Hi folks,
I have a few rough web pages for you: I'll finish them up in the next couple of weeks. It details my roll bar installation notes.

Hope you like them, there are four pages worth.

http://www.ws6transam.org/rollbar.htm
http://www.ws6transam.org/rollbar_p1.htm
http://www.ws6transam.org/rollbar_p2.htm
http://www.ws6transam.org/rollbar_p3.htm

 

Very nice job and write up :hail:
Mark

 

looks good..

 

Very nice, gives me motivation to do mine..the wieghts of the bars was a nice touch too..always seemed like I was asking about black magic when I`d say "what`s it wiegh?"

 

Damn, I say sticky this.

 

seconded.

Well done on the install. I hope you never have to find out how well it works.

 

ditto

 

Very good article, only issue I have is when comparing time issues, shop time, etc...I'm not sure how the shops are in your area, here all the chaisis builders require that the interiors be removed before they do anything so it takes liability off their shoulders which is understanable and reasonable imo. Our shops charge $5 per bend and that includes the welding plus tubing cost of course, typically when guys around here buy the prebent roll bars/cages normal installation cost is $2-300 since the material is already there and bends are done, just a matter of fine tuning.

As far as time to install, if you have a partner to help hold thinigs and have fabricated before and have the tools available it just does not take that long to install a roll bar. I bought the Jegster kit (8point) which should be comparible to the S&W kit, and it took only 5 hours to install, that was from the time we turned on the lights in the shop until the last coat of paint was on and light switch was turned off. I dont have a tubing nibbler, but borrowed a hole saw set-up for modifing fishmouths, torch, welder, and grinder are about the only "special tools" you need to install.

Regardless, you roll bar looks really nice.

 

nice write up...

can i make a suggestion? think you could put "next page"/"previous page" links on it? that way you can link someone to one page (or they find it thru Google) and they can read thru it...


other then that, nice writeup... that "hammer" finish paint looks nice.

im trying to avoid putting a rollbar in the vert, but its going to happen eventually... thanks for the read thru.

 

Very slick install!!

 

Thanks. Yes, I'm woking on putting in the finishing touches on the article, including the navigation bar. I juts couldn't wait lett you all see it because I ran out of time and wont be able to get back to editing until *maybe* tomorrow.

Also, good call on the labor charges. I've listed the time it took me to do the installation, as a person who doesn't do it for a living. The person I hired to do the welding had never done a roll bar before, either so I was there at each and every step holding the steel in place while he welded it. So, as a qualifier, the times I estimate are simply times for the average enthusiast. At least, I consider myself average.

Good luck to everyone who decides to "roll their own" bar. I hope the installation notes help. I got more coming, since I really havent done much with www.ws6transam.org in about 18 months. Now that I'm doing something with the car again, I wanted to get caught up. My next article is one on the T56 transmission conversion that I did.

 

do u know by anychance what kinda filler rod he used when tig welding the chromoly? did he use just a regualr steel filler rod or what? im a welder (just not certifid) and can tig weld just about as good as that guy (but he's got more experience so ill just stop there) and welding that it doesnt look that bad. the work on those mounting plates are nice. gave me idea's for when ever i put in a roll bar.

hey let me know about the filler rod he used? thanx.

 

I know that he used special filler rod for Chromoly steel. He asked me to find out the exact alloy of which the tubing was made, then bought himself a tube of rod about a week before I brought over the car. I don't have the alloy handy, but if you were to TIG weld Chromoly steel, check with the welding supply house: I'd think that they would know which filler rod to use, or at least have the proper chart.

 

You can use 4130 filler for both the chromoly tubes of the cage and for the chromoly tubes to the mild steel moutning plates, but use regular mild steel rod to weld the mounting plate to the unibody.

Patrick

 

kool thanx man

 

Don't use a Chromoly filler rod for cage construction. The welds will be brittle, unless you re-heat treat each weld to "normalize" the metal, and even still I wouldn't trust it. Use a regular mild steel rod - I used an ER70S-2 rod for my cage, as do many chassis buiders who work with CM. Some other chassis builders use a stainless rod for CM cage construction (not sure which alloy though).

Here's a good link to FAQ's on welding 4130 CM:

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...hrome-moly.asp

 

Mike, that was good info.
I'm going to have to give my weldor a call and find out which filler rod he used, I guess. Since he regularly does structural and cryogenic welds, as well as doing aircraft repair and maintenance, I think I can trust his experience. However, I still better ask the question.

By the way, nice video of the launch at Ubly. I haven't seen that track since 1985. It looks like it hasn't changed much.

 

Thanx. I think Ubly is one of the best kept secrets for "weekend warrior" drag racing in Michigan.

I also forgot to commend you on the roll bar installation pictorial. Nice job.