Installing a Roll Bar in a Race Car

I want to do this! What's This?

A roll bar is a welded metal frame that is attached to a car to prevent physical harm to passengers. A race car needs to have a durable roll bar attached properly to avoid driver injury during a serious collision. It is important to learn how to install a roll bar in your race car without damaging the vehicle body.

Things You'll Need:

• Drill
• Installation kit
• Screws
• Chalk

1. Step 1

Remove the front and rear seats in your race car before you install a roll bar. The empty space in the car allows you to maneuver the roll bar into the passenger door from the inside. Leave the passenger and rear seats out after installation is complete to keep your car light.

2. Step 2

Strip the plastic trim and carpet from the interior of your race car to aid installation of your roll bar. You will need to drill directly into the car frame to install the roll bar. Store the carpet elsewhere in the garage to avoid stains and damage during replacement.

3. Step 3

Lift the roll bar from the garage floor, with the help of a friend, to begin installation. Use the passenger side door to navigate the roll bar into the cockpit without hitting the gauges and steering wheel.

4. Step 4

Set your roll bar down on a few different spots before you drill holes into the car frame to find the right fit. The roll bar should fit naturally along the top of the rear window, the bottom of the rear window and the stripped car floor. Outline the roll bar with a light chalk line to provide guidance for drilling.

5. Step 5

Drill holes within the boundaries of your chalk outline to begin the final stage of installing a roll bar. Use a heavy-duty drill to cut through the car's metal frame without getting the drill bit stuck.

6. Step 6

Apply a few screws to the roll bar from the cockpit to set the bar in place as you finish installation on the exterior. Place a screw at each corner of the roll bar for temporary stabilization during work on the external plates.

7. Step 7

Lock your roll bar in place with external screws and metal plates. You will drill several holes through the bottom of the car as well as the rear wheel wells during installation. External bolts keep your roll bar in place while you install the internal bolts before taking to the race track.