GTS-R 001
Enthusiast
Does the Autoform rollbar with the removeable side pieces prevent your access to the emergency release handles in a GTS?
Autoform Rollbar question
- Thread starter GTS-R 001
- Start date
Joseph Dell
Enthusiast
It is tight, but the emergency release handles still work.
JD
JD
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
I think we covered this JD!!! LOL! I have the BASIC Autoform rollbar, likely NOT the same that Mr. RACE (Dell) has...and my emergency levers do NOT clear. I will have to think of something to do with them....maybe I can remove the plastic handle and fabricate something custom to put there.
JD....you should see my center bulkhead piece! It really turned out, well, 99.99% perfect! I have total use of the glove box as well as the upper cubby. Granted, the upper cubby had to be cut....but I took of a little at a time so when I finally got it to fit it is TIGHT along both sides and the bottom. I wouldn't throw loose change up there....but most anything else will NOT fall through!
I didn't know there were side bars for the AutoForm rollbar?
Joseph Dell
Enthusiast
I have side bars... there were two options for the bar... one w/ side bars and one w/o.
Tony - definitely send some pics. i may hire you to do mine!
JD
Tony - definitely send some pics. i may hire you to do mine!
JD
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
OK...here you go:
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
I can't take all the credit. Mark "Supercharger GTS" Cooper gave me the inspiration (and the idea to use the dremel). 
Now...If I could only find my friggin seats!
Now...If I could only find my friggin seats!
Simms
Enthusiast
Its tight but I can still use them with my Autoform bar. As a side note, when I ordered my bar they said they don't offer the side bars anymore. I really wanted them too.
Autoformsteve
Viper Owner
We just finished our rollbar w/ side bars. We had stopped building them, but we just had a vehicle in which we were able to redesign one in. So, they are available now.
red98RT10
Enthusiast
How much for the Autoform rollbar with sidebars? Are they hard to install?
Simms
Enthusiast
Can the side bars be adapted to a bar witout them. I'm assuming just a tab needs welded to the roll bar?
Autoformsteve
Viper Owner
They are still going to be the same price we have on our website, $1900. We will be able to sell just the side bars, call me for info and price. The installation will take a couple hours longer than just the rollbar itself.
Autoformsteve
Viper Owner
Just for everyones information, we are running a sale on our safety related products. See the post in the supplier special section, for more info.
Joseph Dell
Enthusiast
I have the set-up w/ side bars from before they were discontinued. I'm sure that they are better now b/c they couldn't possibly have been any worse than they were!
Specifically, they didn't fit. The side bars were 6" too long!
I did make some attempt to resolve this with Autoform but got blown off. Suffice to say, I had to pay a fabricator $400 to make the side bars ALMOST work. Sure, they are removable, but the design ***** ass. The fixed version by my fabricator is almost usable. I should have thrown the set-up out and had them do what they wanted to do which was redesign from scratch. that would have cost almost the same ...
I love the bar, but would caution people against the side bar set-up. Maybe some pics will make it better, but the design of the old ones was terrible.
The thing that chapped my @ss the most: when i called to try to resolve the issue, i was told that the old fabricator at Autoform was no longer there and that he must have done the bad work. This is fine, but they wouldn't do d*ck to fix it.
JD
Specifically, they didn't fit. The side bars were 6" too long!
I did make some attempt to resolve this with Autoform but got blown off. Suffice to say, I had to pay a fabricator $400 to make the side bars ALMOST work. Sure, they are removable, but the design ***** ass. The fixed version by my fabricator is almost usable. I should have thrown the set-up out and had them do what they wanted to do which was redesign from scratch. that would have cost almost the same ...
I love the bar, but would caution people against the side bar set-up. Maybe some pics will make it better, but the design of the old ones was terrible.
The thing that chapped my @ss the most: when i called to try to resolve the issue, i was told that the old fabricator at Autoform was no longer there and that he must have done the bad work. This is fine, but they wouldn't do d*ck to fix it.
JD
RichieSRT10
Enthusiast
Joe thanks for the info cause there is something I wanted to buy from them. Some companies have terrible customer relations and since I have never done business with them you helped me by sharing your experience.
Joseph Dell
Enthusiast
I hate like heck to dog anyone, but I really tried hard to keep this one quiet and to get the situation rectified. No such luck. And this was over a year ago.
Back in May of 05, I got a note from Tony @ AF (possibly this Tony??) introducing himself b/c I was a VCA Prez. Also because he was new and I'm sure he wasn't in the loop on this issue. I brought up this situation and he offered to call me to attempt to resolve... well, it never resolved.
And so it goes...
Overall, this ain't no Ellite motorsports scandal... but it sure didn't leave me feeling too good about the 2k I'd spent there...
JD
Back in May of 05, I got a note from Tony @ AF (possibly this Tony??) introducing himself b/c I was a VCA Prez. Also because he was new and I'm sure he wasn't in the loop on this issue. I brought up this situation and he offered to call me to attempt to resolve... well, it never resolved.
And so it goes...
Overall, this ain't no Ellite motorsports scandal... but it sure didn't leave me feeling too good about the 2k I'd spent there...
JD
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
Yeah....but how about them pictures!?!?!?
Dropped the seats off today JD.....one more week and she'll be back together.
Dropped the seats off today JD.....one more week and she'll be back together.
GTS-R 001
Enthusiast
I thought that maybe mine was installed improperly, but seeing that it is not, from what you guys are saying, if a guy was to have this safety device in his car and crash and have no power, you could not lower the windows, you could not open the doors and you would in effect fry in a fire because you could not pop the doors open because your safety device is preventing your access to the non power operated door latch.
red98RT10
Enthusiast
TonyAF - Can you comment on all of the comments about your rollbars not fitting properly or blocking the emergency release? Have these issues been resolved? If so, how? I would love to get a rollbar but I don't want to waste 2 grand.
Mark Red GTS Cooper
Enthusiast
Red98RT10,
The door release is not a big deal, all you do is trim them down.
The lip on the bulkhead has to be cut then ground down, again, not a big deal, lots of dust, but not a big deal.
Get a good shop vac and use it when you cut and grind.
Mark
The door release is not a big deal, all you do is trim them down.
The lip on the bulkhead has to be cut then ground down, again, not a big deal, lots of dust, but not a big deal.
Get a good shop vac and use it when you cut and grind.
Mark
Mark Red GTS Cooper
Enthusiast
TonyAV,
How can the rollbar with out side bars be retrofitted for side bars?
Mark
How can the rollbar with out side bars be retrofitted for side bars?
Mark
Autoformsteve
Viper Owner
To answer some questions, first, we did quit making these because of the fitment problems that arose. We just finished this new design less than 2 weeks ago, this has not been finished for awhile. JD, please call me if you can, this is still an issue that we need to resolve, and yes that was me who had contacted you last year. Designing a rollbar with sidebars does not give much room for tolerances the bars actually will be touching the seat and a portion of the door panel. With this last design we are trying to keep in mind the leg room that would be needed in a Viper, since their is not much there to begin with. Yes, you can attach the side bars to an already existing Autoform Rollbar. You will need to have a shop weld in the portion that attaches to the legs of the bar, which does mean taking off some of the finish to do so. If anyone is interested please let me know. Now the main question was in regards to the pull handle for the door release. As stated some cars do allow you enough room to pull the latch, but others do not. In those cases, Mark is correct you will need to cut down the latch itself, and I believe only 1/2 an inch is needed. If anyone has anymore questions please feel free to call me directly with them.
Joseph Dell
Enthusiast
Tony -
Thanks for the response. I'll give you a call in the next 24 hours or so. Y'all have always been good about working stuff out.
Thanks!
Joseph
Thanks for the response. I'll give you a call in the next 24 hours or so. Y'all have always been good about working stuff out.
Thanks!
Joseph
Mark Red GTS Cooper
Enthusiast
Hey Tony (Vipermad) thanks for the plug! Anyone in the DC area who wants a roll bar put in for a great price, let me know!
Mark
Mark
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
I suggest you all take Mark up on his offer! NOT hard to install...VERY messy! That said....I had a blast! Mark helped a ton' as did JD! The satisfaction is having done it myself. Cutting the $800 center bulkhead piece was scarier and harder!
Joseph Dell
Enthusiast
As info - I spoke to Tony at AF and he was helpful, supportive, and enthusiastic. I'm looking forward to putting my 2+ year issue to bed. they were always rumored to have good customer service... seems that this is coming back now.
more to come!
JD
more to come!
JD
JiPi
Enthusiast
Apparently, using the emergency release handles will be tight, either if you have to cut or not the handles. But this is before any accident. Now, in case of an accident, the rollbar can move or get deformed, even slightly, and could prevent you from pulling the handles.
Just my 2 cents…
Don't have that problem with my car. I don't even have windows!
