Roll Bar Crossmember

[lahrs37]

********** has been out of these for a while and I need one to get my harness at the right height for track days. Does anyone have any ideas of where I could find one? I need the 1 1/2" diameter for a MK4.

[CDXXVII]

Acton sells them but you need to call and verify that the dimensions will work for you. Most of their items are top notch.

http://actoncobra.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=187

[lahrs37]

Acton sells them but you need to call and verify that the dimensions will work for you. Most of their items are top notch.

http://actoncobra.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=187

Great thanks, I will give them a buzz. It says they are out of stock on their site too so I will cross my fingers.

[wareaglescott]

Laurence I am unfamiliar with this topic. Could you fill me in on the requirement you are trying to meet? Does the standard mount location and coming through the Kirkey seat backs not work?

[Derald Rice]

I welded a cross bar into place using DOM tubing the same wall thickness of the roll bar. It will never come out and is rock solid.

WarEagle, the shoulder strap mounts of a FFR are not at the best angle. Raising the anchor points for the shoulder straps makes for a safer situation. A lot of sanctioning bodies are rather loose in the interpretation of the standards, yet some follow them to the letter.

[wareaglescott]

I welded a cross bar into place using DOM tubing the same wall thickness of the roll bar. It will never come out and is rock solid.

WarEagle, the shoulder strap mounts of a FFR are not at the best angle. Raising the anchor points for the shoulder straps makes for a safer situation. A lot of sanctioning bodies are rather loose in the interpretation of the standards, yet some follow them to the letter.

Good info thanks.
Follow up question: since He is using the Kirkey high backs and the shoulder harnesses come through the holes in the seats that seems to control the angle it is approaching your body. Will those seats negate the added safety benefit of this mod? Or would you not use the provided holes in the seat backs to feed the shoulder harnesses through?

[Derald Rice]

Scott, I wish that I could post a photo, but here is some info on the angle of the shoulder harnesses,(and a lot of other good info).

https://simpsonraceproducts.com/pdf/...t_Mounting.pdf

See page 11 for the optimal angle of the shoulder harnesses. In a FFR, the harness mount points are way too low, and if the harness is stretched in an incident, there is too much compression force on the spine. Mounting the harness bar above the deck of the body, and 10-20 degrees below the drivers shoulders is a far better setup. The harnesses will still pass though the kirkey slots, and those same kirkey slots will help prevent the harness from separating and allowing the belts to fall off of the driver's shoulders. The harness bar will work with the Kirkeys , and they will complement each other. The seats by themselves are not strong enough to control the angle of the belts.

Lahrs37.... I do hope that you are considering using arm restraints as well.

[wareaglescott]

Good info Derald. thanks again.

[Gromit]

I've also been bothered by the center line spacing of the Factory mounts if you look at an over head shot the belts don't drape centered on the seat. the outside mount is IMO to close to the center line of the seat. ( I've never actually measured it but it definitely shows in pictures. ) I will say this. Seat belts are one of the most important safety features. I was crew chief on a good friends stock car, we went to great pains to make sure the seat and belts followed that Simpson setup. And that work payed off the time he went head on into the wall at 60 + MPH not only was he uninjured he thought he could drive the car away and finish the race... well with the water pump pushing through the radiator that wasn't going to happen. Bottom line after we got the car back to the shop it wasn't the roll cage, or the helmet or the fire suit, or a fire suppression system that let him walk away... it was the seat belts.

I say get the belts mounted correctly if you are going to be doing HPDE

Chris AKA Gromit

[lahrs37]

Thanks for the info guys. Scott: The folks here did a great job explaining the issue. For HPDE days arm restraints and a HANS device seem to be crucial in our cars (or any open roadster). I would also argue that a high-back seat is really important, but I know a lot of guys have the old school low-backs.

[wareaglescott]

Thanks for the info guys. Scott: The folks here did a great job explaining the issue. For HPDE days arm restraints and a HANS device seem to be crucial in our cars (or any open roadster). I would also argue that a high-back seat is really important, but I know a lot of guys have the old school low-backs.

Did you come up with a way to secure the back of the seat to the rear cockpit wall?
I did not. I guess that could be important to your application. I do notice I have a little bit of flex in the seatback.

[lahrs37]

Did you come up with a way to secure the back of the seat to the rear cockpit wall?
I did not. I guess that could be important to your application. I do notice I have a little bit of flex in the seatback.

I have not, but I haven't tried yet. Did you get the Kirkey brace? I was hoping that would work...

[wareaglescott]

I did not get the Kirkey brace. Looked at it but never gave it enough thought about how I would attach it. I decided for my street driving I was satisfied.

[BB767]

Acton sells them but you need to call and verify that the dimensions will work for you. Most of their items are top notch.

http://actoncobra.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=187

This is exactly what I need to center the harness on my seat and neck but they do not have it any more. Anybody find one like this elsewhere? Would any other suppliers consider makeing them?

[CraigS]

I would call the sanctioning body you plan to do track days with. Be sure that a bolt-on mount will be OK. It may not be.

[BB767]

I would call the sanctioning body you plan to do track days with. Be sure that a bolt-on mount will be OK. It may not be.

It’s not for track. It’s for comfort.

[CraigS]

Re-read post #1