cmcgregor
cmcgregor Dork
5/28/18 3:03 p.m.

Finally getting around to putting in my roll bar, since I had the morning free. However, after getting it physically in the car, I have this situation.

Passenger side looks good.

Driver's side doesn't line up

The corner is making contact and preventing it from sliding back far enough. Based on the cracked powder coat, I'm guessing it got bent in shipping.

Any suggestions on bending it back? Just run the bolts in and let the sheet metal form to it? I can get the seatbelts mount bolt in and try pulling it in that way.  I don't have a press anymore or I'd give it a shot with that.

cmcgregor
cmcgregor Dork
5/28/18 3:05 p.m.

Oh, and despite some skepticism on receipt, I'm a fan of the color combo

Patrick
Patrick GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
5/28/18 3:14 p.m.

Bolt other side, c clamps to pull it back?

Kramer
Kramer Dork
5/28/18 3:42 p.m.

Put in all the bolts about halfway.  Tighten slowly, back and forth until tight.  I doubt the bar is bent, they're tougher than you think.  After three decades, I'd guess the car is a little tweaked.  

cmcgregor
cmcgregor Dork
5/28/18 5:49 p.m.

I got it straightened out by taking it back out, bolting the backing plate on loosely then using a breaker bar in the gap for leverage. Success!

This chassis is definitely a bit tweaked, but definitely not that much!

NickD
NickD UberDork
5/29/18 5:25 a.m.


Also, check the trunk area. The instructions say to line up one of the rear leg bolt holes with an existing body plug. I know that at least on my 1990, said body plug was not there because, according to Keith, the trunk was ever-evolving area. This resulted in a bunch of time making a cardboard template to line up the other three. It's doable but was a bit of a pain and not something I was expected.

Jaynen
Jaynen UltraDork
5/29/18 6:46 a.m.

I have had similar issues when putting in bars in the past, as mentioned I just get it lined up and then slowly tighten both sides into place and it seemed to be fine. I had more trouble getting the wiring out of the way on the drivers side to get the rollbar to be able to go back far enough, and I had to relocate the battery cable in the trunk also

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