Chimaera Roll Bar
Discussion
I am in the process of up grading my Chimaera 4.0L to a 5.0L from a dealer at the moment and am going to have a Roll bar fitted.
Both me and my other half are 5'11 and don't have a massive ammount of space in the car so would like to look at a Chimeara in the flesh prior to ordering a roll bar probably from either Roll centre or Peninsular, and whonder if any one who lives in Surrey / the south east has a roll bar fitted to their Chimaera and would be kind enough to let me have a look at in situe.
Any advice or experiences would also be very welcom as well.
Both me and my other half are 5'11 and don't have a massive ammount of space in the car so would like to look at a Chimeara in the flesh prior to ordering a roll bar probably from either Roll centre or Peninsular, and whonder if any one who lives in Surrey / the south east has a roll bar fitted to their Chimaera and would be kind enough to let me have a look at in situe.
Any advice or experiences would also be very welcom as well.
Loon - I'd be interested to see it too - any chance of some pics. on your profile? The factory offer one do they?
Also, is it possible to fit roll bars in the Audi TT/Boxster style (ie. individually over each seat)? Looking at the one on the Roll Centre website, not too sure whether its aesthetically pleasing (IMO)....
Cheers,
Tommo
Also, is it possible to fit roll bars in the Audi TT/Boxster style (ie. individually over each seat)? Looking at the one on the Roll Centre website, not too sure whether its aesthetically pleasing (IMO)....
Cheers,
Tommo
There are some pics on the Tower View web site and the reasoning on why they and Shorty from Roll Centre did it the way they did is also on there. The prototype was done for my Griff 500. The design followed competition spec rules and regs. This is why the design is different. Main reason is that the factory ones and others have the upright down by the side of the seat, it is next to your head. Any type of accident and your prescious head will make contact with that bar. I have seen several like this and it is a little scary.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Factory Bar and all others that are not made of FIA approved tube, are pretty useless if the worst ever happens. The Tower / Rollcentre one is good but as I would imagine with all to clear the folding bit at the back of chim or griff it it fairly low. Ok for me as only 5'6", not great it over 6ft. I have had seat raised a the back about 10-15mil (front same), commonly done due to rack apparently not just me being short. Better to have a good bar even if a bit lower as if it goes over you head can go down a few inches but not two foot if not bar - I am in Romford at the moment (moving back to Ealing v.soon) and work in Sunbury - if you fancy a look.
Cheers
Jon - Chim500
Cheers
Jon - Chim500
quote:
Also, is it possible to fit roll bars in the Audi TT/Boxster style (ie. individually over each seat)? Looking at the one on the Roll Centre website, not too sure whether its aesthetically pleasing (IMO)....
Cheers,
Tommo
Peninsula do such a thing - would be interesting to know if it would actually work in an accident though.
On a slightly different tack... have those who have fitted roll bars noticed if the chassis benefits from increased stiffness? Seems like an excellent side effect if it does.
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Peninsula do such a thing - would be interesting to know if it would actually work in an accident though.
On a slightly different tack... have those who have fitted roll bars noticed if the chassis benefits from increased stiffness? Seems like an excellent side effect if it does.
The problem with the set hoop ones is the problem of that you have nothing in the middle to protect you should anything come done from the top. I have seem that style collapse when I saw a Cobra roll at about 30-40 mph. Passenger ended up being the roll bar.
The chassis stiffness is improved. My 520 used to flex in the middle even when it was a standard 390 and the roll bar stopped that. Noticed the same sort of thing with the Griff as well but not quite so much. To get the best effect it must triangulate onto the chassis though.
The roll bar issue is always a compromise on a road car especially if you want to keep the convertible side. I would have liked the Tower View one to be a bit higher but then I can't take down the roof and more importantly I have a pice of steel cms from my head. As I am more likely to have an accident where the car doesn't roll but my head could move, I don't want that steel there as it could end up doing me more damage!
Steve
Peninsula have revised their roll-bars and now use much beefier tubing. I believe it is the same stuff they use in Tasmin racers. As you can see - it's really substantial.
The two uprights don't go through the parcel shelf, but go through the rear bulkhead into the boot. This has allowed them to move the bar back an inch or two so clearance for heads / helmets is improved.
Certainly looks the business.....
The two uprights don't go through the parcel shelf, but go through the rear bulkhead into the boot. This has allowed them to move the bar back an inch or two so clearance for heads / helmets is improved.
Certainly looks the business.....
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Any idea of they can be chrome plated and how much that would cost?
I asked for mine to be Chrome Plated, and it was at the platers for six months before they admitted that it wouldn't fit in their tank. It was a choice either to cut it into a kit of parts or have it powder coated - it was powder coated.
As for the cost - yes it does add to the cost, quite a bit !
Thanks for all the replies, having a bit of a nightmare at work at the moment so so busy very rare !!!!! Hence no replys sorry
Having spoken to both TVR today (Roll bar unfitted £142 +vat), Tower view fia approved (about £500 fitted) and Peninsular not approved but look great, as I want the roll bar to be very functinal for me and the good Lady I think its probably the Rollcentre one but the TVR one is very tempting as its so much cheaper I know all the yo get what you pay for bit but its still about £350 difference
Loon I would like to have a look at some time is your on the Chimaera or the cerbie ?
Jon I would also like to have a look at your as I think the rollcentre one is probably my first choice (purely from a safty point of view as I know its been tested) I work twice a week in Hammersmith so just let me know when you are back in Ealing and maybee we can meet up e-mail in profile.
My only concern about all this is some of the comments about head hitting steel in an accident, I can't see me ever rolling my chimaera (famous last words) however once saw someone do it at about 30mph on a roundabout and it was a very sobering experience watching the front screen fold flat, guy got out ok but very very lucky !!!!
Just not sure if I wnat my head to hit concrete or metal, probably metal how morbid !!!
Once again thanks
Having spoken to both TVR today (Roll bar unfitted £142 +vat), Tower view fia approved (about £500 fitted) and Peninsular not approved but look great, as I want the roll bar to be very functinal for me and the good Lady I think its probably the Rollcentre one but the TVR one is very tempting as its so much cheaper I know all the yo get what you pay for bit but its still about £350 difference
Loon I would like to have a look at some time is your on the Chimaera or the cerbie ?
Jon I would also like to have a look at your as I think the rollcentre one is probably my first choice (purely from a safty point of view as I know its been tested) I work twice a week in Hammersmith so just let me know when you are back in Ealing and maybee we can meet up e-mail in profile.
My only concern about all this is some of the comments about head hitting steel in an accident, I can't see me ever rolling my chimaera (famous last words) however once saw someone do it at about 30mph on a roundabout and it was a very sobering experience watching the front screen fold flat, guy got out ok but very very lucky !!!!
Just not sure if I wnat my head to hit concrete or metal, probably metal how morbid !!!
Once again thanks
Just a point to note - my understanding is that the Rollcentre one isn't actually FIA approved or tested as such.
However, Martin Short (who designed it) has designed and built it to the same standards as his FIA-approved & tested competition bars, so it is highly likely that if this design were to go to the expense of being tested and approved then it would pass.
At the end of the day, its still got to be the best on the market for the Chimaera & Griffith. The other designs are just bits of (albeit hefty) bent metal by comparison.
Regards
Jon
However, Martin Short (who designed it) has designed and built it to the same standards as his FIA-approved & tested competition bars, so it is highly likely that if this design were to go to the expense of being tested and approved then it would pass.
At the end of the day, its still got to be the best on the market for the Chimaera & Griffith. The other designs are just bits of (albeit hefty) bent metal by comparison.
Regards
Jon
The main point to ask is the material they are made from.
All competition bars are made from CDS (Cold drawn seamless) tubing which is immensely strong.
Most "road" cosmetic bars are made from ERW (Electro resistance welded) tube which as the name suggests has a welded seam running along the length, is much cheaper, has a very much thinner wall section and is thus nothing like as strong.
Summary, get one made from CDS, and I reckon the Rollcentre one will be as all their competition bars will be but you ought to check.
All competition bars are made from CDS (Cold drawn seamless) tubing which is immensely strong.
Most "road" cosmetic bars are made from ERW (Electro resistance welded) tube which as the name suggests has a welded seam running along the length, is much cheaper, has a very much thinner wall section and is thus nothing like as strong.
Summary, get one made from CDS, and I reckon the Rollcentre one will be as all their competition bars will be but you ought to check.
quote:
Just a point to note - my understanding is that the Rollcentre one isn't actually FIA approved or tested as such.
However, Martin Short (who designed it) has designed and built it to the same standards as his FIA-approved & tested competition bars, so it is highly likely that if this design were to go to the expense of being tested and approved then it would pass.
At the end of the day, its still got to be the best on the market for the Chimaera & Griffith. The other designs are just bits of (albeit hefty) bent metal by comparison.
Regards
Jon
I'm surprised that the Rollcentre roll bar for the Chimeara is not FIA approved, this is worth checking. The fact that it may pass however is immeterial. As far as competition is concerned, if it aint FIA approved, it's illegal!
I would always go for Rollcentre, I use the Rollcentre cage in my Racecar, and chose it after having a good look at the others. i.e. Safety Devices etc.....
The Rollcentre cages / bars are generally regarded as being very high quality and are made from CDS as someone else on this site has already said.
This may be a stupid question, but is the el-cheapo TVR bar actually bolted to the chassis? Knowing TVR its probably fixed to fibreglass with half a dozen self tappers!
Jas.
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This may be a stupid question, but is the el-cheapo TVR bar actually bolted to the chassis? Knowing TVR its probably fixed to fibreglass with half a dozen self tappers!
It is bolted to the seatbelt mount at the bottom and to the rear mount on the parcel shelf. Shorty took one look at the seat belt mount and shook his head. The bar is mounted directly onto the chassis as a result using specially designed clamps.
The seats are simply bolted to the fibreglass floor though. Planning to fit Tower View re-inforcing bars to ensure the seat stays where it should. Got them on the 520.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
quote:
quote:
This may be a stupid question, but is the el-cheapo TVR bar actually bolted to the chassis? Knowing TVR its probably fixed to fibreglass with half a dozen self tappers!
It is bolted to the seatbelt mount at the bottom and to the rear mount on the parcel shelf. Shorty took one look at the seat belt mount and shook his head. The bar is mounted directly onto the chassis as a result using specially designed clamps.
The seats are simply bolted to the fibreglass floor though. Planning to fit Tower View re-inforcing bars to ensure the seat stays where it should. Got them on the 520.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Steve,
Are you saying that the TVR rollbar, (NOT the Rollcentre one) is infact only attached to fibreglass (GULP!) and NOT the Chassis?
Jas.
quote:
Are you saying that the TVR rollbar, (NOT the Rollcentre one) is infact only attached to fibreglass (GULP!) and NOT the Chassis?
I have actually seen a roll-over bar bolted to the fibreglass! In an accident it would probably have bashed the driver on the back of the head! However I'm absolutely certain the factory roll bar is attached to the chassis, as are the Tower View ones.
I have actually seen a roll-over bar bolted to the fibreglass! In an accident it would probably have bashed the driver on the back of the head!
If he was lucky!!
Even on a steel bodied racecar you need to weld spreader plates under the feet of the rollcage to spread the load in the event of a roll over thereby preventing the feet from punching through the floorpan!
Jas.
If he was lucky!!
Even on a steel bodied racecar you need to weld spreader plates under the feet of the rollcage to spread the load in the event of a roll over thereby preventing the feet from punching through the floorpan!
Jas.
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