Autopower Rollbar Installation

[Happy911]

I recently bought a project car and with it came what appears to be an Autopower Street-Race Bar.

I've now installed the bar. It required a little BFH work to smooth the floor enough to get the mounts back but I still feel like it sits too far forward. (or perhaps doesn't lean far enough back)

Wondering if anyone has any side-profile pictures of their Autopower equipped 911's (pre-993) so that I can see the main hoop location relative to the b-pillars

Thanks

[TCracingCA]

But the modern fitment I have heard was a problem from car model or generation to generation. I have also talked to guys that actually cut the unit apart and tweeked on it somewhat. They apparently can sell you an SCCA level unit, but for installation you have to pay attention to the rules as for requirements above or behind the helmet. But basically I have never found a ready made rollbar or cage that was to my exact liking and have had to make adjustment modifications or compromise on good exact fitment to some extent. I have thus been collecting the stuff for my own bending! I am a Chromoly guy, and doing the fitting myself helps the pocket book somewhat.

[bpu699]

If your insurance carrier sees a roll bar in your car they may cancel you... Be aware, it could also effect your liability/medical coverage. Or so says my State Farm agent.
Bo

[Trackrash]

I have an Autopower roll bar in my car.

HOWEVER, I had them give it to me UN-ASSEMBLED. That allowed me to custom fit it to my specification. As stated above I could not find a pre-made roll bar that fit the way I wanted it to.

[Happy911]

Well, online it seems the only gripe people have about Autopower is the poor fitment relative to the roof and b-pillars (as in, there is too much space between)

I can honestly say mine does not suffer from that and it is as, or tighter, than most cages I've seen.

[KTL]

I have a friend's '78 Targa in my garage right now that I can get some pictures from for you.

But I have to say I don't like the Autopower design at all. The main hoop attaches to the floor sheetmetal, which is not very sturdy. I've had other 911s (my racecar being one) that were jacked from underneath and the floor was easily dented. I pounded them flat with a 4lb baby sledge. I suspect in a rollover the force applied to the hoop is a LOT more force than the swing of my hammer. Wouldn't surprise me if the floor plates punched thru the floor pan.

The Targa also has the rear "drop-down" diagonal legs bolted to the engine bay firewall. That is sheetmetal as well. Not a great location, again.

My racecar came equipped with a 6 pt. bolt-in cage partly converted to welded. It was made by OG Racing i'm told. At least OG did it mostly right IMO. The forward section of the cage and the rear main hoop use plates that are welded to the frame rails next to the B pillar. Then the cage legs are bolted to that.

The rear legs of the cage are bolted to the wheel arches. That is sheetmetal of course. But at least its curved sheetmetal so it has a much higher resistance to bending than a flat piece (a-la the engine bay firewall).

Like I said, I can take pictures if you'd like. Actually I can take pictures of both the Targa and the OG setup in my God-only-knows-when-i'll-ever-finish-it perpetual racecar rebuild.

[IROC]

I have an Autopower bar in may car also (and can take pictures). I installed it around 1998 so it is an older one (if that makes a difference). Mine fit reasonably well, but I had to make a spacer for one of the feet behind the passenger's seat.

[Happy911]

Yes, please guys...take some photos for me...

[Trackrash]

Here is mine. I had the tubing bent to my specs, then I fitted and welded it in. That way the main hoop is high and further back. With my race seats there is no way my head could hit it.

[rattlsnak]

here are a few of my Autopower bar on a previous car.

[KTL]

Trackrash has the legs sitting in the right place. The main hoop should have a diagonal support on it to triangulate it, but that's getting off the subject.....

Here's some pics of the Autopower bar in the Targa.





Here the OG cage currently being modified in teh racecar