trapezoidal/teardrop shaped foam. that would be perfect to add a little extra protection for a dd. it would have good aesthetics too.

[ill roller]

Those are plinth boxes, they're just an alternative to a standard mounting plate... They spread the mounting area of the cage out, strengthen it by it to a surface thats attached to 2-3 surfaces instead of just the floor, and allow for a flat mounting surface to be made in areas where they don't exist.

[Cabriolet]

that mustang looks like the one on my old cabriolet.

[M5W]

Start install next Thurs. The vert. bucket would add stability to this! Whats with the double bars down the windshield??

lol um this looks familiar



lol even my idle control valve has its own filter

[TimR]

Yes, the requests to see your car were tremendious, i believe it's the dream car of cars. You could get a couple hundred a ride, i'd pay that for a minuite or too. Tim

[Bimmerman325i]

....wtf do S38 swap pictures have to do with E30 Vert roll bar design threads? I'm lost. S38s are awesome....but I just don't see the point.