Side intrusion bars

[Outwest34au]

What I am preparing for with my mod is the stupid wench who has a hubby working at the mines and therefore must drive a prado. She naturally is more worried about her social life, nokia and the kids in the back than the traffic around her, Because we live in a relatively rural area there is no need for her to look properly at intersections or even use indicators, Yes there is a good chance her shiny chrome like bullbar will over ride the top of the door, I just hope I see it coming and can lay down across the seat in time, (it's worked before for me).

The way I see it with side vehicle impact the object of the game is to spread to load across a wider area, Sure, if the door is hit by a point at the latch area it may well fold inside the Cobra. If it is hit relatively squarely let's hope the Cobra is picked up and scooped sideways. Everything is a compromise and not every possible incident can be catered for. What happens if a roo jumps in the side of the car with me while cruising home at 100 kmh on the highway?? Unlikely? Not really, I've had a few strike the side of the front gaurd and door, even had a mad emu double back and squarely hit the passengers door on an old dato ute near Barcaldine.
From my brief look at the link for the Dato bars Peter posted the bar pretty much does join from the hinge AREA to the latch AREA. And not a real solid looking bar at that.

I have hit a pole sideways at 90 mph in canberra, one of the big double poster signs at a roundabout, 4 inch poles with 3 ft of cement on each, pulled them clean out of the ground and destroyed the RX3 Savannah, sideways, upside down, spinning on its side, all but tearing it in half. I have also been T boned in a mazda capella 1600 and it was a totally different experience, just slid the car across the road and as I bounced off the other car kept travelling relatively in the direction I had planned.

As much as I plan to stay prang free in the Cobra I would more fear a clown in a car T boning me than an out of control tree jumping into the side of me.

Best you fit into what the rules require and take any extra precautions by design as you see fit.

[AC-460]

Peter I think you should just do enough to keep everyone happy......personally I think if you want to put in an extra 100kg of steel to withstand the unimaginable go right ahead ..But I personnally think the side intrusion bars are a waste of time ...I wouldn't like to be in the thing travelling side ways at a rate of knots and hit something ...intrusion bars or not you in trouble....

[Outwest34au]

If a plain sheet metal door gets punched in neatly by "an object" it will still distort the hinges and latch parts even if it doesn't have bars. Unless it's made of tin foil and just tears before anything else bends.
Latches must be burst proof, that means they are gonna hold as long as possible until the force overcomes the make up of them, by then you're toast anyway.

[Rob. Smith]

Just out of curiosity...my vehicle has intrusion bars...a Ford approved latch and matching catch...bolted securely to the chassis. The 3 bolts (screws actually) holding the catch are pretty small about 6mm / 1/4" so all depends upon these three bolts. On a steel body the door fits into a "socket" so along with the catch the door crushes up against a pressed and folded steel frame which helps in absorbing an impact. Fibreglass frames are stiff but how stiff ? Drive the Cobra like it was a motor bike...be aware and be defensive.

[Outwest34au]

Originally Posted by Rob. Smith

Just out of curiosity...my vehicle has intrusion bars...a Ford approved latch and matching catch...bolted securely to the chassis. The 3 bolts (screws actually) holding the catch are pretty small about 6mm / 1/4" so all depends upon these three bolts. On a steel body the door fits into a "socket" so along with the catch the door crushes up against a pressed and folded steel frame which helps in absorbing an impact. Fibreglass frames are stiff but how stiff ?

Re the socket and pressed frame, if I had a 32 mm CHS bar running along inside the door frame on the sill panel I would feel the system would be as good as it gets, something to stop it moving in. The door in a car like ours is only there to fill a hole and any load in my opinion has to be spread to the chassis, be it through the front hoop or direct to the chassis at the latch end.

Originally Posted by Rob. Smith

Drive the Cobra like it was a motor bike...be aware and be defensive.

I said that to my workmate as we drove home last night.
ADRs are for compliance, vigilance is for life.

[Aussie Mike]

I ran an extra 3x2" RHS section across between the dash hoop and the door lock pillar. This is in the section where the sill is so adds a bit more side impact protection as well as tying the dash hoop and the door lock pillar together.

There are 2 2"x2" sections inside the door between the door hinge and the latch. But the hinges are a bit lightweight in my opinion and I plan to add a reinforcement plate in there.



The beam is foamed and glassed in which should stiffen things up too.


I sill wouldn't want to be involved in a side impact crash in a Cobra as I reckon it would be messy.

Cheers

[Rob. Smith]

The RMC twin rail Chassis has the top rail of the chassis running where Mike put his extra bar. I still feel side intrusion is a bit scary......again the motorbike attitude.

[AC-460]

I agree with the motorbke theory....
That extra rail youve put in is at seat height.....if something collects you from the side or you slide sideways into something your body is going to be travelling towards the door....you will slide straight over the top of that bar...
an air bag is going to be the only thing that will absorb the impact....just a silly one maybe we should be filling the doors with styrene foam....!

[Outwest34au]

From this site, Texas Cobra Club section

I got T-boned yesterday pics

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[Zedn]

Originally Posted by Outwest34au

From this site, Texas Cobra Club section

I got T-boned yesterday pics

.

Scary stuff. Lucky he is ok, could have been much worse.