Original Roll Bar

[skink4president]

Was there a factory roll bar available with the '73 K5 (Chief Brody had one on his )? If so, anyone have a picture? Is there an aftermarket vendor for replacements or is this something I'd have to find in a salvage yard?

I'd like to go with a soft top but I'm a little nervous about doing so without some additional protection.

 

[ZooMad75]

Go to the boneyard for an original as nobody makes them now. Smittybuilt would be one that makes a bolt in roll bar. S&W race cars makes a weld in kit. I've got a factory bar in my 75 but don't have a good picture of it.

 

[Greg72]

Was there a factory roll bar available with the '73 K5 (Chief Brody had one on his .

He sure did!

If I had a way to do an image capture off my DVD, I'd post up a pic to help you out.....


"We're gonna need a bigger boat!"

 

[73k5blazer]

I had one in my '73. It's sitting behind my barn, rusting.
It had a main loop right behind the rear seat, with supports running from the top, back down to the front angled section of the wheel wheel. IMHO, that wheel well wouldn't take a rollover.
ONe of these days I'll clean it up and sell it.

 

[HarryH3]

There's one for sale in the For Sale forum, but I think it's in California...

 

[GM Man]

I got one in my garage I'm looking to get rid of.

 

[darkshadow]

I'd like to go with a soft top but I'm a little nervous about doing so without some additional protection.

What? you feel your 30+ year olf fiberglass shell thats on there give you any?

 

[88K5Jimmy]

From my for sale post. There are more pics in there but I'm in Oklahoma

 

[blazinzuk]

I saw a 73 roll on potatoe salad hill a couple years back the fiberglass top crushed instantly, IMHO it provides zero rollover protection

 

[skink4president]

WOW! Thanks to everyone who replied. I especially appreciate the descriptions and picture. I had an image in my mind of what the original looked like but had never actually seen one in real life. It appears it may offer some protection but not much. I'll probably look to one of the aftermarket vendors to find something roll worthy.

LOL about the fiberglass top. My previous project was a '65 Econoline van where the driver actually sits on top of the front wheel wells (provided I could see the crash coming I always imagined "evacuating" to the rear of the van and taking my chances there). The K5 is a step up in safety.

 

[HarryH3]

If you get a factory roll bar, Smittybuilt sells a cage kit that welds right to it.

 

[wazzabie]

Looks like the roll bar doesn;t mount to the frame. Is it mostly for decoration?