tajordan Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 WANTED: I believe my car has the 'standard' rollbar and I'm looking to replace it with an FIA rollbar. It's a 2008 R400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senna223 Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Caterham just got these back in stock last week. The chances of finding a used one, especially in the states, is slim to none. https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/2728-roll-over-bar-fia-s3-l-a-rhd.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 (edited) Caterham just got these back in stock last week. The chances of finding a used one, especially in the states, is slim to none. https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/2728-roll-over-bar-fia-s3-l-a-rhd.html Thanks - I'm not even sure which bar I want now that I've looked at their site. Anyone know the difference between: https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/2898-roll-over-bar-kit-de-dion-trackday-metric-chassis.html -and- https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/3502-roll-bar-fia-sloping-de-dion-lh-a-rhd.html Thanks, Thomas Edited December 1, 2019 by tajordan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 VAT included on the more expensive one. Thanks - I'm not even sure which bar I want now that I've looked at their site. Anyone know the difference between: https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/2898-roll-over-bar-kit-de-dion-trackday-metric-chassis.html -and- https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/2898-roll-over-bar-kit-de-dion-trackday-metric-chassis.html Thanks, Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted December 1, 2019 Author Share Posted December 1, 2019 Sorry Bruce - Apparently I forgot how to copy & paste today. Just realized both of the link in the post were the same, so I've edited it. Caterham has two track-day bars for the metric chassis, one described as 'sloping' and the other not. That's the question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 That makes more sense! The sloping rollbar should be angled forward like the one in the attached photo. Sorry Bruce - Apparently I forgot how to copy & paste today. Just realized both of the link in the post were the same, so I've edited it. Caterham has two track-day bars for the metric chassis, one described as 'sloping' and the other not. That's the question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted December 1, 2019 Author Share Posted December 1, 2019 Makes sense, I guess. Any benefit to one over the other? Are they both the same height? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senna223 Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 I think the straight ones are better if you’re running a roof. The sloping ones offer better protection. But I could be wrong... maybe ask Caterham - they are pretty good at replying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 Based on the photo, the sloping one doesn't appear to leave much distance to the back of the driver's head. Is the straight one intended for taller drivers? -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 I'm fairly certain all Caterham roll bars are "sloping" towards the front of the car since at least the 90s. (not counting full cages) If there are two different version of aggression of slope, thats beyond my knowledge. I have an imperial version dual diagonal I ordered earlier in the year, I didn't remember having a big decision in choosing it. Here is what I ordered 79032U https://caterhamparts.co.uk/track-day-bars/2728-roll-over-bar-fia-s3-l-a-rhd.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted December 1, 2019 Author Share Posted December 1, 2019 I received some info from Josh @ Rocky Mountain Caterham last night: ...the "Standard" trackday bar is more versatile and accommodates taller folk a little better. For pure track use, sloping one pairs better with a Petty strut, a la the older imperial FIA bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 It appears we are talking about slope towards the middle of the car on the vertical sides. If that's the case then yes older FIA were vertical that could accept Petty strut, new ones are "sloping in" with a more of a cone shape. I believe their height is the same, as well as the "rake/slope" towards the front of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted December 2, 2019 Author Share Posted December 2, 2019 It appears we are talking about slope towards the middle of the car on the vertical sides. If that's the case then yes older FIA were vertical that could accept Petty strut, new ones are "sloping in" with a more of a cone shape. I believe their height is the same, as well as the "rake/slope" towards the front of the car. I think you might be on to something here. I found some photos that may agree with that. Straight: Sloping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBe Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 We offer the two Caterham rollbars: 1) Standard rollbar - this does not have diagonal bracing, has a larger diameter tube (1.75"), and is vertically oriented 2) FIA "track-day" rollbar - this has diagonal bracing, provisions for a support strut (aka "Petty bar"), and smaller diameter tubing (1.5"). It also has additional mounting provisions through the indexing "pockets" in the chassis. Indeed, this roll-bar does "slope" forward, when viewed from the side. Imperial rollbars will not mate with metric cars, and new metric rollbars will not mate to imperial chassis. -Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted December 3, 2019 Author Share Posted December 3, 2019 Thanks Bruce. In a bit of a plot twist, Caterham responded and said both parts are the same bar, and the only difference is whether or not it comes with the 'fixings kit'. Seems like they need to standardize on their naming and photos, and add some descriptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vovchandr Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 To put pictures to this discussion and hopefully get everybody on the same page I'll reference the guys for whom it's very important to know what cage you have and what has been ever offered, to get right product/fit for customer SBF7's https://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/caterham-classifications-12-w.asp All listed in the link with pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsats Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Does anyone know if, besides the x bracing and additional drilled holes, these bars are different from the standard bars. In other words, will welding the x bracing into the standard bar, using the same size DOM tubing, be the same strength as the FIA/track day bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 (edited) Lotsats: I don't think so. Based on my ever worsening "memory": the Caterham FIA bar weighs 31 lbs, the standard bar weighs 11 lbs. I weighed both on my bathroom scale many years ago. So, it is much stouter than the stock bar. An occasion where adding lightness is not a good thing. A knowledgeable Caterham pro once analogized the protection provided by the stock bar to being similar to that afforded by a Kleenex box.... This was for a '97 Caterham, so its very possible that the current "stock" roll-over bar is far superior to the flimsy unit offered in '97? Edited December 4, 2019 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajordan Posted December 5, 2019 Author Share Posted December 5, 2019 The FIA bar is definitely a different beast. IIRC, smaller diameter tubing and thicker walls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted December 5, 2019 Share Posted December 5, 2019 ...so its very possible that the current "stock" roll-over bar is far superior to the flimsy unit offered in '97? Sadly no. A driving instructor described it as the metal equivalent of a cardboard tube in a chat earlier this year. So clearly no improvement over 1997. Also interesting to note, that the original options included an FIA bar. Looking at a 2019 420R order form with option list today it is: - standard - "track day roll bar" - roll cage The FIA option no longer considers a roll bar adequate. You have to be in roll cage territory to get any FIA label. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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