Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Got an early start today and just got in a little while ago. These 10 hour days really tire me out, but I am seeing some progress on the T.

Today I continued working on the roll bar that is going to be shaped like the inside of the firewall and fit right up against it. I am going to leave it exposed on the interior of the car to give the car somewhat of a competition look.

The reason for the cowl roll bar is simply to support the entire length of the steering column. Most T buckets route the steering box under the floor, so there is no strain on the firewall. In mine I am putting the steering box in front of the firewall, so the dash has to be strong enough to hold the weight of the column and any strain I put on it when steering the car. Fiberglass bodies have very little strength by themselves, and even wooding them helps only a little bit. Certainly not enough to mount a steering column to. So the roll bar will hold the bottom of the steering column (I am going to mount a bearing there on a steel plate welded to the roll bar) and I am going to weld some support arms that go from the roll bar to a piece of 1 x 1 square tubing run the entire width of the dash and fastened to the dash, Then the rear column mount will have a strong place to mount.

I was going to get out the tubing bender and form the roll bar, but I found one of my Sons failed pieces in the scrap bin, and it was almost perfect. I just had to narrow it a little and put one longer leg on it. I joined the two pieces of tubing together by slipping a smaller piece inside of each cut end and rosette welding it in place ( I learned that term from Techinspector 1) Then I fully welded the tubes together into one piece. I also cut some plates that I will weld to the top of the frame and tap for threads. Then the roll bar will bolt to these plates and be removable with the body.

Tomorrow I plan to go to Home Depot and pick up a piece of plywood to start glassing in the firewall so I can then mount the roll bar to it. My plan is for the roll bar to become an integral part of the body when I am done, and unbolt just as the body does.

Here are some pictures of the way I welded up the rollbar, and also the mocked up roll bar on the frame.

Thanks for looking,


Don