[Patrick3000]

Looking for pictures of your installation and recommendations for a roll bar for the S2. The idea is to stiffen up the rear end (Dr. K. that’s the rear end of the car) to reduce flex. Ideally I would like to install a bolt in roll bar so that the car can be returned to stock if so desired.

Thanks

[BeerBurner]

I have a Redline rollbar in my 944. It's not a true rollbar... rather, it's more of a glorified harness bar that offers rollover protection. But the nice thing about it is that they can be installed/removed in about 15 minutes and require no modification, drilling, etc., because they bolt into the rear seatbelt and harness bar mounts.

These are the only pictures I have on-hand, but I can go downstairs and take some more if you like.




All in all, I'm really happy with it.

BB.

[John]

I just bought a Redline bar from a guy on Pelican two weeks ago. It is definitely easy to install and so far I'm pleased with it, but I can only base that on a few days of street driving. I'm not sure of availability of the Redline bar any more, though. Your best bet would probably be to keep your eyes out for a used one.

I don't have any pics of mine, but here is the website for the bar itself: http://redlinerennsport.com/SafeguardPage.html

I have a white 944 with a blue interior and my bar is currently red, so the pics on that site might as well be pics of my car. Well, minus the harnesses.

[Dr K]

If you want more, the Safety Devices 6-point cage is a "bolt-in" (weld in plates, bolt to the plates). More secure than bolting to seat belt mounting points, convertible between bar only and cage. The photos at Stable Energies (the US Distributor www.stable-energies.com) show installation in a '44. Looking at the site, they also have 944 roll bars (without the cage parts).

Once I put my cage in, with the intention of taking out the front parts and leaving in just the roll bar for the winter, I now realize I am not going to take it out--it would be a hole lot more than 15 minutes.

Peter

[BeerBurner]

Originally Posted by John

I'm not sure of availability of the Redline bar any more, though. Your best bet would probably be to keep your eyes out for a used one.

My understanding is that they are made in batches every 6-12 months.

BB.

[racer]

Just curious, how much flex one thinks a 944S2 has to begin with and at what level of skill/suspension/etc can this flexed be noticed at? Others have mentioned that a roll "bar" does very little to quell flex compared to a full on cage.

[Potomac-Greg]

Originally Posted by racer

Just curious, how much flex one thinks a 944S2 has to begin with and at what level of skill/suspension/etc can this flexed be noticed at? Others have mentioned that a roll "bar" does very little to quell flex compared to a full on cage.

I agree. It's not like the rear suspension uses struts, where a roll bar could act as a strut brace. The benefit is roll over safety and a place to mount harnesses.

[Patrick3000]

Thanks for the information; with a slight modification the Redline may just be the solution.

Dave,

If you have followed this thread http://dorkiphus.net/porsche/showthread.php?t=18953 another school of thought claims that the rear window separation is caused by chassis flex and track use exacerbates the problem. My very limited understanding of the problem is that as the rear of the car flexes the “C” pillar is not thick enough to support the glass. The lower anchoring pins that hold the glass in place pull on the lower portion of the glass causing separation at the top seal. Don’t want to install a full cage just looking for something that stiffens up the rear a bit to support the "C" pillar the Redline may just accomplish that.

[BeerBurner]

I have never heard of chassis flex being the culprit for hatch delamination and, honestly, I just don't see it being a major contributing issue (especially in comparison to the forces of sun, time and the hatch struts working against the thin aluminum frame).

BB.

[Dr K]

Do they make a Plexi/Lexan rear window for the '44?? I've heard you can save serious weight making that switch on a Targa.