Wedge Roll Bar

[Tim Wood]

I have been looking into various roll bar options recently and I think I've settled for a Peninsula
one to be fitted sometime in March. UK410+vat (incl. fitting). Roll centre 225+vat but want 6 weeks notice + about 250 to fit !!

Question is most people go for the Silver powder coating but as I want the bar to be as unobtrusive as poss. I was thinking of going for a Magnolia finish to try and blend with the interior. Should look better from inside on the 1 occassion per year when the roofs up

Has anyone gone for this and any pics of a unit fitted
would be great. I'm worried about fit as the rear bulkhead on mine seems to be much deeper than on other
400 series cars.

If anybody has a roll bar they don't need anymore I would be interested.

[stig]

Why not go for black? I don't think that a magnolia finish would stand the test of time very well and would soon look very grubby. Imagine all those little flies that will be smacking into it at xxxmph!!

As far as where to go for it. Peninsula may be cheaper, but if you're having one fitted for the purpose which it is intended (ie. to save your noggin in the event of a crash), I'd feel more comfortable with Rollcentre's experience. Have you ever had a look at the cage in Shorty's Cerbera ?!!

[JMorgan]

Is this a shiny bit or proper approved etc?

[Tim Wood]

As it's for 'occasional' trackday use I don't particularly need 'FIA' etc... certification.

I have been led to understand that the Peninsular unit is mounted to the chassis which would certainly give a substantial increase in 'insurance' cover over nothing at all ?

If I was really paranoid I would go for a full cage but they are too intrusive and heavy. I would rather do without but I know a roll bar make sense in these cars.

The other point is that fitting a full harness w/o a r/bar is courting disaster.

[patrick]

Tim, my rollbar was fitted by Peninsula, and yes it's silver.

From memory, the differences between the Rollcentre bar & Peninsula:
Rollcentre / Tower View fix them via clamps and as such can be adjusted for a close fit.
Peninsula is welded to Chassis, and is not adjustable once installed.
I've noticed that my rollbar is quite a bit lower than any rollbar fitted to other wedges.

I'm sure Steve / Cirks will be able to give a more comprehensive reply on the Rollcentre bar.

[shpub]

quote:
As it's for 'occasional' trackday use I don't particularly need 'FIA' etc... certification.

The problem is that you want to know that the bar will work when you need it to and that means either crash testing or relying on the experience of someone who knows what they are doing.

The reason that the Tower View one uses clamps is that Shorty was extremely concerned that he could not get good enough welds onto the chassis points to take the load that the bar would need to support without removing the whole body. The rear chassis on the Wedges is a bit wierd in this respect and in the end, special jigs are needed to locate the bar correctly. It also means it can be removed as well.

The construction of the bar is the same as for an approved cage and includes getting the right cureves so that the tube does not narrow. If the tube shows any narrowing or distortion, it is dramatically reduced in strength which means it is likely to further bend or deform under loading. This is an absolute no-no as far as the MSA is concerned and yet many bars I have seen have this. The bar has been scrutineered over 150 times now and was extensively examined when I got the Wedge its competion car log. The design formed the basis of the Tasmin racers roll cage which I am taking the front hoops from to modify the bar to a full roll cage.

I have crashed the Wedge several times including over 70 mph into a tyre wall at Goodwood. Hard enough to bend OZ alloys, smash a steering rack and bend the hub upright. The roll bar/chassis did not bend or shift an inch despite the rear wheel taking an impact big enough to bend an OZ wheel.

I have seen "cosmetic" roll bars simply collapse in the past. The most recent was an AC Cobra that rolled at around 30 mph. The roll bar crumpled leaving the passengers head to hit and be dragged along the road. It looked really strong except the mounts ripped out and the bar buckled.

In the end of the day, Tim it is your choice and your head.

If you want to camoflage it... get it covered in magnolia leathercloth.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[JMorgan]

I asked after seeing a photo of a Wedge flipped on a track day and held up by the boot on a barrier. No bars for noggin in sight. Scary.

[Tim Wood]

O.K. I know we don't really want to see this but have you got a copy to e-mail ? It will probably speed up
my decision making process

I thought about the leather covering ( as per a Yellow Griff I've seen ) but that's gonna add a lot of cost
which is still a major consideration for me.

What's the benefit of T.View fitting the Roll Centre
bar ?? ( not being 'sarky' BTW )

Cheers

Tim 450 SE

[JMorgan]

It was shown around at a meeting several years ago. I understand that all were OK.

[shpub]

quote:

O.K. I know we don't really want to see this but have you got a copy to e-mail ? It will probably speed up
my decision making process

I thought about the leather covering ( as per a Yellow Griff I've seen ) but that's gonna add a lot of cost
which is still a major consideration for me.

What's the benefit of T.View fitting the Roll Centre
bar ?? ( not being 'sarky' BTW )

Right if you want to be scared go to www.t-v-r-services.co.uk and goto the rollbar section. I won't describe the picture but have a sickbag ready.

Why Tower View? They have fitted more of these bars than anyone else. They also own the design as they commissioned Roll Centre to design and make they as are all their roll bars. The Roll Centre one might be a varient of the Tasmin which assumes a flat back hatch and has different side mounts. I don't know.

The way it is fitted is quite involved which is why the fitting cost is high. The 450 is not that straightforward as it has yet another different chassis which requires some mods to be made to the fittings. These are made specifically for the car. They have done other 450s though so they know about these problems.


PS I know you not being sarky BTW

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Tim Wood]

Oh !

Guess I need to look into it even further, I didn't
check out the Tower price yet I just expected them
to be the most expensive.

The guy in that Griff must have smarted.

Cheers Steve,

Tim

[tvr350i]

Hi there Wedgepeople!

I installed my, delivered by Roll Centre , Roll bar 100% by myself on my 350i -87 last winter. That´s the way we do it here in sweden... At first, it didn´t look so good since they( tower v...*who?* forgot to send me all the parts . But after some homework(means cutting steel and welding) i suddenly had the missing part and started up the real work. First it didn´t look like it would fit 100% to the frame, but when it finally was there, IT SHURE DID !!! Cutting the hole to the "rear compartment" was my biggest problem. At least i was nervous for a while! No problems fitting full harnest afterwards. I only replaced the "top bolts" with black ones. To me it seams like Roll centres roll bar is serious stuff, can be fitted at home and is REALLY good looking too !

It´s was all like Steve decribed it in his book. Oh, sorry, i ment: HIS WEDGE BIBLE!

Thanks Steve.
/Bengt

[shpub]

quote:
The guy in that Griff must have smarted.

He survived with nothing more than a few stitches and a bit less hair but the ambulance people thought they were about to find a squashed body.

I was concerned about rollover protection when I had my first Griff 500 a few years ago. Had I kept it rather than swapping for a Cerbie, with a full cage, I would have fitted a roll bar.

The acciddent happened on one of the roads I drive on to work and I cannot work out how he flipped the car as it is a bit straightforward bend.

As for home fitting... that would save you money. As Bengt says it is not rocket science but it does take time and cutting through the GRP is a bit nerve wracking. You do get an access panel which makes replacing the rear shocks and diff a lot easier though. I know several who have fitted but most people feel nervous about it.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Nacnud]

Peninsula are fitting a roll bar to my SEAC. I think it uses bigger guage tubing than the older roll bars.

I've gone for silver powder coated as it won't look too out of place with my metallic light blue paint and cream interior.

[JMorgan]

Any prices yet. It does concern me for track days and I intend getting this beasty out. As for the panels Steve, I have heard that they need proper refitting due to the pressure underneath at speed? I won't attempt this myself.

[shpub]

Panels coming adrift under speed. I don't think so! For a start there is a large lump of steel directly under the panel which would deflect any pressure and secondly, using self tappers to locate the panel and silkaflex to seal it and you have trouble removing it to get access. Never been a problem.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk