Anyone ever cut down (trim) roll bar?

[fhp1154!]

Trying to finish details before paint and I'm having trouble getting past
the height of the roll bar. Just seems out of proportion when looking at front profile and side for that matter. Has anyone cut one down? Do I just cut a inch or two off bottom?

[Higgybulin]

If you cut anything off the front bars(making it shorter) it'll change the angle of your downward bar and it will miss the rear mount.

[michael everson]

Consider changing to a 2 inch bar. It really makes it look much shorter. Either that or look into the Breeze roll bars.
Mike

[Olli]

I went with the Breeze bars on my MK IV. They look fantastic. http://www.breezeautomotive.com/details.php?prod_id=926

Olli

[CraigS]

Trying to finish details before paint and I'm having trouble getting past
the height of the roll bar. Just seems out of proportion when looking at front profile and side for that matter. Has anyone cut one down? Do I just cut a inch or two off bottom?

Please put some car details in your signature line. I 'assume' you have a MkIV but don't know for sure.

[Paparazzi]

I had originally planned to get the Breeze set for my MkIII - I thought the standard set looked too high (and seems further exaggerated by the thinner MkIV bar). When it came time to fit though, I found that the angle of the third leg fitting made it such that I had to cut 1 1/2" off my hoop to get it to fit. Ended up with the top of the hoop being 13 3/4" above the body and a look that I was very happy with.

I haven't done a broomstick test - I'm 5'11" but with the seats mounted to the floor I know I sit far lower in the car than many others that I've seen. My seats also seem to have less padding than one other MkIII I've sat in which also leads to a lower seating position.

Is there a 'correct' height? A quick Google search shows Kirkhams being 14 1/2".

[BB767]

Just did that yesterday! The fit of the rear bar was just loose enough that I could trim one inch off of each end of the hoop. That little bit made it look a lot better (IMO).

[Joee]

There is a reason for the height of the rollbar its called the broomstick test. In track days and 1/4 mile if you place a straight edge (broomstick) from top of wind shield to top of roll bar your head in a helmet must be below the stick. You are also putting your head in danger of hitting the ground on a rollover.

[boat737]

As for looks and aesthetics, probably the best thing I've done for the build is add the Breeze stainless roll bar (polished). I tried to figure out how to modify the FFR MK4 roll bar to get the look better, but just couldn't do it. The Breeze unit had the look I wanted. The bigger tube, shorter stance, rearward rake and polished stainless finish all make it a great upgrade. It's more money (as are all things on these cars) and more work (as are all things on these cars), but the look is well worth it. It's rock solid as well.

[Higgybulin]

As for looks and aesthetics, probably the best thing I've done for the build is add the Breeze stainless roll bar (polished). I tried to figure out how to modify the FFR MK4 roll bar to get the look better, but just couldn't do it. The Breeze unit had the look I wanted. The bigger tube, shorter stance, rearward rake and polished stainless finish all make it a great upgrade. It's more money (as are all things on these cars) and more work (as are all things on these cars), but the look is well worth it. It's rock solid as well.

Now it looks like you cut your own holes, if factory five cuts the holes does the Breeze bar fit in them?
Higgy

[dpariso]

I like the look of the Breeze much better. I have the FFR ones...looks way too tall. I assume the Breeze ones would not match up with the holes from the FFR?
78296

[MPTech]

I installed the Breeze bars (DS & PS) 4 years ago and still like them better than the stock FFR. I've also received positive comments from other FFR owners about them.
They were a little more work to install, but I think they retain the FFR holes (I cut my own) and Russ Thompson makes a real nice set of bezels for them.
I also had mine polished by a pro (more work / cost / hassle) but it's once & done and they look great.

[Paparazzi]

See here for a thread all about roll bar height (http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/490153-stock-roll-bar-height.html) with regard to what it's actually for.

[boat737]

Now it looks like you cut your own holes, if factory five cuts the holes does the Breeze bar fit in them?
Higgy


I like the look of the Breeze much better. I have the FFR ones...looks way too tall. I assume the Breeze ones would not match up with the holes from the FFR?
78296

The holes were already cut by FFR. They needed to be opened up some to accommodate the bigger tube, and because of the rake rearward, the two forward holes (especially the inboard one) needed to be opened up on the rear edge of the hole. But it works just fine.

[mikeinatlanta]

I decided to run two configurations with removable bars. One set for looks and one set for real protection.

783077830878309

[fhp1154!]

Please put some car details in your signature line. I 'assume' you have a MkIV but don't know for sure.
sorry Craig, my bad, I have a MKII

[Joee]

I decided to run two configurations with removable bars. One set for looks and one set for real protection.

783077830878309

I really like the cage especially if it is removable. i am assuming you have welding skills and you fabbed that up yourself?

[mikeinatlanta]

I really like the cage especially if it is removable. i am assuming you have welding skills a you fabbed that up yourself?

I have a welder but claiming skill would be a huge mistake. I can bend the crap out of some tubes though. Look close and you'll see welded and ground flat on the street stuff and only tacs on the cage. Welds for the cage will be done by a tig artist. Cage is 8 point bolt in.

[GoDadGo]

I lowered mine by grinding off the spot welds and let the bars slide down so that they bottomed out on the frame.

Roughly 1 3/8" - 1 1/2" is where they landed which allowed me some wiggle room to adjust them prior to drilling and bolting.

You can see them in the attached video towards the end:

https://youtu.be/IGYtX-3p7xk

[CraigS]

sorry Craig, my bad, I have a MKII Over the years quite a few have shortened the roll bars. Best I remember you can get maybe 1/2 inch and they will till fit together w/ some persuasion. More than that and you would need to cut/re-weld the rear mount as it will need to move forward. Also need to re-position the hole in the body for the rear leg.

[mikeinatlanta]

As an FYI: If you choose to lower the bar and alignment of the down tube becomes an issue. You can put a small amount of bend right at the body line and it is very difficult to see. You can also slightly realign the down tube mount at the frame by putting a long tube in the mount and bending just a bit. It's not that strong.

[cgundermann]

I like the look of the Breeze bars and regret not using them. I have noticed that with chrome FFR bars, the height is visually more punctuated. Initially, my FFR bars were gloss black and I had them re-powder coated in a 20% matte black. Against my Ford magnetic gray body, the height isn’t as obvious...

Chris

[Mtnest]

Check out ffcars.com and search roll bar mods. There are a few guys who have done it. I will also be modifying mine.good luck. Ken

[Rob_BCC]

I decided to run two configurations with removable bars. One set for looks and one set for real protection.

783077830878309

Did you ever get approval on the connectors?

[mikeinatlanta]

Did you ever get approval on the connectors?

LOL. Good memory! Let's see... Spoke with NHRA tech, SCCA, NASA. Responses were pretty much universal. "Um, I don't know, but those are pretty cool". "I'll have to do some checking, but they should be ok". "Never seen those before". "Where did you get those?" "Those are billet chromolly?".

All in all not one guy willing to commit ahead of time and not one willing to say no. I finally gave up. Figure I'll build a history non sanctioned until finding someone willing to buy off on it. One thing is for sure. The cage is far beyond what most cobras run so I'll be able to play at a wide range of venues if desired. The only place the cage clearly violates rules is LSR sanctioning bodies.

[tony chiles]

78431

I think this was a 2.5 cut on the front legs almost 3 on the back leg.

[hatley]

I've cut mind by 2 inches,used the 2 inch. bar on my MK1V, re positioned the back support,(easy job & worth the effort)
When I ordered my kit, ask not to cut the roll bar holes,knew I would shorten the roll bar

[Joee]

LOL. Good memory! Let's see... Spoke with NHRA tech, SCCA, NASA. Responses were pretty much universal. "Um, I don't know, but those are pretty cool". "I'll have to do some checking, but they should be ok". "Never seen those before". "Where did you get those?" "Those are billet chromolly?".

All in all not one guy willing to commit ahead of time and not one willing to say no. I finally gave up. Figure I'll build a history non sanctioned until finding someone willing to buy off on it. One thing is for sure. The cage is far beyond what most cobras run so I'll be able to play at a wide range of venues if desired. The only place the cage clearly violates rules is LSR sanctioning bodies.

Looking at this article and your pics probably not going to cut it. Seems you need tube notching where the tubes come together.
http://www.dragzine.com/project-cars/project-biting-the-bullitt/understanding-and-building-an-nhra-8-50-and-10-point-roll-cages/

If the cage is ok, certified down to 8.50 cars it will be good enough for any other Motorsports racing.

[mikeinatlanta]

Looking at this article and your pics probably not going to cut it. Seems you need tube notching where the tubes come together.
http://www.dragzine.com/project-cars/project-biting-the-bullitt/understanding-and-building-an-nhra-8-50-and-10-point-roll-cages/

If the cage is ok, certified down to 8.50 cars it will be good enough for any other Motorsports racing.

We were talking about the billet chromoly tube connectors, but I have no idea what you meant with what you posted. Care to clarify? Didn't read the article, gave up at about 30 popups.