Standard Chimaera Roll Bar (Roll over bar) from TVR
Standard Chimaera Roll Bar (Roll over bar) from TVR
Author
Discussion

Overhere

Original Poster:

382 posts

253 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
I recently bought a standard TVR Chimaera roll bar, anyone ever fitted one? Any advice? I haven't offered it up yet but can't figure exactly how it bolts in. The rear fixing I need to pull up the carpet and hope my '99 Chimarea has the mountings, accoring to the bible it should. but the front fixings I can't see. I thought it would be the place where the lap belts fix but that's too far forward, I looked at where the lap belt fix at the back end of the belt but it's the wrong orientaion, they face forward and the bar need a side fixing.

Any help would be most appricated.

Thanks

spend

12,581 posts

281 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
Under the rear carpet (and foam insul) you will prob find small holes (my 93 car came with them in already). You just need to drill out holes bigger than the bar so it drops in then put foam round to seal the gap (I just used closed cell rubber stuff that comes in adhesive backed strips).

The front mounts go into the seatbelt strap mountings through to the outriggers. You need longer bolts (they are a special thread for seat belts which are not commonly available apart from automotive specialists BTW) and watch out for the spacers in the carpet. The bar needs a little strong encouragement to locate - this is known as pre-stressing wink Its practically a 3 man job BTW. Be very careful not to cross thread stuff.

Dave

jellison

12,803 posts

307 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
The standard TVR Chimaera roll bar is JUST a cosmetic thing (can't beleieve the burks even sold such rubbish) - totally pointless and would do less than nothing in a crash - file it in the bin and get a proper one or just don't bother.

spend

12,581 posts

281 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
Jelly you must be really pissed! Anything will help in a crash! Anything that provides a large box section across the chassis will also assist in preventing it twisting. Sometimes you really disappoint me wink

Who is the silly effer who put a mental engine in the car without employing NY city steel riggers to build him an exoskeleton of girders hehe

Dave

Overhere

Original Poster:

382 posts

253 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
Thanks Spend, I really appriciate your comments, I've spoken to the guy at Tower View, who is no longer in London but now in Norfolk, I want an easy modification (easy in terms of not moletining the car too much). I'm not stupid, I don't race this car and as Spend said, anything will help. I want it to drop in easy and give me "some " protection. I look at it like "if" I roll the car as it is vs. if I roll the car with this bar, If it fit's easy I can't immagine it won't help keep me alive.

So, back to my question, which Spend so kindly replied to. The front mountings go to the front seat belt mountings? I just can't see it. As I said I haven't offered it up yet but the front seat belt mounts are way forward, 4 or 5 inches forward of the back of the door opening, but if that is where they fix it should be easy, I was given bolts with the bar and can get any bolts needed.

Just to clarify, Spend, They fix to the lap belt fixings?

Really appriciate your help, acually, may need more help when I go to fix them... :-)

Thank you so much




spend

12,581 posts

281 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
Overhere said:
..front seat belt mounts are way forward, 4 or 5 inches forward of the back of the door opening...
That sounds distinctly odd? They are normally only 4/5" away from the 'cubbys' and behind the line of the door?

Dave

PS don't worry about Jelly, he's been rabbiting on about LSx but everybody interpreted it as he wanted lessex so now he is Mr Grumpy evilhehe

Edited by spend on Tuesday 25th December 20:15

jellison

12,803 posts

307 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
Spend - let be honest - what exactly DO YOU KNOW!

If the a Sh8t bar that is not triangulated is used, it could just as well bend around you and crush you WITH the bar.

All you smart arsed comment do get really dull after a while.

You are better of without it. Or if you are serious about rollover protection get the Roll centre one.

Overhere

Original Poster:

382 posts

253 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
Can I send you some photo's? just to get my barings?

jclayton@ndsuk.com is my addy...

Overhere

Original Poster:

382 posts

253 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
By the way, guys, this isn't a contest, we all have opinions and they are all very valid, slagging off only reduces us to... well berks. We are above this. If I was convinced by intelligent conversation that I'd made a mistake and the bar I'd bought would not do any good, then I'd consider doing something else.

Intelligence is the operative word.



spend

12,581 posts

281 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
jellison said:
Spend - let be honest - what exactly DO YOU KNOW!
That you are suffering from PMT?

Dave

Overhere

Original Poster:

382 posts

253 months

Tuesday 25th December 2007
quotequote all
:-)

Pink_Floyd

900 posts

251 months

Wednesday 26th December 2007
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Hi Jack,
I'll give you a ring tomorrow (Thursday) There are places for the roll bar which are about 4inches behind the seatbelt mount, I can show you some pictures, Unfortunatly my chasis is away at the moment otherwise I would have been able to measure it for you.

RichB

56,405 posts

314 months

Thursday 27th December 2007
quotequote all
Overhere said:
By the way, guys, this isn't a contest...
Get used to it, Jelly is known for his obscure comments, usually slagging-off anything TVR - frankly I don't know why he doesn't simply sell his Chimaera and buy a Corvette. hehe Obviously the TVR rollover bar should help in the event of a roll, even if it helps to allow the car to roll on over and right itself. There's chap with a Griffith who's done a great install of a factory bar, I'll see if I can dig out the link for you. Rich...

p.s. found it http://www.ballisticbanana.co.uk/tgprollbarinst.ht... it's not a TVR bar it's one of Mark & Dave's from Tower View but you may find Gary's article of interest anyway. smile R...

Edited by RichB on Thursday 27th December 17:22

3doorPete

9,991 posts

264 months

Thursday 27th December 2007
quotequote all
Mine is colour coded and is the 4 point std TVR one. Looks and feels very solid. I am sure there are some rolling instances (maybe sliding backwards upside down), where it might possibly do more harm than good, but in 99.9% of rollovers, I'd far rather have it there than risk being a headless bleeding stump sitting in the seat post roll!

JonRB

80,108 posts

302 months

Thursday 27th December 2007
quotequote all
RichB said:
p.s. found it http://www.ballisticbanana.co.uk/tgprollbarinst.ht... it's not a TVR bar it's one of Mark & Dave's from Tower View but you may find Gary's article of interest anyway. smile
Damn right it's not the TVR bar - it was supplied by Tower View who in turn were supplied by RollCentre, which is the one that jellison is talking about. Designed by Martin Short who is someone who really know how to design a roll bar.

The "official" TVR factory rollbar is, in contrast, little more than bit of bent tubing held in with self-tapping screws and is probably worse than not having one - you're as likely to give yourself a head injury against it in a shunt as to be saved by it.

As usual jelly said things in an abrasive and confrontational way - it's just his style - but what he's saying is spot on. The TVR bar really isn't up to much whilst the RollCentre one (as supplied by Tower View) is pretty much the best you can get for the Chimaera and Griffith.

Edited by JonRB on Thursday 27th December 17:49

jonjo

139 posts

226 months

Thursday 27th December 2007
quotequote all
That TVR roll bar is likely to take your head off in an accident. Dangerous things if not fully structurally integrated into the chassis. Could invalidate your insurance as well. So as well as having no head you wouldn't have any insurance cover either - not that you'd worry of course but your nearest and dearest might.

jonjo

tvrbob

11,197 posts

285 months

Thursday 27th December 2007
quotequote all
spend said:
jellison said:
Spend - let be honest - what exactly DO YOU KNOW!
That you are suffering from PMT?

Dave
rofl

jellison

12,803 posts

307 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
Hmm - nothing more from Spend now the concensus is that the TVR bar is a pile of Junk!

The Rollcentre one is good - just a pity it all sits on the shelf rather than bracing the front bars deeper and further forward down behind the seat (the way it should be done ideally) - but this kill the room for tall punters in how far the seats come back - so presumeably why not sold.

Always struck me as too narrow as well and could have been wider if the to of the bar was further forward with the front legs further forward too behind the seat.

These things are best done on a one on one cage basis IMO though.





Old car with th RollCentre bar - (let not call it the Tower bar - all they do it fit it (badly in my case - shagged my hood and would not pay for the damage)).

Anyone fitting the TVR one is is just bling and if that is all you care about - best fit it then!!wink

L33

3,469 posts

254 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
Any idea where you can buy roll (over) bars from?
I've been looking but have not found anything...
scratchchin

Zumbruk

7,848 posts

290 months

Monday 31st December 2007
quotequote all
L33 said:
Any idea where you can buy roll (over) bars from?
I've been looking but have not found anything...
scratchchin
Tower View Racing/Rollcentre.