Tower View Racing rollhoop - fitting advice?

[wombat172a]

Morning all,

I know Jack Valiant has one of these, as this is what's inspired to have a look at fitting mine again.

The problem I'm facing is the rear strut... I don't understand how it works. Each strut comes in 3 main parts. The first is the long piece that connects to the main hoop and has 2 nuts welded on.



The second is the part that bolts on to the top suspension mount


And the third part is a connecting tube that is slightly larger diameter than the other 2.


All seems simple enough, but I don't understand how the connecting tube secures. It slides over both parts, but no way to secure it. It has freedom to slide about 2 inches up and down over the 2 other tubes, I assume the welded nuts to the first piece have something to do with it but this tube can't slide past them.

Naturally I could ring up Tower View Racing, but they don't work sundays.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Chris

[redwedge5]

Once you have it fitted in place I think you have to drill through the larger diameter connecting sleeve and the roll bar parts that fit within it and then HT bolts (fixed with nuts) through the holes. I think it's 4 holes/bolts per side. I think the instructions and bolts should have come with the rollbar/fitting kit. I no longer have the Tower View roll bar fitted to my car, but if no one else can I'll try get some photos up later today of what I mean.

PS the welded nut I think you are referring to is there to fit bolts from a harness.

Edited by redwedge5 on Sunday 29th November 12:45

[redwedge5]

It's actually only 3 drill holes and bolts per side....






The bottom hole/bolt (with the screwdriver going through) secures the connecting sleeve to the fitted chassis mount, I think the middle hole/bolt holds the rear rollbar support in position in the connecting sleeve by stopping it slipping down and the top hole/bolt actually fixes the rear rollbar support in the connecting sleeve.

This rollbar was fitted by Towerview.

[wombat172a]

Super stuff!

I'm having another attempt today, and I'm struggling once more. Hopefully the photos will hope show the problem...







As far as I understand the roll hoop is designed to clamp around the horizontal outrigger strut. However this seems to place it a long way back, and would foul on the seatbelt real, and the horizontal body brace.

The next outrigger strut is located in front of the seats.

The only possible way I can see of mounting this in a decent position would be just to bolt it to the fibreglass floor.

Any thoughts? Is that rear strut of mine in a weird place, or am I missing an intermediate one?

Thanks,
Chris

[wombat172a]

Okay looking at the chassis diagrams on the wedge pages it looks like it's designed to fit the later chassis.

Earlier trailing arm chassis:


Later A-frame chassis



As can be seen on the later one, the rear outrigger strut is moved further forward which would have everything make sense.


I suppose I could remove the seatbolt reels and fit 4 point harnesses??

[grahamw48]

Don't want to seem rude but have you thought of lifting the body a few inches and giving those outriggers a good going over before fitting the rollbar ?

[wombat172a]

Definately agreed, will have to wait for a while though I'm afraid.

Winter isn't my favourite season for rolling around under the car.

[SEvans]

I've no idea about fitting a Tower View Roll bar specifically but I did fit a roll bar to my Tasmin, which also has the early chassis. I bought the hoop from the roll centre and made the supports. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures whilst I was fitting it, but from memory.....
The seat belts did need to be moved and I think I had to remove the mountings for them. I positioned the roll bar as far back as it would go on the chassis plates, even then it may be too far forward for a taller person (never been a problem for me). The hoop is mounted on the inside the fibreglass but I drilled out larger holes and put in PTFE spacers so in effect the roll bar is bolted directly to the chassis plate and not crushing the fibre glass. Sealed it all up so it doesn't leak. The supports are bolted to the 2 plates just inboard of diff mounting. I remeber it took hours to get it to fit right...not an easy job. If you need more info let me know. Cheers Steve.