Any pics of a seat brace and roll bar?

[911vet]

I have a DAS roll bar and feel I would be safer with a seat brace added. Especially since I installed a seat elevation kit and now have longer (i.e. weaker) seat bolts.

I'd really like to see some pics of a seat brace installed (with a DAS bar if possible). And I would welcome any ideas.

I have stock seats and stock seat belt restraint. No plans to change the seats. I might install a harness later. My roll bar has the loops welded on.

Thanks,

Shannon

[jester911]

Here is a link to an adjustable back brace. Before I ordered one I would call them to confirm your use of it. Normally these are used in conjunction with a fixed back seat.

http://www.cdoc.com/detail.asp?id=11672&name=

Oh and this is the company that actually sells Das roll bars now so they can recommend what you need for your application.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

If you're using stock seats, all a seatback brace will do is punch through the seat and gut you. I have one, custom made, with a DAS rollbar and Recaros, but it's not one of those little mail-order braces.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

If you're using stock seats, all a seatback brace will do is punch through the seat and gut you. I have one, custom made, with a DAS rollbar and Recaros, but it's not one of those little mail-order braces.

Good grief! I guess having a roll bar in my car is a death trap! I got it thinking it was going to make me safer. From what I read, I will either die of a cracked skull when my head impacts with the overhead tube or I will snap my spine on the harness bar as it cuts through my seat. Now it seems I will also be gutted by the seat brace! AAAHHHRRGG!!

OK - so I still want to keep the roll bar because it really does improve my car's handling. And I live where there are steep drop offs and it would be quite possible for me to roll my car.

I need a solution. Recaro seats are pretty expensive. Not sure they are gonna be realistic for me. BUT... let's say I bite the bullet and buy them. I hear they aren't very comfy for daily driving. And I do some rather long road trips a few times a year. What do you think?

Shannon

[bell]

drive around with a helmet on.....

[911vet]

Originally Posted by jester911

Here is a link to an adjustable back brace. Before I ordered one I would call them to confirm your use of it. Normally these are used in conjunction with a fixed back seat.

http://www.cdoc.com/detail.asp?id=11672&name=

Oh and this is the company that actually sells Das roll bars now so they can recommend what you need for your application.

Thanks, Jerry. I've seen these. They are made for the Krause bars and I wasn't sure if they would work with DAS. I'll give them a call.

By the way, I see you're from Marrieta, GA. That's where my car is from. I drove down from Ohio last month and picked it up.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by bell

drive around with a helmet on.....

I've actually considered it. But my buddy said if I did, he'd quit driving with me. Damn coupe driver!

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Okay, the bottom line is that Porsche designed a quite safe, strong car called a 911--tough roof, great seats, strong belts, I haven't heard any Ford Explorer-like reports of "911 rollover deathtraps." So then you and I, for whatever reasons--perceived safety, desire to look cool, phony-racer pretensions (and yes, I'll plead guilty myself)--decided to "upgrade" the 911 by installing bolt-in rollbars.

If yours makes your 911 "handle better," a 911 is either more of a flexible flyer than I ever imagined, or you have a way more sensitive ass than I do. All I know is that 75 pounds of DAS rollbar in my car is equal to $5,000 worth of carbon-fiber fenders and bumpers, in terms of weight. I'm _adding_ weight to my car: how stupid is that?

Maybe you do live somewhere that deep canyons and slippery roads make a rollover an everyday risk...but frankly, I doubt it's a statistically realistic risk. I suspect you'd be far better off, risk-wise, wearing a helmet for all street driving. Or having a medevac helo follow you everywhere.

Which you won't do, because that'll make you look like a dork, while carrying around a rollbar makes you look like a racer. (Makes _me_ look like a racer...)

So you have a choice: take out the rollbar and reinstall it only for DEs, where it might make a difference. Or buy a serious FIA-approved, metal-back fixed Recaro seat (not a $600 fanboy Recaro seat) that is designed to be used for racing, and use it in conjunction with a good seatback brace and a rollbar.

The choice? Sure seems obvious to me... Did I make that choice? Uhhhh, the rollbar looks so cool.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Okay, the bottom line is that Porsche designed a quite safe, strong car called a 911--tough roof, great seats, strong belts, .

In my case, my roof is a piece of cloth.

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

If yours makes your 911 "handle better," a 911 is either more of a flexible flyer than I ever imagined, or you have a way more sensitive ass than I do.

Yes, I think I can tell a difference. I doubt it would be perceptable on a coupe. I understand the extra metal on the underside of the cabs make them quite good, but they are still a bit more flexible than the coupes. I don't think I imagined it. Because I removed the roll bar last week to have it repainted. I was driving my car today and thought to myself that it wasn't handling quite as good as before. I thought maybe tire pressure, etc. Then it hit me that that roll bar was out. So I attributed my perceived difference in handling to that. Could be my imagination. Then again... if a tower strut improves handling, why wouldn't the roll bar?

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Maybe you do live somewhere that deep canyons and slippery roads make a rollover an everyday risk...but frankly, I doubt it's a statistically realistic risk.

Yes, I do live in such an area. Even a Lotus would roll here. I dare say a cat might land on its back here!

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

So you have a choice: take out the rollbar and reinstall it only for DEs, where it might make a difference. Or buy a serious FIA-approved, metal-back fixed Recaro seat (not a $600 fanboy Recaro seat) that is designed to be used for racing, and use it in conjunction with a good seatback brace and a rollbar.

Hmmm.... well they won't let me in DE school without it. In fact, that is the precise reason I bought it. But I figured I'd "use" it all the time. I didn't know about the risk of spinal injury when I got it.

OK, I will ponder your sage advice. But you are right... the thing looks so cool!

Shannon

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

My mistake! I thought you were talking about a 911, not a convertible..

But seriously, I have taken to at least going to the considerable trouble of using my five-point harness for ordinary street driving, which is an enormous pain, but at least I don't use the car on the road that much.

Would Porsche ever have built a 911 with a rollbar for street use? Not on your life. Too dangerous.

Oh, and tell me where in Ohio the canyons are??? My friend John Phillips take his Car and Driver test cars down there frequently, but I didn't realize he was putting himself at such risk.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

My mistake! I thought you were talking about a 911, not a convertible..

It's cool. I've had people look at me and make the mistake of thinking they weren't gonna eat my dust because I'm a woman. So... it rather amuses me when they make the same sad mistake thinking my cabriolet isn't gonna wupp up on their hardtop.

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Would Porsche ever have built a 911 with a rollbar for street use? Not on your life. Too dangerous.

Ok - you just about have me convinced. I may remove it!

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

Oh, and tell me where in Ohio the canyons are??? My friend John Phillips take his Car and Driver test cars down there frequently, but I didn't realize he was putting himself at such risk.

Yep, lots of people are unaware of that southeastern Ohio is on the edge of the Appalachian Plateau and is a ridge-and-valley system. Since the Wisconsian glaciation didn't get here (Illinoian was the last glacial even, if I recall)... this area is NOT flat or even close to flat. While I doubt the word "canyon" applies... what does apply is "straight down" if you go off the road.

Yes, C&D comes to this area every year to drive the very roads that I am driving. It's truly a twisty paradise. Lots of "little dragon" roads.

OK, I'm done defending the honor of my gender, my Cabriolet and my state! And I will take your advice since you are "da man" and I read your book and I liked it. I think the roll bar is coming out.

So... now I've got to go buy a tower strut for the front. What do I get to stiffen up the rear? It never ends!!

[don911]

75# DAS roll bar? IIRC mine was around 40#. I must have the light weight version.

[450knotOffice]

Here's a counterpoint to what Steve brought up (all valid points, btw). Your rollbar will be fine for you if you pad it liberally with padding specifically made for...you guessed it...rollbars. The idea is to not crack your skull on it. As for the seat, pony up the dough and get yourself a good Recaro fixed back seat, like Steve said. A pretty good one is the Pole Position. If you don't want to use it for daily driving, it can be removed and replaced with the "normal" seats fairly easily. The bolt-in bar can be removed too. It just takes a bit more work, obviously, but it can be done (and is done by some on this board).

Talk to JeremyD. He's done this with his Cab. Don't give up on this idea you have to use the car for DE's.

[MIK911]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

My mistake! I thought you were talking about a 911, not a convertible..

That's cold