Removing Spyder intrusion bars

[tesprit]

I need to temporarily remove the Spyder side intrusion bars that have been installed into my side sills in order to gain access to do some restoration work. I did not install the bars and the person that did covered up any evidence of the holes he put in the wheel wells to install them. I cannot even tell if it is the front or rear wheel well that needs to be cut. I emailed Spyder but have not had a reply, so can anyone give me the dimensions and location of the holes I need to make in the wheel wells to remove the bars? TIA

[bill308]

Appears the original installer did a very good job if yiou can't see the surgical scars.

The first system I installed in my 66 S2 was a Spyder bar system. The side intrusion bars were inserted from a cut in the forward face of the rear, wheel wells.

At some point an elongated hole will have to be cut in the wheel wells, very close to the outside skin. Try to maximize the distance between the hole and outside skin and prepare the resulting hole for a replacement patch of matt and resin, suitably tapered.

The sill bars will have to be mobile so you can twist them a bit. The challange is getting the curved end out. Twist and withdraw. It may be necessary to break loose the rear suspension to gain clearance with the end of the intrusion bar and the rear hub. Removal of the bar is constrained by the hole and the sill lattice.

I hope this helps.

Bill

[tesprit]

Thanks for the information Bill. Did Spyder give you a template for the hole or did you just guess at the correct size and placement? I have both intrusion bars loose in the sills and can slide and twist them around easily so that shouldn't be a problem. I just don't want to cause unnecessary damage or work by cutting the holes in the wrong place or making them the wrong shape or size.

[TroonSprint]

I've just put a set in my Elan. Spyder provide almost no instructions and they often don't reply to emails. However, you get good advice by phoning them. I cut a tapered rectangular hole in the rear wheel arch to get mine in. It measured about 4.5 inch top to bottom, and about 2.5 inch at the widest part, which is the top, tapering down to about 1.5 inch at the bottom. All sealed up now with three layers of glass mat and resin.
Mike

[tesprit]

Thanks Mike. I think I have enough information now to give this a try. Time to get out the body saw and start cutting!