Chromed/SS Roll Bar?
Discussion
I'm wanting to uprate the rollbar on my Seight from the standard to the decent FIA one with diagonal struts. Is there a chromed or stainless steel one available, or do I have to get the black powder coated one, strip it down and get it plated privately?
Also, am I right in thinking th FIA rollbar is slightly higher than the standard. My head is only just under the top cross bar, which I'm not liking too much....
Finally, who does the best rollbar of this type. Is it Westfield?
Also, am I right in thinking th FIA rollbar is slightly higher than the standard. My head is only just under the top cross bar, which I'm not liking too much....
Finally, who does the best rollbar of this type. Is it Westfield?
If we want to get all scientific, then chrome plating a roll bar is not a great idea - as it can weaken the tube. Same applies to wishbones and the like, but it could be argued that they are less safety critical.
Probably easiest to get the factory one - they can't be made much cheaper (since they are made of stronger tube than the normal chassis tubes), and it's a fairly well proven product, should fit without any drama, etc.
Edited to add, yes the RAC 'approved' roll bar is taller than the standard cosmetic (it is purely cosmetic - grab it in the middle and see if you can waggle it, you can, scary) as the point is that it will protect your head if you are in the unfortunate position of having to use it.
Moomin
>> Edited by moomin on Thursday 8th May 10:12
Probably easiest to get the factory one - they can't be made much cheaper (since they are made of stronger tube than the normal chassis tubes), and it's a fairly well proven product, should fit without any drama, etc.
Edited to add, yes the RAC 'approved' roll bar is taller than the standard cosmetic (it is purely cosmetic - grab it in the middle and see if you can waggle it, you can, scary) as the point is that it will protect your head if you are in the unfortunate position of having to use it.
Moomin
>> Edited by moomin on Thursday 8th May 10:12
Cheers Moomin. Didn't realise chroming did that, will think twice about it for any strength reliant components. I think I'll go for the Westfield one in that case - the blurb says it is RAC competition spec, epoxy coated F.I.A. approved at £241. Sounds reasonable for what it does over and above the standard one.
Anyone know how easy these are to fit to a Westie wide body? Is there much GRP cutting to do, and can it be done whilst still maintaining a working lockable boot lid?
Anyone know how easy these are to fit to a Westie wide body? Is there much GRP cutting to do, and can it be done whilst still maintaining a working lockable boot lid?
I've got the FIA rollbar on my Megabusa. With this item fitted you cannot have a boot at all as the extra bracing struts pass through the sides of where the boot used to be.
Also you cannot have any hood either as there is no hood available that goes over the taller rollbar.
Your choice is safety or practicality - you can't have both in a Westie.
Also you cannot have any hood either as there is no hood available that goes over the taller rollbar.
Your choice is safety or practicality - you can't have both in a Westie.
BFV8, now worries, I tend to be of the opinion os safety first - personally I prefer the powder coated look anyway 
It should be fairly straight forward to fit (I had mine welded in at the factory, so have not actually had to fit one first hand). First thing to check is that your chassis has the brackets for the rear roll bar struts - it should have. If you peer into the wheel arch, you should see them somewhere near the end of the petrol tank, welded to the tube which comes down from the top of the rear panel to the very back of the panel (I think!).
Contrary to what Charisma says, you _can_ have a boot box with the RAC roll bar, but is needs some deft GRP chopping to allow the rear struts to pass through it. I think you will struggle to keep your boot box lid though (never looked closely at one to see how they work). I think the roof may just fit, or could certainly be modified to do so.
There's a guy on the WSCC forum who has just done this exact swap, and he's put a page up on his website about doing it: Click here
Also me mate Bob did a nice job of cutting his boot box to suit: Click here
Hope this helps.
Moomin
>> Edited by moomin on Thursday 8th May 11:41
It should be fairly straight forward to fit (I had mine welded in at the factory, so have not actually had to fit one first hand). First thing to check is that your chassis has the brackets for the rear roll bar struts - it should have. If you peer into the wheel arch, you should see them somewhere near the end of the petrol tank, welded to the tube which comes down from the top of the rear panel to the very back of the panel (I think!).
Contrary to what Charisma says, you _can_ have a boot box with the RAC roll bar, but is needs some deft GRP chopping to allow the rear struts to pass through it. I think you will struggle to keep your boot box lid though (never looked closely at one to see how they work). I think the roof may just fit, or could certainly be modified to do so.
There's a guy on the WSCC forum who has just done this exact swap, and he's put a page up on his website about doing it: Click here
Also me mate Bob did a nice job of cutting his boot box to suit: Click here
Hope this helps.
Moomin
>> Edited by moomin on Thursday 8th May 11:41
Great, thanks. The links are really useful. I could make a cover like that I reckon, and even with some degree of waterproofing by making rubber boot-type things around where the rollbar enters the bootlid. Have to see whether that'd work in practice though.
Still worried about the loss of the hood. I did hear about one chap who went to a sailmaker to get a custom hood, and got a really nice one made up, so I guess that's an option.
Still worried about the loss of the hood. I did hear about one chap who went to a sailmaker to get a custom hood, and got a really nice one made up, so I guess that's an option.
Big Fat,
Probably worth a look in the Yellow Pages for your local area. There is bound to be a trimmer somewhere nearby who can probably modify your roof for you - it will just need extending a little bit to fit over the bar I expect.
Yet I have a nagging suspicion in the back of my mind that the original hood might fit - you just abandon the frame part perhaps? Not sure, as you can see in my profile, I don't do weather protection!
Moomin
Probably worth a look in the Yellow Pages for your local area. There is bound to be a trimmer somewhere nearby who can probably modify your roof for you - it will just need extending a little bit to fit over the bar I expect.
Yet I have a nagging suspicion in the back of my mind that the original hood might fit - you just abandon the frame part perhaps? Not sure, as you can see in my profile, I don't do weather protection!
Moomin
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