Club Cobra

Club Cobra (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/)
-   ALL COBRA TALK (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/)
-   -   Roll bar pad option (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/114597-roll-bar-pad-option.html)

D-CEL 03-01-2012 12:28 PM

Roll bar pad option
 
It’s not often that I agree with that ……guy with two roll bars :rolleyes: but IMO, a padded roll bar has value. So I set out to build something that offers a minimum level of protection, but is not a visual catastrophic abortion.
So I got out some fiber-board and duct tape and started cutting and bending. Sitting in the car and feeling for the contact points, I formed simple sheet skeleton over the front of bars where your head would touch in a crash. Once I had the shape, we (Body shop foreman and great fabricator) duplicated it out of .100 sheet aluminum, formed it over some scrap tubing and welded the pieces together. He then added about a inch of high density foam a stitched up a fantastic black vinyl cover and some heavy duty Velcro straps. It’s nice because it offer the impact protection, but is almost unnoticeable when installed and comes right off if you want. We have plans to build and sell the standard roll bar version.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...pad_small1.jpg

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...pad_small2.jpg

RodKnock 03-01-2012 12:35 PM

This one looked slick:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/kirk...-headrest.html

D-CEL 03-01-2012 12:43 PM

While I agree it offers better protection, I was looking to keep the bar as open and unencumbered as possible. And yes I will be cleaning up the bolt/nut on the rear bar.

patrickt 03-01-2012 12:51 PM

I think it's great. Unfortunately, a number of guys around here will have to be hit in their Cobra before they pay attention.:(

TButtrick 03-01-2012 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1178871)
I think it's great. Unfortunately, a number of guys around here will have to be hit in their Cobra before they pay attention.:(

It's not that you have padding, it's that you have padding x2

sniffle, sniffle :(

I think that 289 bar looks great. Well done.

DougD 03-01-2012 04:25 PM

D-CEL
Nicely done! I'd be interested in one to fit my CSX. I also like your bar grommets/ Where did they come from?

TButtrick 03-01-2012 04:33 PM

When you get hit from the rear, that bolt through the third leg should hold your head still and prevent any further nerve damage until the medics get there. :LOL:

ZOERA-SC7XX 03-01-2012 04:58 PM

If you were to hit your head hard on the roll bar, the padding won't save your head from severe injury, but it might be less messy. Only the combination of a newer Snell rated helmet AND roll bar padding could save your ass (head). It would still probably kill you. Cobras, in my opinion, are probably more dangerous with roll bar(s) than without. They are mostly just for looks, and maybe, just maybe, would keep the car from crushing you in the event of a rollover. By then most likely you would already be dead. If you really care about your passenger, don't have a bar behind their head. These cars are fast and can be killers if not driven safely, and are only marginally safer than a motorcycle. With that being said, I'll still be driving my ERA this summer with my single chrome roll bar behind my head and hope they never come in contact. Maybe I need to have my head examined.

legenmetals 03-01-2012 05:49 PM

Pad
 
Looks *****in! This is what I came up for my Contemporary! Dosen't look that great but niether will my head if it hits the roll bar.http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...d=5954&thumb=1 http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...d=5953&thumb=1 http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...d=5952&thumb=1

Got the Bug 03-01-2012 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TButtrick (Post 1178911)
It's not that you have padding, it's that you have padding x2

sniffle, sniffle :(

I think that 289 bar looks great. Well done.

Patrick was afraid that his roll bars were going to freeze, so he used extra insulation. This two roll bar gotta be padded or your life is at risk stuff is like a record skipping in the same place. :LOL:

Blas 03-01-2012 09:54 PM

D-CEL,
A very unique solution. And the execution look to be very well done. I would like to suggest that the nut and bolt for the rear brace should be reversed to expose the back of your head to the smallest projection possible in the event of a collision. I take it you must me of shorter statute so the top of the bar is not a concern for you head? Remember, in the event of a rear end collision, your body will move backwards and up I believe. But a very well executed job overall.
FYI: When I made my hoop pad, I wanted something to absorb some of the impact in the event of a collision. My original design utilized a aluminum back plate with a foam cover. After much deliberation, I decided on plywood for the back plate, covered with a closed cell foam pad and an covering to match my seats. I wanted the finished pad to extend well beyond the eyelets for the shoulder harness so I set it inside the hoop to make it thicker. The theory being the plywood woud absorb some impact and probably crack in half... which is a good thing. The closed cell foam would also absorb some impact. Lets hope I never need to test the design.

Blas 03-01-2012 10:05 PM

Deteted - Duplicate post

D-CEL 03-02-2012 12:46 PM

Thanks everybody for the positive comments. Those are the standard SPF roll bar grommets (That are on permanent back order!!)
I really made it for lesser impact type events (like the one I experienced.) It was never intended to be a fail safe. And with that I accept that the risk with this solution and know full well that some impacts will not be survivable. Such is life with an old race car on the street!
No the bolt on the down bar is not staying!! That was my body shop trying to help out.
I have a low profile stainless 12 point that goes in there.
Funny is, I am considering cutting that down bar completely out , fixing the body again) and making a new one, with the correct angle like the orig. cars. Only recently did I realize how shallow the SPF angle is! Now I can’t stop looking at it and it’s really pissing me off!! LOL

Jason

ratsnst1 03-02-2012 10:12 PM

looks great
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by legenmetals (Post 1178927)
Looks *****in! This is what I came up for my Contemporary! Dosen't look that great but niether will my head if it hits the roll bar.http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...d=5954&thumb=1 http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...d=5953&thumb=1 http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/pict...d=5952&thumb=1

I would like to do the same but with two roll bars, love the look.

ZOERA-SC7XX 03-03-2012 07:42 PM

That looks more like a headreast, but it looks safe.


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:35 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: