Gap with Breeze Roll Bars and Everson Trim Rings

[juddster]

Need some input here.

Just got the car back from Jeff Miller (he did such a good job, as usual), but when fitting the Breeze roll bars there is a gap between the body and ring using Everson's trim rings on the rear leg. See pics below. Anybody else have this issue? The holes seem to be just right and the back leg slide slides right in with very little clearance. The holes are squared off as well for the rear leg.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=186960&d=1688790393

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=186957&d=1688787806

[boat737]

Looks like you could tweak the body forward an 1/8 inch, but that will induce all kinds of other clearance and fitment issues. If you chamfer the inside forward edge of the trim ring, you may be able to slide it rearward a tad, but not sure how that would look. I think moving the roll bar rearward is not a viable option.

Make sure the body is sitting at the proper/finished height. If you push down on the body there, does that fix or at least help the problem? (that is, by pushing the body down there, that should allow the trim ring to move rearward a bit).

I think I would consider making, or having made, a new set of trim rings, that have a wider dimension around the hole. Maybe stretch that oval one a bit as well. A PITA problem, but not insurmountable by any stretch.

[egchewy79]

was this gap there when fitting everything together before sending off to paint? If not I suspect that you need to finagle the body position forward a bit.

[rich grsc]

Looks like someone didn't get the hole size correct? I agree at this point a custom made set of rings will be the best option.

[Jeff Kleiner]

The Breeze bars are VERY finnicky about the rear leg cutout because of how the whole assembly has to go together. Given the way they use sleeves and the wiggle room that comes from the multiple slip joints it might be possible for you to get that rear leg in a more favorable position with the hole by loosening everything; i.e. the joints at the bar to the sleeves as well as the intersection of the sleeves to the chassis and then flex the bar rearward and down to see if you can get the opening covered. This may mean that the front hoop is raised slightly. If this works to allow the bezel to cover tighten the rear leg joints in that position first and then work forward to the hoop. You may find that you have to open up the drilled holes in the sleeves, roll bar and chassis stubs as you go. If it sounds like I've had to have fights and "discussions" with these roll bars before---I have!

Too late for you now but for others in the future who might see this I usually end up making an angle "V" cut at the bottom of that rear leg so that the hole can be a bit smaller and tighter to the tube. When it's cut at a square 90 degrees the sides (left & right) of the tube dictate that the hole in the body be made wider so that they clear when installing it.

Good luck,
Jeff

[juddster]

Thanks for all the input. Moving the body isn't an option at this point. I'll look at what you suggest Jeff.

The way the roll bars go in it doesn't seem like the rear hole could be any smaller. I think putting a V cut in the bottom of the rear leg would have been the way to go. That would have require a smaller hole and not given up any strength.

I have a good source that can laser cut stuff and I think making some new rings out of brushed stainless would be a good option. I like a more oval shape like the FFs.

[kobra01]

As a last resort you could try bending the upper leg back and the lower leg in. I had to make slight adjustments to mine. I was quite creative figuring out a way to do it without having the proper equipment.

[DW66]

I know this doesn’t help you but it might help someone in the future. I cut the rear leg as short as possible to just make it under the body. The shorter you can make the rear leg the smaller the hole in the body has to be. These bars are certainly extra work but look nice in my opinion. Good luck. A bigger ring would look fine and only you would know.
Dave

[Ted G]

Another option is you can take out one of the forward sleeves or grind it down so that if fits with a little more play. I found this gave me enough room to manipulate the rear leg just a bit. I also had to hone my rear leg for a bit more movement.

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