S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Topic: S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird (Read 5668 times) previous topic - next topic

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

January 06, 2010, 10:44:21 PM

Well I finally started to put the S&W roll bar kit in the T-bird. This is a fair amount of work and bending around for me. I took out all the interior and also most of the stock sound deadener. The sound deadener filled up half the garbage car and probably weigh close to 40 pounds. The carpet also has very thick sound deadener that I will remove most of. Should be a lot louder in the next time I drive her. I also found a manual seat track for the driver's side and this will save 15 or so pounds. I got a set of cloth seats but they were only 3 pounds lighter than the leather seats so I'm going to stick with the stock leather seats for now.

For some reason I can only find 6 of the 8 plates that came with the car; not sure if I lost them or they did not send them. I still need to order the swing away kit for the door bars so I guess I will have them send two more when I order this. I have not used the mig welder for a while but my welds are improving throughout the day. The stock floorboards are very thin and it's a bit a trouble not burning holes.

So far I got the floor all cleaned (with the help of my daughter's boyfriend), four out of 8 plates welded in, the main bar in, and the two back support bars. I have the door bar fitted but they are just laying there, and I need to fit the two rear lateral support bars that will tie into the top of my upper control arms.

Any advice on what seat-belts to get? And how to hook them up?

Anyway I have a lot to do but at least I started.

The pictures kind of got posted backwards. No more backseat in the future and I'm going to do some tin work back there also.

TED

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #1 – January 06, 2010, 10:47:14 PM

Couple more pictures, I will post more later as I proceed with the project.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #2 – January 08, 2010, 06:59:45 PM

Nice work. When I had my S&W kit mocked up(never got fully installed) I had my main hoop sitting rearward more. It was almost right against the rear seat ledge.

If you are going with 5pt harnesses, you have two choices. They have wrap around style, pretty self explanatory. You can also have bolt in, but will need to weld tabs onto the crossbar. You can use the factory bolt holes for the other two attachment points. The crotch strap can be secured through the floor under the seat front.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #3 – January 08, 2010, 07:24:55 PM

Keep in mind that wrap around harnesses are no longer legal for NHRA competition...Just my .02 Bar looks good so far !!!

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #4 – January 08, 2010, 08:53:42 PM

are you rolling the weld off the plate onto the floor? that should help with not burning through.

also, are you planning on reinstalling the rear panels? the rear seat looks to be taking a permanent vacation, too.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #5 – January 08, 2010, 10:34:27 PM

There are standards (NHRA) that the cross bar have to be and the distance from the
back of the seat.

So if you have a very strict track tech you might want to check in to that before you
get to far along.
Just my 2cents.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #6 – January 09, 2010, 10:07:43 AM

Quote from: 5.8fastcat;305619

There are standards (NHRA) that the cross bar have to be and the distance from the
back of the seat.

So if you have a very strict track tech you might want to check in to that before you
get to far along.
Just my 2cents.

This. The NHRA rule book is invaluable for all the specs/measurements for bars.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #7 – January 09, 2010, 10:26:42 AM

Great looking work.Now,I would like to get the seats from you.You really need racing seats.I need yours.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #8 – January 09, 2010, 11:40:41 AM

Quote from: jandmmustangs;305593

Keep in mind that wrap around harnesses are no longer legal for NHRA competition...Just my .02 Bar looks good so far !!!

You sure?

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #9 – January 09, 2010, 12:33:44 PM

I believe it was an amendment a few years back but someone can correct me if im wrong.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #10 – January 09, 2010, 12:35:58 PM

Quote from: jandmmustangs;305682

I believe it was an amendment a few years back but someone can correct me if im wrong.

I would like to know for sure since my rule book is a few years old and I don't have tabs welded on my crossbar.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #11 – January 09, 2010, 02:04:30 PM

Ill do a bit of research for you and let you know. Im glad this thread popped up. I have to re-certifiy my harnesses in my 93 LX.

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #12 – January 20, 2010, 09:44:40 PM

I have been working on the project and just about done except for the fat man swing out kit and seat belt mounts. The seat belts are on back order and have not came yet. I put the short bars in the back towards the upper control arms but now I look at it I should have moved them out a bit more to the side and up a little, but they still look good.

The reason I did not go back more with my main loop is that it made it easier to weld all the way around. Also it put it closer to my helmet to make sure I was withing the 6 inch range.

I also did some tin work (22ga sheetmetal) beween the trunk and interior. I still need to seal it good but I think it came out pretty good.

I also decided to go with race seats to save weight and sit me a bit lower in the car. I got a good buy on a used set but I can't believe how cheap they are and that these are NHRA legal. They are all worried about safety but these have just four bolts in the bottom held by one layer of thin plastic. Without the top bolt to the crossbar they would be useless.

I have my daughter's boyfriend helping me (he's 20) and doing a good job learning how to weld and manufacture stuff. It is nice to have company; my two boys don't seem to take an interest and this is kind of a bummer. But they do good in other ways and in the long run they are probably a lot smarter than I.

Anyway everything take a lot longer than it is suppose to and at least it starting to come together.

Tomorrow I leave for Palm Spings for a week and I guess I will have to take a ride up to Apple Valley to see the boys at MTS. Don't have anything to buy but it's always nice to see what's new.

My friend has wrap around belts he just purchased last year and he have not heard that they are not legal. Also they still sell them so I think they are still okay. The ones I purchased are bolt in just in case.

TED

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #13 – February 10, 2010, 03:43:17 PM

You're doing very good work. It looks fantastic. Just make sure you have the latest version of the rules so you don't do anything you have to UNDO later.

Are swing-a-ways legal for the racing you'll be doing? I'm in the process of doing an SCCA-style cage, and they are not legal.

Chris

S&W Roll Bar Kit in The T-Bird

Reply #14 – February 11, 2010, 12:41:18 PM

Coincidentally, Popular Hot Rodding is running an article on a custom 10-point cage in a fox mustang. They mention that the NHRA requires the main hoop to be X and Y from Driver as well as the accurate position of the door bars. PM me with your email if you are intrested and I will scan the 4 page article for you.
Cam