Rollbar Material

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Alright, before you go and "BLAST" me I did a search, TO NO AVAIL. I tried Rollbar Material, Rollbar and material, Material for rollbar, and several other options. I kept coming up with the same 25 or so threads which had the words in them but "DID NOT" give the material one would use for rollbars.

So, could someone, DV perhaps, step forward and tell us all what to make rollbars out of, material wise????


OOOOPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSSSSS, I also forgot to ask, what is the measurement between the two legs of the main hoop????

Thanks in advance, Earl.

[mickmate]

The SCCA compliant cages I have built for ITA, ITB, and ITS calls for a 1018 or 1020 alloy DOM tube. That is a seamless mechanical tube. Make sure you look at the inside of the tube and be sure there is no seam. We have seen some cars built with ERW (Electrical Resistance Welded) tube that shouldn't have been. I am using 1020 for my frame and the stuff is hard, it rings like a bell when you rap it. Make sure it is tube, that is OD specific, not a pipe which is specified by ID. See what rulebooks call for, they update that stuff regularly based on real experience of what works.

[Three Peaks]

If you need to satisfy SCCA or IMCA it must me minimum 1 3/4" OD DOM steel with .134" wall thickness.
Otherwise, the ERA's, Kirkhams, and most of the other manufacturers use 1 1/2" OD DOM and FFR uses 2". Expect to pay around $5.50 a foot for the material alone and you'll have to buy a full 20' piece at most suppliers.

Finding someone to bend them can be tough I found. I finally found a place that will do small batches and will charge me about $100 for the 2 roll bars I'll install. You'll also need the short stubs for the slip fit for the brace. HTH- Bob

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Where can I buy the Rollbars already made, plated or non plated, maybe from a forum vendor?????????? Thanks, Earl

[jarendall]

Try www.cobraaccessories.com or ShellValley cobra, the roll bars on my car where custom made to fit inside my top, they are made of chrome molly steel and chrome plated, the slip tubes for the 1" studs are stainless steel boiler tubes. They are not designed to meet SCCA specs, however they are fully functional and should withstand a rollover.

[niles]

Randy, owner of Hunters cobras, is making his own roll bars & side pipes. Suggest you ask Randy, he'll make many custom parts.
gn

[mickmate]

Centre to centre is 12" on the 4000. They look like they're all around $385, I think I'll bend a few up at that price! I like to see them leaned back at the correct angle and made of the 1 1/2" not the 2". It's surprising how noticeable details like that are.

[Michael4yah]

Mick your so right , Its in the details. Too bad there are people out there who put out inferrior parts that hurt the design. I can understand trying to make something better but not following designs simply cause its too much work or it costs a few dollars extra is unacceptable. When you think about it with all the different kit car co's that have come and gone together with all the different suppliers that have come down the Pike Im suprised the original design has even lasted as long as this. Cheers , Michael

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Okay, so I've seen two different things about racing....one said 1 1/2 the other 1 3/4.....both said .134.....which is correct????

Not that I plan on racing but if I ever get the wild hair I want to be able.................

[rbray]

I'm looking for someone that has a mandrel bender to make a few 90 dregree pieces for me. My friend is a professional welder and he says he can use them together to make a cage for me

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Roger, what size pipe do you need....1 1/2 or 1 3/4.....120 or .134?????????????

[rbray]

Hi Earl,
I'm in the design process now, so I'm not sure yet but it looks from the above posts that I will need 1.34

[EarlsflyinCobra]

Hi Roger......The .120 or .134 is the wall thickness....most racing applications require the .134.
The 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 is the diameter of the pipe.....again I think most racing apps are 1 3/4 diameter.

I'm getting ready to order some dies for my friends mandrel bender. We had planned on ordering the 1 1/2 but may order the 1 3/4...maybe both....>Thanks, Earl

[rbray]

how much does a set of dies cost?

[EarlsflyinCobra]

The dies are around $225 for the mandrel bender he has.

[Mike Simard]

If you use 1-3/4 .12 wall. The .12 wall allows you to slip fit over 1-1/2 diameter. That way you can mount 1-1/2 stubs in the floor of the trunk angling forward for the brace to slip over. There's no need to conform to racing wall thickness because the single hoop wouldn't be allowed in any class that specifed wall thickness anyway.
BTW, if you just need a regular Cobra hoop, you might be able to buy one from Factory Five and adapt it. FFR is a good source for odds and ends, good prices and service.

[EarlsflyinCobra]

I am going with double hoops. I think I will use 1 3/4 .134 just to be on the safe side if I EVER DECIDE TO RACE IT.

[Three Peaks]

Earl,

Keep me in the loop. I'm curious to see how this all works out- price-wise.

Bob

[bmcmillan]

The $285.00 Stainless from Cobra Accessories is really, really nice. It comes unwelded, but the downtube is already machined. I took it to Fast Eddies and he laid a gorgeous bead on it for $40.00. I didn't want to grind the welds because that would be like grinding the smile of Mona Lisa (or the jugs off Pam A.).

Don't worry about SCCA rules - a Cobra hoop isn't close to legal for lots of other reasons.

Good luck

[Three Peaks]

The Cobra Accesories and Cobra Restorer's roll bar hoops are too short. They are listed as 36" tall and I need around 40" minimum and preferably around 42" to meet racing school requirements of 2" clearance.