I'm thinking I may be able to drop below 11.5 sec with my cam change and some tuning next year and if I do I will be politely asked to exit the track until I install a rollbar. What's the general consensus, does a rollbar decrease the cars value? The car is an original SS, but no original motor. The car is being built to "look" stock.

Would a well designed rollbar be a turn-off if I ever had to sell the car? I cringe at the thought of having to cut holes through the floors to mount to the frame. If the rules allowed the bar to be mounted to the floors like in the unibody cars, I don't think I would have as much of a problem with it. Since the body and interior is not done yet, now is the time to do it if I'm going to.

With the rollbar, is the rear seat useable? I sometimes take the kids to cruise nights.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

Id have to say yes. No matter what you do your going to be cutting or drilling on the car.
If it was a Malibu or other Id say it might increase the value,but not for an SS.
Just my opinion though.

So let me get this straight: instead of having the fun and doing what you want, you are worried about how much the next guy might value the car?

Put the rollbar in there and go for the 10's.

Rollbars do not add to the value of the car, they do change who becomes interested in the car when you sell it. Kind of like adding a swimming pool to your house. For the "purist" a rollbar is a value deduction because money must be spent for its removal. For the drag racers a well done rollbar is a bonus.

Your kids will like the jungle gym of rollbar tubes.

Thomas

Thomas, you definitely have a valid point. I do like to drive the car hard. It is mostly a street car with large sway bars and low profile 17" tires, but I do plan to bring it to the track as much as I can. It's too bad the seat belt cross bar on the rollbar cannot be removeable like the door side bars. It would make it alot easier for a double duty car. I guess the bar will not be too noticeable from the outside if it's done right.

Thank You for the comments.

Tom

I guess the bar will not be too noticeable from the outside if it's done right.

We upolstered the back seat in my car in the car due to the rollbar....it does create some limitations. With removeable side bars, the thing is completely out of the equation for running around town. But I also do not have kids...I can see that getting in and out of the back seat would be a chore.

Put the rollbar in there and go for the 10's.

Rollbars do not add to the value of the car, they do change who becomes interested in the car when you sell it. Kind of like adding a swimming pool to your house. For the "purist" a rollbar is a value deduction because money must be spent for its removal. For the drag racers a well done rollbar is a bonus.

Your kids will like the jungle gym of rollbar tubes.

Thomas

What he said :)

Oh, I forgot to add...I have absolutely no regrets putting a rollbar in my true SS...Thomas is correct - it only changes who might be interested in the car. I built my car for me, and if to sell it requires me to wait until I find someone who likes it like I do, then so be it.

Put the rollbar in there and go for the 10's.

Thomas


That's what I am doing!

If you ever wad that thing up at 11.51 on the big end you will be glad you did!

Look at kits with the swing out door bars, "seat saver" rear bars that drop down thru the package tray. It MUST weld to the frame to be legal and pass a real tech inspection. It will not stiffen the frame (thats what its there for) if installed to any other point.

I dont care what it does to the value, its my car and its not for sale! If your looking for value, try a good oil company stock. :) Art Morrision, S&W, others make the kits.

Craig, the swing out door bars would be a necessity. I would also plan on running the bars through the package tray. I won't do the kit myself as I do not trust my welding skills for something this important.

The safety factor added with the bar is a big factor for my decision. Cart-wheeling a car at 100+ mph without one scares the hell out of me! I know how I am, 11.5 sec will be great for a while, then I'll want more. Just like everyone else here "addicted" to the horsepower drug :D .

Thanks for the replies,
Tom

a rollbar adds value to the car if the guy buying it wants it, takes away value if the guy buying it doesnt want it-so if you sell it, find someone who wants a rollbar-i have cut out a couple rollbars in cars that people didnt want, then you have to weld up the holes in the floor

What I would for sure do is to spec one out in chrome moly. I did my 75 Camaro in mild steel, and it looks really good, but the chrome moly is much less, uh, obtrusive. Moly for absolutely sure.

I sometimes take the kids to cruise nights.Kids + backseat = extra bar padding!

I'd build it the way how you like. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the future value - you could have the bar removed before you sell it. If you have them install it nicely, it shouldn't involve anything more than cutting it out, patching the floors, a carpet set, and a new package tray.

Thanks guys, I'll be looking to have a roll bar added in the spring.

67 GTO, I hear what you're saying. That was one of the reasons I wish the seat belt cross bar was removeable. It is likely the first thing they bang against in an accident. One bonus to the rollbar, I may be able to use the bars that run through the package tray as anchor points for shoulder belt mounts for the back seat. I didn't see anything in the IHRA rulebook saying that this could not be done.

ejrempel, do you mean the chromoly bar is less obtrusive because they allow a slighly smaller tube size compared to mild steel? I hear the chromoly saves quite a bit of weight also. I'll price the bar both ways. If it is too expensive to get it done in the chromoly I'll just go with the mild.

Thanks Again,
Tom

Tom

For the "purist" a rollbar is a value deduction because money must be spent for its removal. For the drag racers a well done rollbar is a bonus.


I agree... And for the purist with the money, your car will get past by because of missing the original motor (what about headers and aftermarket exhaust, etc)...


"well designed" should get a little better access to the back seat.

While your kids may enjoy the "jungle gym", that lack of rear access would be the only real detractor IMO...

BUT a roll bar can be removed and the holes welded shut. Since they are holes in the floor, there's no need to match the paint, etc... When/If you sell, remove the bar, patch the floor and add new carpet...

1966_L78, When I first started working on this car (11 years ago) it was going to be restored to basically a stock car to show at the local level. Then a knee injury and surgery prompted me to go to an automatic from the 4spd. Then I decided a 502 would be nicer than the 396. Then I realized how little I really wanted to show the car (beyond the typical cruise night) and how much more I'd rather drive it (and I drive it as hard as possible :D ). So the rollbar install is my last step over to the dark side :thumbsup: . The car's exterior and interior remain basically stock looking except for the added Autometer gages and 3" pipes out the back. Under the hood and under the car are a different story.

Tom

i have a rollbar in my 66. It goes through the package tray. A friend who does roll cages for dirt track cars, did it for me. Since it was just a 6 point bar he said cromoly doubled the price for very little weight savings. I plan on putting my interior back to factory look, down to painting the rollbar turqouis.

Yeah, the chromoly bar weighs quite a bit less, and is smaller. It has to be tigged though, so more dough for both material and labour, but is very nice. If this isn't your last car, well, you can go either way. For me, my next car will be my last car will be a convertible of some sort, and it will be top drawer.