PACR Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 Got my FIA bar yesterday. Doesn't look too tricky to fit. Anyway, what's the recommended covering for the headrest, the missus helpfully pointed out that a piece of metal plate won't be comfortable (I was more concerned about the safety of it). I'm thinking some hardish polystyrene foam then some squishy stuff to support the head / helmet when accelerating. Cover the lot in a bit of vinyl left over from my other cars roof with some trim round the edge of the plate. Sounds like it would a, do the job and b, pass a scrutineers check? Piers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Walker Posted August 9, 2001 Share Posted August 9, 2001 Piers, I got two cheap foam backed mouse pads and pulled the nylon top layer off. I then used the metal plate to create a template and then cut 4 identical shapes from each mouse pad. I also cut out one shape from a 2cm thick piece of balsa wood. I then tank taped the foam pieces to the balsa wood by going around the edge and then tank taped the balsa & foam block to the metal plate (balsa against metal). A totally 'Heath Robinson' set-up! Your solution sounds much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike ashurst Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Chaps, I've got my FIA bar fitted and done a similar thing with the headrest, but I've got a problem with the Petty strut. (If you'll pardon the expression) Probably a silly question, but is the mounting point for the lower end hidden behind the trim panel? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted August 10, 2001 Leadership Team Share Posted August 10, 2001 I used the same solution, but found that a cheap foam camping mat provided the padding. Regards, Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozza Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Is the head rest an integrated part of the FIA bar? I've currently got a full cage but it has no head protection and I'm sitting on carbon race seats which also have no head restraint. I sit so low in the car my head would miss the bar in the event of an accident, but my head would go all the back and hit the harness retaining bolts. Is there a head restraint I can fit to my current set up? Thanks Marc Edited by - Wozza on 10 Aug 2001 10:30:26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chairman Roger Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Mike Yes the lower mounting for the Petty strut is a threaded bush which is hidden behind the side trim panel. Drill out a few pop rivets, peel the panel back and locate the bush. Then just a matter of drilling a hole in the correct place (measure twice drill once !) and re rivetting the panel. Why on earth Caterham don't drill it for you and supply a cover plate is beyond me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Walker Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Marc, The head restraint is not part of the FIA bar, it's a separate item (costs approx £35) and is a 3 inch square metal plate welded to a piece of tube with a clamp on the other end. The clamp is attached to the roll over bar. Then there's another piece of tube with a clamp - this braces the first bit and is connected at 90degrees to the first bit. Confused? I know I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike ashurst Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Marc, Yes as andrew says, the head restraint is a separate piece of kit exactly as he describes although it arrives with the FIA roll bar set up. definitely not worth 35 knicker on its own though. Chairman Roger, Thanks for that, I shall search out the aforementioned bush this weekend. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 For the sake of clarity, yer 35 quid doesn't buy you a headrest. It buys you some metalwork which clamps onto FIA bar, onto which you can mount a headrest. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozza Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Thanks guys. So although this part is not worth 35 quid I presume I have no option but to purchase one anyway? I'm not the sort to be able to rustle up something of my own construction! Thanks Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Sorry to Hijack this - but on the petty bar point is it practical to cut a hole in the trim and fit the bar through the trim when needed? ie do you have to remove the whole trim to be able to get the bolt into the bush each time? My bar has been living at the bottom of the bed for a while on the basis that it would be good to use on burglars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony pashley Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 AVES - Yes, that's what's intended (your first suggestion, I mean). Just undo enough of the trim to locate the bush and slip a piece of wood behind whist you drill (or take more rivets out and cut the hole with a Q-Max) then rivet the trim back. I think the trim sits too tightly to the chassis to leave room for a blanking grommet to fit when the strut' not in use, but the empty hole is hardly noticeable. You could always put a short button-headed allen screw in the bush when you have a passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Russell Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Once the hole in the trim is cut, about 1/2 inch diameter, the Petty strut can be bolted on and off as required. A two minute job before and after each event. I just stuff a plastic trim grommet into the empty hole after removal. I suppose the use in the bedroom might prevent you from 'rolling' out of bed? It is an anti roll bar after all!! Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted August 10, 2001 Share Posted August 10, 2001 Thanks Gents What about the "straight cut box" that's also in the bedroom wink.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric McLoughlin Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 Woolworths sell gardening "kneelers" for 99p each which have just the right consistency for headrest filling. That's what I used when putting mine together. I mounted the foam on a hardwood backing, covered the whole thing in black vinyl, stapled the vinyl in place using a heavy duty staple gun and then mounted the whole thing onto the metal bracket using two bolts having first drilled the necessary fixing holes in the wood backing and the metal plate. In fact, my wife was the one who came up with the above suggestions, I think she's a latent engineer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjwb Posted August 11, 2001 Share Posted August 11, 2001 Wozza, I have an unused 'headrest' in original packaging. Yours for £20; if your interested drop me an email. Steve B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PACR Posted August 15, 2001 Author Share Posted August 15, 2001 Do I need to fit the 'petty' strut to be FIA compliant? Can't see anything that suggests I do but thought I'd better check.... Got my sprint number through today - 48. Cheers Piers PS - anyone else fitting an FIA roll bar - fit the bolt for the passengers left shoulder harness first, before bolting anything else down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Smith Posted August 15, 2001 Share Posted August 15, 2001 I used some of the self-adhesive foam which comes which the Caterham SVA kit for protecting a passengers knees on my head rest. But then I switched to a Tillet seat, which has an intergral headrest... Wozza - for the full cage, you have to build your own head rest out of ali plate or something. It then bolts into the three bolt holes on the rear cross member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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