[DeTomaso] roll bar installation

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/25/10 7 48 22, boyd411 at gmail.com writes:


> that was very helpfull information.
> 
>>>I try my best!


> > Since I have a 1973L and it does have innertia based seat belts I 
> shouldn't have an interferarance issue.  In your extensive expierience you may 
> be able to share your opinion that will help me with my decision. Since my 
> plans to install a haness bar have been pre-empted 
> 
>>>Well, you still could just buy one the normal way from one of the 
vendors--they are quite cheap...


> >IAnd now my questions about the possiable intereference issues of the ac 
> lines have been aleviated I am inclined to go with the roll bar instead of 
> just a harness bar.. Since i do have the inertia belts and I have high 
> back recaro style seats the other saftey issue of possiable head contact with 
> an un helmeted head contacting to roll bar is alleviated due to my high 
> back seats ( which would prevent my head from contacting the roll bar. 
> 
>>>I think it would be virtually impossible for your head to hit a normal 
roll BAR hoop.   The real threat comes from the side and front bars of a roll 
CAGE.   But a roll bar hoop goes high up against the back of the ceiling of 
the car, well away from your head.   Although I haven't formally checked 
it, I suspect you would hit the back window and the roof long before you hit 
the bar--in fact if you were ever able to deform your skull enough so that it 
touched the bar, you'd already have some serious problems on your hands, 
such that the bar probably wouldn't make much difference!


> >What is your opinion on my hypothesis of the increased protection and 
> reduced risk of head roll bar contact with out a helmet due to my high back 
> seats.  (of course I would wear a helmet at an actual track or road race 
> event.
> 
>>>There's no question that having seats like yours offers a considerable 
degree of protection from impacting *anything* behind you.

(While we're on the topic, listen to Dr. Engles when he says that you 
should have your stock seat headrests in the fully-up position ALL the time!)


> >Opinions? concur or disagree? Also since I now have to compare the cost 
> of a harness bar at retail $115.00 instead of the $35.00 I had been 
> promised and the roll bar would provide a more serious level of coverage with out 
> some of the risks initially associated with the danger of head to bar 
> contact and my additional efforts to do a proper installation ie: submarine belt 
> grommet installations to ensure correct placement of the belts. It will 
> dfenitly cost more but what premium to you place on your saftey?
> 
>>>An excellent point.

Precision Proformance and Hall Pantera a reinforced roll bar hoop that 
bolts in the back.   Thety both advertise it as a 'three-point' roll bar, but 
unfortunately it's not--the third point (the leg which would go forward to the 
footwell) isn't included, nor is it even available.   What it actually is, 
is the back part of their four-point roll cage.   It's an extremely sturdy 
place to mount harnesses and presumably could offer considerable protection 
in the event of a rollover--although that protection would be guaranteed far 
better if it was truly a three-point design.   As it is, it's a very 
glorious two-point hoop.

Anyway, worth considering:

http://precisionproformance.com/in4010.htm

http://hallpantera.com/cgi-bin/p/awtp-product.cgi?d=hallpantera-inc&
item=21451

Other vendors offer more traditional three-point roll bars, consisting of 
simple hoops (with tangs to attach to the stock shoulder harness mounting 
bolts) and a third leg that goes into the footbox (different vendor designs 
utilize different angles).   However none of these have provisions for shoulder 
harnesses--instead they rely on the traditional $110-or-so steel bar.

Mike