Shane, I can't directly answer your question, since I'm less familiar with
the factory TR-6 hard top. However, I have some experience with the surrey
top and the roll bar fitment for it. As I recall, the TR-6 hard top is
flatter on top than the surrey top, allowing the roll bar to be positioned
a bit further back in the passenger compartment. The surrey top prevents
the roll bar from being the 2" or so above the drivers helmet that is
highly desirable. The rear section of the surrey top reaches maximum
height just behind the door openings. The causes you to have to place the
roll bar more forward in the passenger compartment that you might want. In
our case, it pushed the drivers seat a bit too close to the dash for uncle
jack's comfort. I would imagine the height to be similar between the two
tops. Hope this helps...
Here's a picture showing the roll bar's position fore-aft:
http://www.tonydrews.com/ChrisTouring.jpg and a nice side shot at
http://www.tonydrews.com/SpeedvisionPhoto.jpg
I believe that top speed is better with the hard top fitted. However, we
abandoned it so that we could fit a roll bar further back and of a more
safe height (after removing the hard top in a triple barrel roll). My
personal preference is for the open car with a taller roll bar, but I
noticed at Mid-Ohio that the (VERY fast) gents from England generally run
the hard top, presumably for the better aerodynamics. We've never had a
vintage racing organization make a point of checking the roll bar height.
Incidentally, TR-6 stock rear axles and hubs tend to break under racing
stress much like the TR-4 axles do. I would recommend an uprated set of
axles / hubs (if you haven't already considered this) to avoid testing the
roll bar.
- Tony Drews
At 06:23 AM 1/31/2004, SHANE Ingate wrote:
>All,
>
>In preparing my car for Solo II Street Modified, my cage must fit inside
>the bodywork.
>I intend to run with the factory hardtop, so clearly the rear hoop will
>not clear my
>helmet by 2", rendering me ineligible for "trading paint" type
>events. Just as well, too,
>'cuz I'm not that brave.
>
>At some stage down the line, I'd like to find and fit a Surrey/Targa top
>from the TR4/5/250
>to the TR6. I am hoping that someone reading this can tell me if the rear
>hoop which
>will be built to fit tightly within the factory steel hardtop, will also
>fit inside the
>Surrey top.
>
>Anyone have a Surrey/Targa top they could part with?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Shane Ingate, not topless in Maryland
>
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