by "Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
Published 04/25/2017 at 23:51
by "Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
Published 04/25/2017 at 23:51
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STARS: 1
A couple months ago I blew the engine in my track-day 911, couldn’t afford a new engine, have no garage or knowledge about swapping in a LS1 into a Porsche, and the rolling chassis luckily ended up in the hands on another Opponaut and I went back to finding something I could take to the track, could afford, and wasn’t a Miata because it’s far too practical and intelligent.
No, I went the hard way. I bought a 1992 Corvette with an LT1 engine, a 3.54 LSD, a greatly upgraded suspension, great brakes, aftermarket tune, intake, rockers, and six gears going forward and one going backward. It really needs nothing except stickier tires to go to the track... except one thing... the damn car is a convertible.
What you’re looking at here is ZERO rollover protection. Even with the rock hard aftermarket suspension (yes!) I suspect the car would still be more stable upside down and I’d be headless by that point. As decapitated drivers tend to make racing tracks leery about gaining a negative image, they won’t let you run a car without a roof unless it has a bar or pop-up rollover protection.
But hey, why not buy the cheap Corvette and buy this and how hard can it be to get it installed?
Turns out, it’s a bit of a hassle. You see, I don’t know how to weld. That’s a weld in item. How hard is it to find a welder?
I’ve had a bitch of a time. The manufacturer doesn’t know if the soft top will still work. The installers can’t figure out the directions from the manufacturer. The manufacturer doesn’t have better directions. This is all while I’m trying to find someone who can guarantee that they can install the rollbar before I buy it. So it’s taken me nearly three weeks to find someone who can guarantee he’ll make it work. Of course he can. He’s been fabricating cages for 20 years. So on top of the cost of the bar, plus tax, plus shipping, plus a 5 week estimated wait, I get to hire someone extremely expensive to weld it in.
Moral of this story: buy a Miata. Bolt in kit, what, $300? $600? DIY, one afternoon?
However, I’m still stoked as the rollbar is paid for and will be shipped directly to the welder who is prepared to do the work. Hopefully, somewhere in the next 6-8 weeks I’ll finally be back on the track hunting down Miatas like a man with a grudge. Fingers crossed.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
04/25/2017 at 23:54, STARS: 5
Should have bought the coupe
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
04/25/2017 at 23:55, STARS: 1
Bruh, your chassis is gonna be as floppy as the bro who skips leg day bro...
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
04/26/2017 at 00:09, STARS: 1
Please tell me that flat bottom steering wheel came with the car and you’re gonna replace it
"TahoeSTi" (tahoesti)
04/26/2017 at 00:28, STARS: 1
I have and Autopower 4 Point in my Mustang it fits the top perfectly, it’s a bolt in, can be welded later. Around here for welding you can usually find some fabrication shops that work on cars, sand rails, rock crawlers or tractors. Some advertise in craigslist.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
04/26/2017 at 00:47, STARS: 0
Came with the car and it’s also a horn delete as there’s no fucking button.
However.... I... I... I kinda like it. Sorry.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
04/26/2017 at 00:56, STARS: 0
Well the stock one isn’t much better. It was just a bloated marshmallow of a wheel. What I’d do in your position is look at other GM cars of the era for a steering wheel you like. I think they all used the same bolt pattern. There’s some nice ones out there and since they’re stock, they’re pretty cheap.
"Hammerdown" (hammerdown32)
04/26/2017 at 08:36, STARS: 0
Did you ask them what the cost would have been for them to make a bar from scratch at their shop? Just curious as to the price difference.
"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
04/26/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 1
It would have been about 1/3 more was the rough estimate. I was encouraged to buy the bar by people who could fabricate one but didn’t seem to want to.
"gawdzillla" (gawdzillla)
04/26/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
i’d have gone with a c5 .... so much more aftermarket support