Aluminum Roll Bar?

[LJ851]

A street 911 in a roll over situation with an properly designed aluminum roll bar would be less likely to collapse the roof than a car without a roll bar.


It's light, adds stiffness, and it helps in roll over situations. Sounds great to me !

[HorstP]

here is a photo of what I was talking about. You can see the adjustable rod ends. Again, this is the steel version, the aluminum looks similar.

[safe]

The 944 turbo cup used aluminum cages in the late 80s, early 90s. It's a lot safer than no cage/rollbar !

[NYNick]

Silver911rdp: Check this out! Sorry, it's New Caanan. Watch the video.
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Horst,
I think that's the one! Thanks!
Nick

[Trackrash]

I could be wrong, but my research found that no sanctioning body will allow aluminum roll bars on the track. A vintage car with one could be grandfathered for historic events, however.

[NYNick]

Those Heigos are impossible to source anyway. Nothing but bad ordering history, and zero distributors.
I'll ask again….does anyone do stainless?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Rob T.

I bet you will find what you need here

Looks like they do come up for sale once in a while (2009), but this one is for a 993.

FS: Heigo roll bar - 993 sunroof coupe - fit my 964
FS: Heigo roll bar - 993 sunroof coupe - fit my 964

Originally Posted by Ag02M5

Selling a used Heigo rear roll bar/hoop for a 993 sunroof coupe. Model is 516.038 and it is lightweight aluminum.

It is in good shape, but I would give it a fresh coat of paint before installing.

I bought it to use in my 965 but going another route.

Sells for $774 + ship at FVD. $550 + ship OBO.

FVD Brombacher Online Shop

I would think that if you wanted a similar "look" you could always paint a steel roll bar with metallic aluminum paint.

Another:
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/993-forum/754427-recommendations-regarding-a-half-roll-cage-in-a-993-a.html


I found an example of a Matter roll bar from way back in 2006, however from the post it's unclear to me if it's aluminum.

Matter Roll Bar...NOS
Matter Roll Bar...NOS

Originally Posted by LARennsport

Very Rare....and...Never installed...in excellent shape. It bolts to rear seat belt mounts and then has plates for the front portion of the hoop which can be welded or bolted. I bought for 964, but understand that this will fit 964/993 AND will also fit earlier cars (Carrera) w/slight mods to front hoop mounting plates. I'm only selling as I found an aluminum cage instead...love this piece though. Expensive, but worth having Matter quality and exclusivity...Matter is the German company that built all the OE roll bars/cages for Porsche Motorsports up until a few years ago...they are now no longer in business so next to impossible to find "new" Matter bars...if you are just looking for a roll hoop...go buy a DAS or Autopower...if you are looking for unique piece w/great Porsche Motorsports history this is for you. Serious Offers being entertained. Shipping from 91604....

[kach22i]

Another Heigo, great detail shots.

Recommendations regarding a half-/roll-cage in a 993? - Page 5 - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Originally Posted by Macca

Here are my pictures this week from Heigo Half cage install. I had the cage coloured coded steel grey metallic (P61W) as per my existing wheels and other exterior parts. Initial install took over half a day (full seat removal) to get it "just right". Removing the X brace and parts in the future (leaving the hoop in place) should be only a matter of 20-30 mins...

I haven't run across any stainless steel roll bars, but I bet some cabriolet owner at one time or another has had a custom unit fabricated up.

[island911]

Mo, yer kill'n me

Anyway, there is a reason that aircraft frames are aluminum, but the landing gear is steel. That reason is weight specific toughness. (failure mode)

As was said early in this thread, rolling over and over again you want to have toughness ...not just strength.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by island911

Anyway, there is a reason that aircraft frames are aluminum, but the landing gear is steel. That reason is weight specific toughness. (failure mode)

There are also many examples of aluminum landing gear, fiberglass landing gear and carbon fiber landing gear.

You are not going to see steel landing gear on a VariEze, I can virtually guarantee it. And Island do you really think that you know more than Burt Rutan?

Your buddy Mo think he knows more than the Porsche engineering department.

You guys crack me up, but not in the way you think.

[RichardNew]

A unique problem came up with the Corvette C6.R. The frame was aluminum but it needed a steel cage. They developed some sort of high-tech welding solution. I think is was called friction welding. Honda uses a similar technique and calls it Friction Stir Welding, in which metals are joined via mechanical pressure.



A lot work has gone into cages over the last decade. Just take a look at the new FIA GT3 cages.

Richard Newton

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by RichardNew

Friction Stir Welding

I first read about friction stir welding back in 2001 when I read the book "Free Flight" by James Fallows. The Eclipse 500 a 6-person twin engine jet was able to get a smooth skin like composites enjoy by using thin aluminum stir welded in lieu of rivets or other fasteners which cause drag.

I had no idea this technology was being adapted by the automobile industry in quite a different manner.

[Trackrash]

I have heard of guys using muffler tubing. Who would know? It would be very light weight. You could even use stainless....

[cgarr]

Aircraft landing gears are designed for a specific application. I have built solid steel tubing, solid wood, laminated wood and fiber glass gears, All depends what it has to do, some gears are part of the suspension and must flex. The solid wood gears were made to replace the steel tubing gears, actually wood is a lot more forgiving than steel in a lot of ways.

How about a beautiful laminated wood roll cage??

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by cgarr

How about a beautiful laminated wood roll cage??

On some light weight antique racer which originally came with one I bet it would look cool.

[island911]

Originally Posted by kach22i

There are also many examples of aluminum landing gear, fiberglass landing gear and carbon fiber landing gear.

You are not going to see steel landing gear on a VariEze, I can virtually guarantee it. And Island do you really think that you know more than Burt Rutan?

Your buddy Mo think he knows more than the Porsche engineering department.

You guys crack me up, but not in the way you think.

oh George... Mo gave some solid info and you respond with insult, suggesting he's "content with a life of monkey see, monkey do." -nice.

Then I give you more solid input and you strive to insult me AND Mo.

But at least you shout loudly from your position of ignorance.

Of course there are many other materials used in landing gear. And some people have made roll cages out of PVC pipe. So what's the point? One could even argue that a PVC roll-cage will do nothing but add some protection. And so what?

If you want an aluminum roll-bar, go for it. They polish up nicely. Just don't go insulting people who actually know (and help provide for free) the nuances of materials and engineering.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by island911

oh George... Mo gave some solid info and you respond with insult, suggesting he's "content with a life of monkey see, monkey do." -nice.

Then I give you more solid input and you strive to insult me AND Mo.

But at least you shout loudly from your position of ignorance.

Of course there are many other materials used in landing gear. And some people have made roll cages out of PVC pipe. So what's the point? One could even argue that a PVC roll-cage will do nothing but add some protection. And so what?

If you want an aluminum roll-bar, go for it. They polish up nicely. Just don't go insulting people who actually know (and help provide for free) the nuances of materials and engineering.

Revisionist babble, nothing of the sort even remotely happened.

You live in a dream world Island.

Originally Posted by wildcat077

Rich is correct,the original 964 Cup cars in Europe were all equipped with Matter aluminum rollbars/cages ... friend of mine in Montreal has one for sale,still has the certification stickers and OEM padding on it !

Cheers
Phil

I'd be interested in hearing from someone how the certification standards have changed over the years.

[Tippy]

Nothing wrong with getting impaled by the shattered aluminum roll bar, right?

It did help the rollover after all.

[Tippy]

Aircraft landing gears are designed for a specific application. I have built solid steel tubing, solid wood, laminated wood and fiber glass gears, All depends what it has to do, some gears are part of the suspension and must flex. The solid wood gears were made to replace the steel tubing gears, actually wood is a lot more forgiving than steel in a lot of ways.



How about a beautiful laminated wood roll cage??

Cool Craig, didn't know.

I used to be an aviation mechanic BTW. F15 engine mechanic.

[LJ851]

Originally Posted by Tippy

Nothing wrong with getting impaled by the shattered aluminum roll bar, right?

It did help the rollover after all.

I don't think anyone was considering a cast aluminum rollbar.