Roll Bar

[Andy Lynch]

Can anyone advise who can supply a roll bar for an S3?

I an looking for a simple bar not a cage, I will be using the car for sprints and hill climbs.

Thanks

Andy

[glenrobbo]

Have a word with these guys:

http://www.safetydevices.com/motorsport/products/r...

They should be able to advise on your requirements.

Also I believe Demon Tweeks offer roll cages and rollover bars, not sure if they do custom fit ones though.

HTH Andy.

( You should keep the S for best and use the Chim for sprinting! )

[Andy Lynch]

Small steps. The dark side is strong.

[GreenV8S]

I strongly recommend you sit in an S with the bar you're considering before you get it fitted. I spent a long time with Tower View figuring out the best packaging for mine, and I've seen some that are far less convenient.

[glenrobbo]

Another thought: You could ask the sprinting boys like Simon Smith ( Red Cossie- engined S3 ) or John Carter ( Navy Blue V8S ).

Edit: Or GreenV8S

Edited by glenrobbo on Tuesday 20th September 23:49

[Griffinr]

Andy Lynch said:

Can anyone advise who can supply a roll bar for an S3?

I an looking for a simple bar not a cage, I will be using the car for sprints and hill climbs.

Thanks

Andy

Be interested to hear what you find, I've been thinking of getting one myself but not got round to it. Potential group buy maybe.
Rob.

[Andy Lynch]

Roll Center do a bar for the S, about £275 + post + vat + fitting, I am also waiting a price from another company, will keep you posted

Andy

[GreenV8S]

I don't know whether you're planning to fit a harness, but if you aren't you should. But you absolutely need rollover protection before you can fit a harness otherwise it turns your car into a death trap.

Questions to ask about the bar:

1. Is it high enough in the middle that you can see under it in the rear view mirror? The bigger the gap between the roof hoop and the top of the bar, the more rear visibility you're losing. It should be very close to touching the interior trim of the roof hoop.
2. Can you still use the standard lap/diagonal seat belt? (Many bars obstruct the bottom spool mount.)
3. Is it far enough back to miss your head if you sit in your normal driving position with a crash helmet on?
4. Does it provide a position for a competition harness mounting eye bolt that puts the bolt close enough to the center line of the seat and close enough to level with the top of the seat, and far enough back from the seat to fit either a 'Y' rear strap or two separate straps? See the MSA Blue Book for the definition of 'close enough') Note that under the current regs, you can no longer attach both straps to the same eye bolt so if you need to use a 'Y' strap it's extremely difficult to get enough space to accomodate it.
5. Does it allow you to use the full range of positions of the standard seat? Many bars prevent the standard seat from being slid fully back or reclined because the front leg obstructs the corner of the seat back. If you're planning to change the seat for a more supportive one, be aware that rollover bar / seat clearance will be a limiting factor so figure that into your requirements.

While you're dealing with people in the business of heavy duty fabrication, consider getting them to fit some seat brace bars under the floor. You will be amazed how much the standard seat flexes under heavy G loads, and I've even seen them rip clean out of the floor in an accident.

After you've done that, fit a throttle stop. That's an easy DIY project which will save you from a lot of frustration.

[DamianS3]

Hello

I am interested in one of these too.. I would like something like magpies rear section with harness bars please .

Thanks

Damian S3

[magpies]

magpies said:

one of the problems in retro fitting a roll bar is what to attach it to. The normal place for the main hoop to sit is the small horizontal land below the seat belt reel mech is. However it is not easily accessed from below for the fixings - can be done but had to slot the end of the setscrews to allow the nyloc nuts to be tightened. Also means you have to fit harnesses. The rear stay bases will also need to be bolted down and there is no chassis under the rear parcel shelf- can just go through the fibreglass and use large spreader plates but not ideal - I attached plates to the chassis when I had the body off - just visible on the photo in front of the fuel tank. The cage(!) will have to be bespoke as no 2 TVRs are the same and also are different from one side to the other. Unfortunately the company that made mine no longer exists

[magpies]

[GreenV8S]

Don't bolt the bar to the fiberglass at any point. If you do that, the bar is going to give no protection at all and is likely to be just one more thing bouncing off you during your collision. It is possible to mount the front leg to the seat belt attachment points and then relocate the seat belt spool to the leg. Some don't do that and compromise the original seat belt. I think it's important to keep the original seat belt usable, even if it's just for MOTs. On the V8S, there is a chassis rail under the parcel shelf which can just barely be reached as long as the rear stays are positioned and angled correctly, but it needs a lot of care. I seem to remember the V6 being slightly different here and I don't know how much difference that makes to the rollover bar packaging.