adding a roll bar to Butler Cobra

[VanCobra]

Hi all,

a Butler Cobra has come up for sale in my area; but, it does not have a roll bar installed - which I want.

How much effort would it be to add the driver's roll bar to the car?
Does the Butler chassis come "plumbed" with mounts/brackets to accept a roll bar after the fact? Or am I looking at fabrication/welding to add one?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

[decooney]

Depending on which version of Butler/Antz car you have It can be a bit of work, cutting of fiberglass, adding metal/bracing in the trunk area behind the seat, adding fiberglass if you want it to blend in. A good metal fabricator can do the metal part and if you not sure a decent glass person can patch it back up underneath. We did my buddies car and it was kind of a pain having to cut away glass underneath to get to a point where areas were exposed enough to get in there and build the bracing, weld it all in. Can be done, just takes time and some patience.

[VanCobra]

Originally Posted by decooney

Depending on which version of Butler/Antz car you have It can be a bit of work, cutting of fiberglass, adding metal/bracing in the trunk area behind the seat, adding fiberglass if you want it to blend in. A good metal fabricator can do the metal part and if you not sure a decent glass person can patch it back up underneath. We did my buddies car and it was kind of a pain having to cut away glass underneath to get to a point where areas were exposed enough to get in there and build the bracing, weld it all in. Can be done, just takes time and some patience.

decooney,
thanks for your reply. I don't have the equipment or know-how to perform the metalwork/fiberglass work myself; so, I would need to source it out.

I estimate $400 for a roll bar. Do you think $1,000 would cover the cost of parts/labor for the metal & fiberglass work?

[1985 CCX]

Call Racewhere
John should be able to help on that coast....


Racewhere

[joyridin']

It probably has the brackets installed. I can send a pic if you are not sure, but not a huge deal.

$1000? I would think with ease unless you want something way out there.

[VanCobra]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

It probably has the brackets installed. I can send a pic if you are not sure, but not a huge deal.

$1000? I would think with ease unless you want something way out there.

Joyridin',
I have since spoken to the seller and he confirmed brackets already installed in the trunk. If I can add one for $1,000 total, that's okay by me. I don't want to pass on a good cobra because of some minor cosmetic items.

[Donunder]

Originally Posted by VanCobra

.... it does not have a roll bar installed - which I want.

Why?

My Arntz has the traditional roll bar with a front brace extending down into the passenger side footwell, and I'm happy to have it, but if it had not already been installed when I purchased the car that would have been OK too. I drove a Healey 3000 for years without a roll bar and it was never a concern for me.

Originally Posted by VanCobra

I don't want to pass on a good cobra because of some minor cosmetic items.

This comment is a worry for me-- and I admit my worry seems to fly in the face of my previous comment, but "minor cosmetic item" when referring to a roll bar??? Sure, there are many so-called roll bars out there that are just that, cosmetic, with one upright mounted to a bracket in the trunk and the other bolted or riveted to the fibreglass body. Totally useless in the event of an accident, but then when you see the massive roll cages in racing cars these days, you have to wonder at the effectiveness of a single little roll hoop, even if correctly installed, if things do go awry!

If you are intent on mounting a roll bar, please don't just go the cosmetic route but have one that's properly mounted and braced either traditionally like mine facing forward, or the more contemporary rearward style. Anything less, from a safety viewpoint, is a waste of money and effort.

I'll never get rid of my Arntz, ever, but if one day I find myself in the happy position of being able to afford a stablemate, it'll have no scoop, no sidepipes, no roll bar, and a cut down screen on a super light body. It will run skinny little 7s and 8s and have a mere 350 very useable horsepower from an alloy SB. Lots of fun in that combo!

Anyway, grab your car while it's still available. I'm biased, but the Arntz/ Butler cars are among the best there are. You'll love it, and post up some pics when you can.

[VanCobra]

Originally Posted by Donunder

Why?

My Arntz has the traditional roll bar with a front brace extending down into the passenger side footwell, and I'm happy to have it, but if it had not already been installed when I purchased the car that would have been OK too. I drove a Healey 3000 for years without a roll bar and it was never a concern for me.



This comment is a worry for me-- and I admit my worry seems to fly in the face of my previous comment, but "minor cosmetic item" when referring to a roll bar??? Sure, there are many so-called roll bars out there that are just that, cosmetic, with one upright mounted to a bracket in the trunk and the other bolted or riveted to the fibreglass body. Totally useless in the event of an accident, but then when you see the massive roll cages in racing cars these days, you have to wonder at the effectiveness of a single little roll hoop, even if correctly installed, if things do go awry!

If you are intent on mounting a roll bar, please don't just go the cosmetic route but have one that's properly mounted and braced either traditionally like mine facing forward, or the more contemporary rearward style. Anything less, from a safety viewpoint, is a waste of money and effort.

I'll never get rid of my Arntz, ever, but if one day I find myself in the happy position of being able to afford a stablemate, it'll have no scoop, no sidepipes, no roll bar, and a cut down screen on a super light body. It will run skinny little 7s and 8s and have a mere 350 very useable horsepower from an alloy SB. Lots of fun in that combo!

Anyway, grab your car while it's still available. I'm biased, but the Arntz/ Butler cars are among the best there are. You'll love it, and post up some pics when you can.

Donunder,
I want a roll bar for two reasons: 1) I like the look (of a rearward-braced roll bar). 2) I want some level of protection in an open-air car, in the unlikely event of a roll over.

So, I'm in complete agreement with you to have a functional roll bar. What I meant is "cosmetic" in the sense that it's a minor/relatively easy modification.

[lal Naja]

I believe the Butler body has the rollbar receiving sockets already welded in place. In the trunk you will see one upright tube that is welded to a horizontal tube that is glassed into the cockpit bulkhead. This is the right upright socket for the rolbar hoop and goes trough the trunk floor and bolts to the chassis crossmember just to the left of where the differential bolts to it.

The left socket for the left upright of the rollbar hoop is hidden and boxed in with a fiberglass shroud. This socket bolts to the left chassis frame and you will see the bolting bracket inside the rear left wheel arch.

There is no pre-fit mounting location for the rear extending back stay tube. You have to cut through the trunk floor at the correct location and drill two 3/8" bolt holes into the chassis to secure the rollbar back stay.

Click on my facebook link here and go to my Albums, look at the album on how I built my Butler Cobra. I have lots of detail step-by-step photos of how I installed my rollbar.

When I bought my Cobra from Ron Butler I ordered it without the rollbar. 25 years later I wanted to install one and I called Ron and he had the rollbar (hoop & back stay) I purchased it, carefully marked where the holes needed to be, drilled the three holes in the body, cut the hole in the trunk floor and fitted everything perfectly and got the height of the hoop correct to fit under the Butler Hard-top/roof.

Call Ron, he very likely has the rollbar components.