Retro fitting a CSX rollbar on a superformance

[SPF1061]

Originally Posted by TN Shelby Cobra

Higher Single Bar - Olthoff Racing
Dennis sells a higher roll bar!

Dennis runs what is probably the best SPF support shop in the country. The custom roll bar from Olthoff is made from thicker walled material and is taller than the original SPF. It is designed to pass the VIR "broomstick" test and to provide better protection for the driver in the event of a roll over. I do not think any consideration was given toward making it look more like the original CSX roll bar.
- Oops, read the third page of this thread AFTER I made this post. Didn't mean to be redundant. Full speed ahead. :-)

[frankym]

i didn't receive the new rollbar yet, but i did play around with positioning the stock rollbar 3 inches higher, and placing the extension bar mock. The very top of the rollbar is 14 inches from the cowl. I also made a template for cutting the scallop out of the extension stub. going to a friends in a moment to measure his beautiful ERA rollbar.

[frankym]

trying to do before and after

[frankym]

finished product with rubber grommet:










New Anchor in trunk, bolted to side rail.

[rodneym]

Frankym,
Nice job!
I think you got a lot of SPF owners thinking.
BTW, have you considered mounting a kill switch over that hole?

[mickmate]

Hey Frank good to hear from you and really good to hear you got another Cobra, you said you would. The center line measurement fore and aft is 13-3/4". The rear hole is very much a half round end rectangle because of the angle. As you know with cars like the Contemporary they did the short rollbars on quite a few to fit under hard and soft tops and that made the rear brace hole way far forward for original style. That makes it hard to get a correct looking rollbar without doing bodywork on holes but I have seen some careful bends put in rear braces to accommodate different height bars.

[Bernica]

And I have been there. Wanted to just do the old school fuel line grommets, but by the time I was done I ended up here, right or wrong. The rear brace hole is the evil one!

New Roll Bar Grommets - Club Cobra Photo Gallery

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by Bernica

The rear brace hole is the evil one!

Which probably explains why the real ones don't even bother with a bezel/escutcheon at all. I suppose drilling two overlapping holes to create that elongated portion has some pucker factor to it.

[REAL 1]

You can get the measurements from HRE, Kirkham, and where you bought your hoop ..Cobra Restorers.

[Three Peaks]

Bernica,
What diameter tube is your roll bar? It looks like 1 3/4" like mine and I've been looking for trim rings like those for mine and struck out. May have to machine my own if I can't find a source.....

Bob

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

Bernica,
What diameter tube is your roll bar? It looks like 1 3/4" like mine and I've been looking for trim rings like those for mine and struck out. May have to machine my own if I can't find a source.....

Bob

I believe I got them from Finishline. It's been many years. I will check on diameter, but I believe it's 1-3/4". It's a CSX 4000 car. I can tell you that fastening the rear escutcheon was quite a chore to get it right.

[Three Peaks]

Originally Posted by Bernica

I believe I got them from Finishline. It's been many years. I will check on diameter, but I believe it's 1-3/4". It's a CSX 4000 car. I can tell you that fastening the rear escutcheon was quite a chore to get it right.

Thanks, if it is a CSX 4000, it is 99% sure these are 1 1/2" roll bars. Thanks anyway.

Bob

[mickmate]

I think you'll find it's a 1-1/2".

[Scott427]

Originally Posted by mickmate

I think you'll find it's a 1-1/2".

There you are you little sneak, we know you are watching!
How about spending some key board time and man up to your BS Mate!

Scott

[redmt]

Would it be worth making a pattern and cutting with a panel cutter on a router?

[Bernica]

One of these might work to land the proper oblong hole on the body. They come in different pipe sizes.

Instructions | PipeMaster™ - The Welder's Tool for Contour Fits

[LMH]

Pretty neat tool! I bought a tubing notcher and it works great! It's also good for drilling a hole through the center of a tube or pipe if needed. Money well spent in my case.
Larry

[frdfver]

I read through the thread but must have missed it. What is the measurement between the hoop uprights?

Thanks Paul

[mickmate]

12"on center

[frankym]

yup, my wife thinks I'm crazy (she's actually right) but the look of the car would be soooo much different with the modified rollbar. I looked up the olthoff tall rollbar spec, interesting that you can go up to 2.75 inches taller and still fit under the convertible top. the extension leg obviously will not, but you can easily make the cut out in the platic window like the tonneu cover does it do go around the roll bar upgrights. As for getting it done without requiring body work? yaahahh, thought about using a flat steel shap 1.5 inches wide, weld the extension leg on a mitered edge to the plate, and then connect the undertrunk segment pipe up through the existing hole to meet the flat plate steel. I could get the flat steel to look pretty, maybe even polish it and coat the underside with silicone (let it dry) and then reconnect. But, plugging that hole and spraying the back half of the car, shouldn't be too too bad.