T-Bar?

davamb · Postby **davamb** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:16 am

I love driving my 5 with the roof down - almost any time of year, day or night, but I prefer how it feels so much more solid with the hardtop on. (Maybe later models are a bit more solid, but my old NA isn't, even with suspension braces fitted.) So last night as I bounced my way home down the South Gippy GoatTrack I wondered if anyone had ever considered (or if anyone makes) a tubular "T-top" that picked up the hardtop points to provide diagonal stiffness, but still left the cabin open. I imagine a piece that picks up the 2 'screen mounts and runs parallel to the screen top and then a bar heading rearwards from the centre of this to join bars that pick up the rear corner and rear deck pickup points. With a bit of thought this could be light, strong, elegant and professionally executed and also provide roll-over protection. This can't go inside a soft-top, so it's a fair-weather device only. Hmm, well maybe if the rear deck points were removed...

Thoughts? Jibes? Comments? Absurd laughter? Suggestions? Jeers? Anything?

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:33 am

Hardtop doesnt provide enough stiffening to notice, primarily it just changes the resonant frequency of the car body shaking and flexing and its 98% a mental improvement.

What you want is frog arms and door bars

Dann

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:46 am

I love how the majority of frog arms are bright froggy green.

edit:
I was looking at frog arms and door bars and the such a few weeks ago, and it seems that an equally effective method is to weld the sandwiched and tack welded metal seams around the door. Looks very flexible stock, not sure if it genuinely works, but It's high on my to-do-list.
(guide) http://lightweightmiata.com/v8/seam/

^If anyone has an experience or a more educated opinion on that, let me know.

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:54 am

They come from a company called boss frog.

I am going to keep this stocked on the shelf in the next month or so.

FINALLY.

Dann

TTT · Postby **TTT** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:08 am

Anyone in Aus make those door bars?
Or anyone ordered a set from DIYroadster before?

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:12 am

if the car is that shaky maybe time to pension it off.

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:13 am

Not at this point, give me some time, I definitely will soon enough.

Dann

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:26 am

Making, or stocking?
May seem trivial, but I think the boss frog door bars are weird looking, compared to other, simpler looking designs..

Postby **NitroDann** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:35 am

Making and stocking.

Dann

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 11:51 am

Can't wait!
I'll be so stiff once you get those in...

..in my chassis, of course.

TTT · Postby **TTT** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:14 pm

Hurry Up Dann.

Stop cutting your hand and start cutting tubes to make these.

Make the frog front fender ones too.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:27 pm

bars like those are going to be such a pain for getting in and out of the car.

TTT · Postby **TTT** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:32 pm

Thanks for your feedback Mr Morlock.

My hips are still the OEM ones and seem to work ok.

Any other advise you would like to give me that I didn't ask for?

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Nov 01, 2013 12:51 pm

What do the door bars actually attach to, and with?

Bolts and spreader plates drilled in?
Existing bolts and mounts?
Self tappers?

I recall seeing some door bars in the past (cusco I think) that used the lower seatbelt bolt, and the two seat rail mounting bolts, to hold them in.
Just curious that the other makers are doing something useful with them (since I really doubt there's much help by bracing the seatbelt against the seat rail)