Roll Bar Questions?? KillerCanary can you help?

[69clark]

Hey guys. I am interested in buying a roll bar for the cobra. Probably an Autopower 4 pt with harness bar so I can use seat belt harnesses. My concern is for street use if I were to get in an accident, would I POSSIBLY crack my head on the bar. I wouldn't be wearing a helmet of course, so this is my concern.

My other option I have though of is just using a harness bar, one like sparco makes with no roll bar, but it sells for $429, for that I can get the roll bar and harness bar.

Other than that is there any way to run a 4pt or 5pt harness without a roll bar to hook the shoulder straps to. I am aware that the shoulder harnesses have to be mounted at the correct angle, that is why I am not sure if there is a way to run harnesses without a roll bar or harness bar.

The first option is my top pick, but I am definately concerned with putting a roll bar in for chassis stiffening and more importantly safety and then getting killed anyway because I hit my head on the bar in an accident. I have been told roll bar padding would seem to be a help, but in fact wouldn't be (my fathers advice).

 

[ProKiller]

i don't get it. how are you going to crack your head on the roll bar? don't your seats come up to your head? and isn't the side bars back far enough that you'd have to be sitting in the back seat to hit?

 

[69clark]

Yes, but I've seen crash footages, and you don't always just hang tight in your seat if you know what I mean. lol You can be thrown around pretty violently. However, yes I will be wearing harnesses and this may not be a problem. Maybe I am just looking into it too deep or being dumb about it, but until someone says otherwise, I will have a slight concern I guess.

 

[stprorolla49]

Yes, but I've seen crash footages, and you don't always just hang tight in your seat if you know what I mean. lol You can be thrown around pretty violently. However, yes I will be wearing harnesses and this may not be a problem. Maybe I am just looking into it too deep or being dumb about it, but until someone says otherwise, I will have a slight concern I guess.

If i was in your situation, since you dont have a rear seat to worry about anyway, i would get the autopower roll bar, and mount the harnesses to that. I would also get one length of roll bar padding and put it partly on the top right over your head, and make it swoop down along the drivers side of the main hoop. As long as your wearing your harnesses, you really shouldnt have a problem.

 

[Redsnk95]

The roll bar padding will be a must. If you're just wanting to use the harness then just buy a bolt in kit. You don't have to have the roll bar to use a harness. However I think are only a few harness setups that are DOT approved. The Simpson, G-Force etc setups are only SFI approved not DOT approved. Oddly enough I feel safer in my 5pt harness once you strap it down tight you ain't moving. Sucks when you strap in and then you can't reach your helmet at the track..lol.

 

[69clark]

Where do the shoulder harnesses bolt to if you don't have a roll bar?

 

[ProKiller]

don't they bolt into the old locations of rear seat belts? a friend of mine has that type of setup. i don't think it looks that nice cause you have the belts hanging halfway through the car then.

 

[69clark]

Thats what I didn't want, with the shoulder harnesses strung back to the rear of the car.

 

[LoudToy958]

I actually have the autopower roll bar in my cobra (4pt with harness bar), and I never even once thought about banging my head on it. I actually went the other way and though, at least the roof would not get smashed.

I didn't live too far away from Autopower when I was in San Diego, so I figured why not. I also like the fact that you can buy a mount for your video camera if you have the harness bar.

I guess it would be possible to hit your head on the bar if your harness failed. Otherwise it would be a bit tough, but I wouldn't rule it out.

As for chassis stiffening, it feels like you just installed another set of SFCs, you will notice the difference. If you need um, I could get some pics up before I leave town. I have harness in the car wrong right now, but I have the right set to be used with the harness bar, just no time to put them in.

Hope your decision is made a bit easier. Shane

 

[Killercanary]

A few thoughts...

I would NEVER run the harness straps to the rear of the car. In the event you are in a hard crash and the car buckles, it will squish you in the seat or it will become loose depending on how the car bends.

Harness bars are not recommended because 3 point seat belts alow you to tilt over when the roof collapses. 5 points will hold you upright and break your head off if the roof collapses. 5 points go very well with cages cause the roof wont come in.