Making the folded hood go down lower?

[petepetrolhead]

I've heard it's possible to make folded hood drop lower into the car (to improve rear visibility) by removing the "buttresses" that provide the top seatbelt mountings. I believe this can be done when a roll bar is installed that has seatbelt mountings on it so that the ones on the buttresses are no longer needed. Has anyone ever made this mod or seen it done? Any drawbacks apart from the roll bar obstructing the rear view?!

[bobfather]

Where the roof folds onto the seatbelt top mounts you need to ease the fold backwards so that it doesn't sit on the mounts. The roof should then go down so that the alloy brace elbows are sitting on the rear shelf. This will be the lowest it can go. Still some rear view obstruction but much better

[bobfather]

I did this



This is less bulky so the roof can sit on top again. Also significantly improves seatbelt free movement

[petepetrolhead]

Good advice - many thanks Bob

[jimed]

That does look a neat solution. Did you make the extension plates yourself or if not where did you get them/price?
Jim

[bobfather]

jimed said:

That does look a neat solution. Did you make the extension plates yourself or if not where did you get them/price?
Jim

It's all fabricated by me, this is the full job and bracket sizing





The bend in the plate is to take account of the upward sweeping angle of the original top mounting point surface. Without the bend the extension plate would exert a downward leverage on the original mounting socket. The bend was made in my garage using a vice and hammer so it isn't very precise but the leverage issue relates to the shoulder hight of the wearer so perfection isn't important. I just aimed for both bolt holes to be horizontal when in fitted



The easy access guides were made many years ago, they are 'handed' and made out of spare materials I had in stock. The round bar is welded into the plate

[QBee]

You are right - the combination of the roll hoop and the lowered pram hood substantially buggers up your rear view.

My advice is to pretend you are Audi-man, and simply ignore all mirrors, staying in the German lane on dual carriageways and motorways. Look straight ahead and ignore all hand signals.

Alternatively get one of these - the rear section can be removed, and goes in the boot with the targa panel.

[petepetrolhead]

Wow - haven't come across one of those before...! No doubt a fine solution for a Chimp, however I doubt both sections would go in the boot of a Griff

[QBee]

petepetrolhead said:

Wow - haven't come across one of those before...! No doubt a fine solution for a Chimp, however I doubt both sections would go in the boot of a Griff

I believe the guy on the right of the picture is fitting his to his Griff.....