1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

I need a street roll bar recommendation

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 10:09 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery, TX
I need a street roll bar recommendation

I'm soon turning my RX-7 over to my son who is in high school. He's not a spoiled reckless type but I would still like to install some peace of mind since he's still young enough to make mistakes. I've heard too many stories that start with "My xxxxx got killed in one of those things."

Bolt in or weld isn't an issue. I want streetable safety at a reasonable price. No helmet necessary type with access to the bins if possible.

Those who have seen many and know much would you please offer a suggestion.

Thanks,
Vernon
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 10:16 PM
  #2  
BigPimpin''s Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 0
From: Hagerstown, MD
Check out www.cpracing.ca
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 10:39 PM
  #3  
Zyrano's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 0
From: Campbell, CA
Autometer has a wide selection of rollbars and cages - I've seen them at www.mariahmotorsports.com, autometer's website will have more info.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 10:56 PM
  #4  
Directfreak's Avatar
I am a Jeeper Now.
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,371
Likes: 4
From: 3OH5
a roll bar without the proper restraint system or helmet will do MORE DAMAGE than good.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 11:18 PM
  #5  
comradegiant's Avatar
I hate because I'm bored.
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins, CO
^
Its true. Thats a shitload of solid metal sticking out, and if you pad it enough to make a difference on impact there won't be room for people.

I've seen some pretty gnarly pics of roll bars and cages with a stock belt system.

And you have to work pretty hard to roll an RX7, most people I've seen die in these tangled with the front end of an oncoming pickup, or slid off a cliff, or spun into a power pole. Things that a roll bar won't help with.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 11:33 PM
  #6  
RacerX7fb's Avatar
paradox
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Zyrano
Autometer has a wide selection of rollbars and cages - I've seen them at www.mariahmotorsports.com, autometer's website will have more info.
You're thinking of AutoPower. Autometer makes gauges
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2005 | 11:50 PM
  #7  
Zyrano's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 0
From: Campbell, CA
lol, you are right, that's what I mean, autopower...
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 12:00 AM
  #8  
steve84GS TII's Avatar
FB+FC=F-ME
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 5
From: Rohnert Park CA
Heres my autopower.Easy install,not very obtrusive.Their factory paint sucks,I had mine powdercoated to match the interior gray.Cost nearly as much as the damn rollbar!

Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 12:55 AM
  #9  
RotaryRevn's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by steve84GS TII
Heres my autopower.Easy install,not very obtrusive.Their factory paint sucks,I had mine powdercoated to match the interior gray.Cost nearly as much as the damn rollbar!


looks good the same color, stealthlike, not ricey!
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 04:17 AM
  #10  
jammerx7gsl's Avatar
Black Night (AKA SPAZ)
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
I've got a CP in mine.. It was $225.00 Shipped. Does a great job, just don't like the fact that the seat doesn't go back farther cause i'm 6'5" tall. But works and looks great.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 06:15 AM
  #11  
Max7's Avatar
Admitted Sevenaholic
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, OH
Got the Autopower in mine. great fit.

Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 12:29 PM
  #12  
mikey D's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 848
Likes: 10
From: Pensacola FL
i have an autopower setup. I dont like it. If you live in cali ill sell it to ya cheep and deliver it...
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 03:51 PM
  #13  
YapaKanichi's Avatar
Smile Like a Donut
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 0
From: Don't you wish you knew....
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 04:03 PM
  #14  
highsocietyent's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Kent, WA
sorry to change the subject but MAX7 what kind of headlights are those on your 7? sorry im new to the mazda scene. lol, lemme know.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 04:23 PM
  #15  
YapaKanichi's Avatar
Smile Like a Donut
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 0
From: Don't you wish you knew....
cpracing I believe
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 04:40 PM
  #16  
purple82's Avatar
Absolute Power is Awesome
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 5
From: Issaquah, WA
I'm pretty sure I've read that Mazda designed the b-pillar as a roll bar in these cars.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 06:09 PM
  #17  
Dan_s_young's Avatar
Turbo widebody FB
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,733
Likes: 3
From: Alberta Canada
so you had to reverse the way the bins opened in order to install the rollbar? interesting. . . But i don't know if its really worth it unless your son is going to be doing alot of high speed cornering/racing I doubt hes gonna flip it... RX7's are low cars, making them pretty dangerous no matter what when driving around with trucks 3 times the size, hieght, and wieght. Only things that you can do is drive carefully or drive a different vehicle...
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 06:13 PM
  #18  
Driftlanta's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
Dont forget kirk racing they make them and it is an awsome fit. They have an ad in grassroots motorsports
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 06:31 PM
  #19  
Snapshot's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: GA
I have just what you are looking for: Autopower SCCA roll bar built for my 81 widebody. Installed an Autopower in my 240z w/ V8 no problem. I never installed my 7 bar & will sell it to you. Has the bolt-on cross bar (fire extenguisher bar). This bar is rated for professional road racing. What else do you need to know?
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 08:46 PM
  #20  
Rx7carl's Avatar
Airflow is my life
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,736
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, Fl
Autopower or Kirk. Im not impressed with CP's design. A rollbar wont hurt you in an accident, its a full cage that will mangle your arms and head so dont do that on a street car unless your into getting funny looks for wearing a 6 pt harness and a helmet on public roads. The bar is well behind you. Yapakanichi , yours isint a CP bar. Its of the same design as the Kirk or Autopower. Well the saftey isint if you roll it ( correct they are harder to roll then an SUV) but what if you get run off the road into a ditch or ravine? You WILL roll the car in that case right? Its not always about you, sometimes its about the other guy doing something that causes something bad to happen.
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 09:25 PM
  #21  
steve84GS TII's Avatar
FB+FC=F-ME
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 5
From: Rohnert Park CA
Quote.....so you had to reverse the way the bins opened in order to install the rollbar? interesting. . .

No,my storage box lids are broken like every other 1st gen.My paint guy put the pass. side lid on upside down after jumpstarting my car from sitting for a month.I didnt notice it for another month, until I took that picture yesterday!
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 09:27 PM
  #22  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery, TX
Thanks for all the info guys. I agree with Carl, it's not just in case he flips it, in fact that's the least of my worries. It's the added crush resistance from the sides that's my main concern. Peolple get rear ended by fools doing 50-70 every day, with the bar a car will get pushed at some point instead of just crushing into a ball. A place to mount some good belts is nice. I'm not planning on running any steel in the front because he won't be wearing a helmet going to school but just a bar in the back usually won't hurt you. If it does you were probably dead anyways. A good roll bar could hold a truck up until you get pulled out, the factory roof will not. This is my thinking anyways. That and it's likely there will be two of my children in the car at times, along with friends. Why would I not?

Snapshot, sounds good I'll PM you.

Vernon
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 10:27 AM
  #23  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery, TX
Snapshot, I see you're online. Don't forget about me.

Thanks,
Vernon
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 01:45 PM
  #24  
Bern's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member: 25 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 0
From: Southern Cali
Here's a pic of my bar. It's a custom set-up, based on some of the AUTOPOWER pieces.



-Bern
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 03:08 PM
  #25  
rotor vs. piston's Avatar
Function > Form
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,890
Likes: 3
From: Catonsville MD (baltimore suburb)
^^^I want to see more of this car, please^^^
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:08 PM.