I was about to drill the upper hole to connect the two roll bar pieces together when i decided there must be a better way. Does anybody know about the tangent kits? Do they work or is there another way? Thanks..Kyle
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I was about to drill the upper hole to connect the two roll bar pieces together when i decided there must be a better way. Does anybody know about the tangent kits? Do they work or is there another way? Thanks..Kyle
Tangent kits work great. I've used them for both the 1-1/2 inch Mk4 bar and the early 2 inch bars. They offer both sizes. Just follow the directions when installing.
Build 1: Mk3 Roadster #5125. Sold 11/08/2014. Build 2: Mk4 Roadster #7750. Sold 04/10/2017. Build Thread
Build 3: Mk4 Roadster 20th Anniversary #8674. Sold 09/07/2020. Build Thread and Video. Build 4: Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe #59. Gen 3 Coyote. Legal 03/04/2020. Build Thread and Video
Build 5: 35 Hot Rod Truck #138. LS3 and 4L65E auto. Rcvd 01/05/2021. Legal 04/20/2023. Build Thread. Sold 11/9/2023.
They work well. The first time an owner sent me a set to use on a build I expected the worst and was pleasantly surprised when it all went together without any issues!
Jeff
They're easy to install and work very well. Just be careful screwing the support bar into the hoop to not over tighten it and chip your chrome off the roll bar.
JRL16
Mk4 delivered 4/28/16. First start 10/15/16. First gocart 11/10/16. Engine Factory 427W. 750 carb. Tremec TKO600. 2015 IRS. Power steering. Whitby power brakes. Wilwood brakes. 18" wheels. Falken tires. Sway bars front and rear. Forte hydraulic clutch and mechanical throttle linkage. Scott's Hot Rods triple reservoir. Ceramic coated headers. Gas’n sidepipes. Heated seats. Herb Fraser walnut door panels. Wipers. Console.
Just reading through the posts and it is awesome running across tidbits like this for things that you wondered about but never thought to ask.
If, God forbid..the roll bar ever had to be used for it's intended purpose, do you worry about the Tangent device failing, and the 3rd leg pulling away from the hoop?
i installed the Tangent kit. Great design and I don't doubt it's strength. Pretty sure a race track inspector will not accept it though but then again, I'm not racing.
This is from their website:
The resulting joint is extremely strong and gives no visual clues as to how the attachment is made. The remaining bolts supplied by FFR are then used to attach the lower portion of the tube to the chassis below the body line. Since the kit requires no welding, it is safe to use on painted, powder coated or chromed roll bar sets. It is demountable at all times and reinstallation of bars is no problem. The wedge-lock is designed to grip tighter as the force to remove it increases. Tested to 20 tons of pressure without moving. A simple and strong solution to the Frankenstein through bolts. If nothing else, your Roadster is certainly worth this small upgrade. Good luck with your build! Don
Doug
FFR 7995
347 SBF Prestige Mototsports, Moser 8.8 (3.31) 3 Link, TKO 600, Nitto 555s, 17" Halibrands, PS, AC, Heat, Color Redfire Pearl, with Wimbledon White Stripes
I personally like the franken bolt through the rollbar. It just looks right somehow.
Kyle
Complete Kit pickup 09/05/2015, 351w, QF680, 3.55, 3-Link, 15" Halibrands with MT's, Painted Viking blue with Wimbledon white stripes on 03/15/2017. Sold in 08/2018 and totally regret it.
I've been email chatting with Eric at Tangent all this week. He's currently out of stock but getting another set cut, hopefully by the end of July. He's been great to deal with and extremely responsive.
-TJ
Once installed and tightened, the inserts in both the roll bar and the third leg don't come out. (trust me...) The two are connected by a piece of threaded rod. Once installed, the location is fixed and repeatable. Just spin the third leg into place. It stops at the same place every time. No worries to re-align.
Build 1: Mk3 Roadster #5125. Sold 11/08/2014. Build 2: Mk4 Roadster #7750. Sold 04/10/2017. Build Thread
Build 3: Mk4 Roadster 20th Anniversary #8674. Sold 09/07/2020. Build Thread and Video. Build 4: Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe #59. Gen 3 Coyote. Legal 03/04/2020. Build Thread and Video
Build 5: 35 Hot Rod Truck #138. LS3 and 4L65E auto. Rcvd 01/05/2021. Legal 04/20/2023. Build Thread. Sold 11/9/2023.
Can someone post an internet link to the Tangent supplier and part?
Mk4 Roadster, Picked up complete kit 8/22/14. Most FFR options except Wilwood brakes and IRS. First start 11/11/14. Go-kart 3/8/15. 347 Stroker, TKO 500, 3-link/3.27 rear. PA street legal 7/29/15.
http://tangentkits.com/Roll_Bar_Kits.php.
Google is your friend.
Build 1: Mk3 Roadster #5125. Sold 11/08/2014. Build 2: Mk4 Roadster #7750. Sold 04/10/2017. Build Thread
Build 3: Mk4 Roadster 20th Anniversary #8674. Sold 09/07/2020. Build Thread and Video. Build 4: Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe #59. Gen 3 Coyote. Legal 03/04/2020. Build Thread and Video
Build 5: 35 Hot Rod Truck #138. LS3 and 4L65E auto. Rcvd 01/05/2021. Legal 04/20/2023. Build Thread. Sold 11/9/2023.
edwardb, thanks for the link. I greatly appreciate it. I am aware of the benefits of google. I find it safer to get the link from someone familiar with the site than to trust that I have found the correct location using google.
Mk4 Roadster, Picked up complete kit 8/22/14. Most FFR options except Wilwood brakes and IRS. First start 11/11/14. Go-kart 3/8/15. 347 Stroker, TKO 500, 3-link/3.27 rear. PA street legal 7/29/15.
I asked Don tangent, the very same question last January when I sent my bar out for chrome plating. To make sure the parts for the connector were not lost at the chromer, I completely removed the tangent parts.
Here is his answer........
Hey, Derald. In all these years I have not had anyone that couldn't overcome the indexing issue. The long 3/8x16 means that 1 turn is 1/16" of an inch, so the most you'd have is 1/2 turn (1/32 of an inch) to makeup, I made the all -thread 5" long for that reason, to have a little tension/stretch. And like you allowed, worst case, a thin shim under one or the other coupling nut should finalize things if you don't get that lucky. Thanks for being a customer and let me know how it works out. All the best, Don
And it really did go back together just fine, with no shims , no problems.
Last edited by Derald Rice; 07-14-2017 at 06:45 PM.
I like the frankenstein bolt too, but I am intrigued by the tangent. At the point I had to drill the hole I was pretty sure I would screw everything up and the bit would slip or go in at an angle. Through a lot of care and preparation (and squeezing my cheeks really tight) I got it done! But if I had an option to not do it, I might have chosen the tangent. One of the things I love about these cars is that there are not any two exactly alike out there.
Mk4 #8340, 351w/427, 3-link, Wilwood 4 piston rear brakes, 3.27 gear, TKO600, delivered June 18th, 2014