Rollbar install 10/16/2005

[Tim the Teacher]

patience grasshopper

[channelmaniac]

Make sure you have the right angle drill attachment or a very long drill bit to put the holes in place...

[black roadster]

Ok...

The "expert" rollbar installer is in for Sunday.

I haven't installed one in an 01+ but imagine it's similar to the earlier cars. I Hope someone knows what we need to do about the exploding seatbelt reels! Haven't had to deal with those!

Tim has instructions sent in a PM on what he can do before hand. Remove seats, jack up ass-end, etc...

I don't drink beer but Dr. Pepper or IBC Root Beers will do nicely!

Now all Tim needs to do is post the details so we know when and where on Sunday.

[sammm]

Someone have a long (12") 3/8" drill bit and a dremel?

[black roadster]

Someone have a long (12") 3/8" drill bit and a dremel?

Tim says he has the bit. I have a Dremel if he doesn't.

[Tim the Teacher]

I have both so it looks like we will start at 10am Sunday at my house. If you wanna help pm me for address and directions.

[sammm]

I have both

Cool. When we installed mine, we found it was easier to start drilling the most forward hole from inside the car and finish it up from underneath. (Talking about the rear support arms) Then use the backing plate as a template and drill the other 2 from underneath. Don't forget to get some undercoating.

[Tim the Teacher]

It's on the list

[POS Racing]

Cool. When we installed mine, we found it was easier to start drilling the most forward hole from inside the car and finish it up from underneath. (Talking about the rear support arms) Then use the backing plate as a template and drill the other 2 from underneath. Don't forget to get some undercoating.

Also before you drill anything install the bolts on the seatbelt towers to center the bar in the car!

[black roadster]

Don't forget to get some undercoating.

I disagree on the undercoating. If it were to be driven up north in the winter or on the coast, sure. In Texas rust isn't a problem and if you ever want to remove the bar as I have, you'll appreciate not having to scrape rubber crap off the nut and bolts. Now paint would work if your concerned about surface rust. Since you have fender liners, the mounting points are well protected anywho.

YMMV and JMHO

[sammm]

I disagree on the undercoating.

Noted. Moisture/condensation is still be able to get past the fender liners (they're not hermetically sealed) and eventually get into the car interior. It's up to the owner to decide. Cheap insurance IMHO. YUndercoatingMV.

[black roadster]

Also before you drill anything install the bolts on the seatbelt towers to center the bar in the car!

Yup. The first thing I do is make sure the seat belt tower bolts line up. Once they're in and secure, then you drill.

Of course, even though the bars are built on a jig, and likely the cars are too, their are variances and each install presents it's own challenges. I've rarely had a bar just line up the first time. Expect the unexpected is the rule when installing a rollbar.

[channelmaniac]

Tim,

When you take out the wheel well liners on your '03, you'll find a small emissions device (like a little breather element) up under the passenger side of the car. I'm not sure on your roll bar, but my Autopower one installed right smack dab where that little breather was.

I removed it (it plugs into a hole in the body) and used a couple of zip ties to hold it over out of the way so it wouldn't flop around under the car. This made the necessary room to put the sandwich plates in for the roll bar.

The hole in the body is just a mounting point for that piece... it doesn't vent anything to/from the interior of the car.

Raymond

[sammm]

Expect the unexpected is the rule when installing a rollbar.

Watch out for exploding seat-belt reels.

[black roadster]

Tim,

When you take out the wheel well liners on your '03, you'll find a small emissions device (like a little breather element) up under the passenger side of the car.

That is on all the NB's IIRC. Zip Ties is the solution and needs to be done with the Hard Dogs as well.

[black roadster]

Watch out for exploding seat-belt reels.

So what is the deal-e-o with these WMD?

[Treibenschnell]

So what is the deal-e-o with these WMD?

They go boom.

[POS Racing]

So what is the deal-e-o with these WMD?

You may want to got to the first page of this post and read up on the exploding retractors.

[black roadster]

You may want to got to the first page of this post and read up on the exploding retractors.

I already read that Sparky. What I don't know is what do you have to do or not do to keep them from exploding? What is this mod that Onething speaks of?

I removed the upper bracket to my seatbelt reel to improve it's retracting function. Is that it?

[POS Racing]

I already read that Sparky. What I don't know is what do you have to do or not do to keep them from exploding? What is this mod that Onething speaks of?

I removed the upper bracket to my seatbelt reel to improve it's retracting function. Is that it?

The seatbelt retractors have an electrical connection to them they explode when the SRS is activated to work as a pretensioned for the belts. We are not a 100% sure why Onethings seatbelt retractor went Boom after the installation, current theory is it may have had something to do with the installation. I recommend disconnecting the battery before you start the installation. From Onethings experience it would appear there is no need to modify the retractors on the newer cars.