Roll Bar Install Complete w/Pics

[Mystic_Cobra]

I finally got the roll bar installed in my Mystic last weekend and although it wasn't fun, I'm glad it's done.

Spent a total of 28 hrs, had a helper for 2 of those hrs and 2 of those hrs were spent working on some misc wiring issues.

If you are thinking of attempting this, feel free to ask specific questions, I'm sure I'll miss something. I'll try to throw in some details with the accompanying pics.

Jimmy Bost

[Mystic_Cobra]

I didn't take pictures before I started but I am installing a slightly used Autopower 4-point bolt in Roll bar. Removing the interior is not that bad, but very important. I thought I could get away with keeping the rear seat backs in place - WRONG. Remove all the seats, the upper and lower interior side panels, and pull back the carpet in the back seat area. Here's where one of the floor braces bolted to the floor on the driver's side. Thats my knee in the lower left corner. :)

[Mystic_Cobra]

This is where the rear bar bolts into the wheel wells. I installed the bar without the interior to make sure it fit well and I had all the holes right. Then I unbolted it to get the interior in with it.

[Mystic_Cobra]

The toughest part of the installation was trying to get the rear braces and the interior side panels in the car together. Since I didn't want to notch out the side panels, it took a lot more work. This side came out better than the driver's side. Note the curve coming from the hole where I got a litle crazy with the grinder. If you look closely at the horizontal line that runs across the panel, you can see that I cut the panel along that line. I had to cut it to get access to start the bolts with the panel in place. I still have gashes, scabs and scars from trying to get my hand under this panel. The cut will be hidden with the seats are up.

[Mystic_Cobra]

This picture shows the bar on the drivers side with the interior panel in place I was able to get the bar centered in the car to within 1/8". Rear seats are visible in the trunk.

[Mystic_Cobra]

This picture shows the bar from the driver's door. Nice fit. Reinstalling the seat belt bolts was a little tight, but they work fine and the bar doesn't interfere with the belts when they're in use.

[Mystic_Cobra]

Here's the bar going into the floor on the drivers side with the carpet. I cut the carpet vertically behind the bar so the cut would be hidden. I did this after realizing that the cut was visible on the pass side when I tried to make the shortest cut towards the door/sill plate.

[Mystic_Cobra]

The seat is a tight fit with the bar in place, but out of the way for getting in the car. Padding will cover the bar from the seat on up. By the way, I don't know how the hell anyone sits in the back seat anytime. Granted, I'm a little tall at 6'2", but my head is at least 4" to high for the ceiling back there. I guess it's good for groceries and kids and that's about it.

[Mystic_Cobra]

Here's the pass. side complete. The odd looking hook on the left is my drop light.

[Mystic_Cobra]

here's he driver's side. You can barely see where I had to open the hole up on this side, bc I missed he mark. It's impossible to get those holes exactly right because the panel slides down at the angle of the bar, but that's not how the panel is designed to attach to the car. The odd-looking pad at the top was installed after I hit my head on the cross bar bracket the second time. OUCH! :mad:
I plan to cover most of the bar since this is a driver. I have some SFI padding my velcro wrap should be here today.

[tgentry]

Jimmy, nice job! :thumbsup:

What is the bolt tab I see on the main hoop near the seat belt mount? Just wondering.

[johnbasf]

What do oyu mean used? I never USED the roll bar. Looks great bud. :thumbsup:

[97 Cobra]

Hey Jimmy,

At my first look on your third pic, I cringed! Oh-No, he put the seat belt on the outside of the bar! <lol> Then noticed you corrected that in the later pics! Hmmmm . . . betcha really cussed on that one! :mad:

It's these little things that really need attention. Watch those seat belt placements!! ;)

Nice Job! :thumbsup:

Here is my claim to fame. Hope the pic uploaded :thumbsup:

[Mystic_Cobra]

Thanks, guys.
I put the seatbelts around the outside of the bar, bc it was the long way around to go on the inside. It looks right, is it?
As for cussing, yes, there was lots. :)

The bolt tab near the seat belt mount is for the bolt-in angle bar. It has a small bar that goes behind the driver for harnesses, I guess. When I get my shoulder straps, they'll go over the big bolt-in bar, not that one.
I have both of these bolt in bars--see attached.

[Mystic_Cobra]

Here's the other one. I'll take another pic with both bars in later.

[97 Cobra]

Originally posted by Mystic_Cobra
Thanks, guys.
I put the seatbelts around the outside of the bar, bc it was the long way around to go on the inside. It looks right, is it?
As for cussing, yes, there was lots. :)

The bolt tab near the seat belt mount is for the bolt-in angle bar. It has a small bar that goes behind the driver for harnesses, I guess. When I get my shoulder straps, they'll go over the big bolt-in bar, not that one.
I have both of these bolt in bars--see attached.

My rollbar was installed professionally, and they placed my seatbelts on the inside of the bar in the front and rear because you need the belt to wrap around your body to the seat, not around the rollbar to your seat. You may want to change that for safety reasons. :eek:

[Mystic_Cobra]

Hmmm, that makes sense, but when I had the belt behind the bar it felt like the bar was keeping the belt from sliding. Any other experts out there have any info?

[winddysvt]

Originally posted by 97 Cobra
Hey Jimmy,

At my first look on your third pic, I cringed! Oh-No, he put the seat belt on the outside of the bar! <lol> Then noticed you corrected that in the later pics! Hmmmm . . . betcha really cussed on that one! :mad:

It's these little things that really need attention. Watch those seat belt placements!! ;)

Nice Job! :thumbsup:

Here is my claim to fame. Hope the pic uploaded :thumbsup:

=================


beautiful job Rich --

where did you purchase the padding from?

And, thanks for starting this thread Jimmy -- good job!

were next....... :thumbsup: :bounce:

[Mystic_Cobra]

Thanks. Since you brought up the padding, I'll mention that I'm going to cover most of my bar with padding and wrap. That Vert does look sweet with the covered pad.
I just got my roll bar Rapz last night and I'll let you all know how well they work. It looks like wet suit material with velcro attached and you cut it to size and wrap it. Very stretchy.

Jimmy

[winddysvt]

Originally posted by Mystic_Cobra
Thanks. Since you brought up the padding, I'll mention that I'm going to cover most of my bar with padding and wrap. That Vert does look sweet with the covered pad.
I just got my roll bar Rapz last night and I'll let you all know how well they work. It looks like wet suit material with velcro attached and you cut it to size and wrap it. Very stretchy.

Jimmy

=============


i definitely need some sort of padding.....

:rolleyes:

[Blown96Snake]

Jimmy,

That is a nice rollbar, I have the same one. The only time I have detacted the center bars is once when I had to put 3 race tires in the backseat to go to an autocross!!!! That's right 3 tires!!!!!!245/45 17s....I don't think 275s would have fit!!:rotf:

I am interested to see this "wetsuit" wrap this weekend...I'll probably see you at the gate on Saturday morning BRIGHT AND EARLY!:thumbsup:

Dave

[Mystic_Cobra]

Cool. I'll listen for the white snake with a little whistle under the hood. I've carried 3 245s in the back seat too (400 mi each way), but have not tried it with 275s. I hope to have a tow rig before I start carrying 275 track tires again.
My Mystic is the one with the dent in the LF fender.

:mad:

Jimmy

[Blown96Snake]

Jimmy,

If you can hear my snake this weekend, I would be a happy man, but it is at True Blue getting an oil leak fixed. Look for a green sport trac! Oh yeah and I have red hair so I probably won't be hard to spot. See ya later

Dave

[spittincobra01]

Jimmy, great job with the install! it looks great. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:



now for a question... how long has it been since you washed inside your wheel wells? :rotf: :rotf:

[Mystic_Cobra]

More on the seatbelt issue. Looking at this picture, it makes sense that the belt should go inside on a vert (UNLIKE THIS PICTURE), but I'm still not convinced about on a coupe. My upper belt mount is right next to the bar.

[johnbasf]

Originally posted by Mystic_Cobra
More on the seatbelt issue. Looking at this picture, it makes sense that the belt should go inside on a vert (UNLIKE THIS PICTURE), but I'm still not convinced about on a coupe. My upper belt mount is right next to the bar.

I had mine outside the bar. It made more sense to me. It is a more direct line that way.