2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Convertible roll bar

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 28, 2007 | 12:04 PM
  #1  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
Convertible roll bar

There was a thread a while back about someone wanting to make a dual hoop roll bar for a convertible did this ever come around? Or is there another company that makes a dual hoop roll bar for the convertible, or am I stuck making my own.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 01:01 AM
  #2  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
So im guessing there inst. Guess ill just make my own out of an old miata bar I have.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 04:32 AM
  #3  
micah's Avatar
Winter sucks
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 0
From: Newberg, Oregon
Get yerself a harbor freight tubing bender, a drill press and some hole saws to notch the ends... then weld that crap together. Piece of cake.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 08:55 AM
  #4  
djmtsu's Avatar
DGRRX
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
Yeah that was me. Its not going to happen since I am no longer with that company. Sorry. I can talk to the owner about it still, but they can be so slow in production it is scary, and the would HAVE to be pre-paid built as ordered since he doesn't want a bunch of RX-7 roll bars sitting around a 4x4 shop.

Sorry guys, had to move on.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 01:10 PM
  #5  
jgrewe's Avatar
GET OFF MY LAWN
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 2
From: Fla.
If you want to pay shipping I can bend up some bars for you. I have a 'vert chassis laying around to get measurements from so that isn't a big deal. PM me, we can figure out what tubing you want to use and how much it will cost. I only use DOM tubing to meet rules but for more show than go you can get away with ERW which would save you a lot of $$.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 03:08 PM
  #6  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
Hmm give me about 2 weeks and Ill let you know. I have to finish alot of things around here before I can decide what I want or need.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 03:30 PM
  #7  
ourxseven's Avatar
1/1 scale Hot Wheels
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 6
From: winnipeg, Manitoba
i might be interested as well ... anyway to do a single drivers side that really works
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 05:08 PM
  #8  
RoninRX7's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: Reno
where were you thinking of mounting it? would it be like an S2K? kinda like this? Id really like one with some nice 2" pipes that were just hoops behind the seats, but It would suck to have to run pipes all the way to the floor. Maybe it could be like a chassis brace and connect behind the doors?



OH and BTW, I found these pics on FC3s.org




Last edited by RoninRX7; Jan 29, 2007 at 05:17 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 06:26 PM
  #9  
gxl87turbo's Avatar
screw u guys im goin home
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 0
From: Findlay, Ohio for now. Thinking about moving in with your mom.
thats badass
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 07:32 PM
  #10  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
I meant something more on the lines of this

Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 07:43 PM
  #11  
13bpower's Avatar
s4 for life
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 1
From: Oahu
Those FC's above have the "Kirk Racing" roll bars I believe. I was very close to getting one back when I had a vert. That is the only production roll bar I have ever seen for the FC vert.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 09:32 PM
  #12  
Ashyukun's Avatar
FCs** the new Pokemon
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Lexington, KY
The double-hoop rollbars do look quite nice- but given the squared-off tops of the stock 'vert seats with the headrest speakers, truly rounded ones would look a bit out of place. More squared-off, individual rollbars for each seat might be nice- but irrelevant you're going to have to go down and attach to the floor- just bracing it off the seatbelt mounts wouldn't really be solid enough (at least if you wanted it to be functional and not just for show).

Depending on how much it would cost, I might be interested in getting one if the price were competitive with the Kirk Racing one and it would meet regs. Perhaps work out in general what it would cost, and set up a Group Buy?
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 09:37 PM
  #13  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
Oh i do want it to be functional, not just for show. Maybe an intergrated harness bar in there to. Like I said I have to look at it to see exactly what it will need. I just dont have to money laying around right now and my car is locked up in the shop until my vacation is over.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2007 | 09:54 PM
  #14  
Kremithefrog's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Albany, GA
Yeah I'd be interested if it's cheaper than the kirk. Otherwise, I'll probably just get the kirk racing one down the road. Doesn't matter how it looks to me, I don't have stock seats so the shape doesn't matter.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 09:49 AM
  #15  
jgrewe's Avatar
GET OFF MY LAWN
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 2
From: Fla.
The problem is none of the above bars meet any rules for classes that REQUIRE a roll bar. You can have them in the car no problem but they are only slightly better than nothing for function. At best they give you a place to attach a harness.

Making a bar that fits rules isn't a problem, living with it in a street car can be. You may have to give up something behind the seats ,seat travel, it may have to have something welded to the car, there is a lot to work around.

My die for bending the bigger dia tube has a 6.5" radius. I only go up to 1.75" dia right now but I can get a 2" die no problem but I think they have the same radius. Any bend tighter than 3x the dia of the tubing isn't allowed for what I usually do so the really tight bend on that S2K unit aren't possible with tubing without a mandrel bender. (I don't have $40,000 laying around to invest in one of those right now... unless I can sell these vert bars for about $5K a piece)
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 10:01 AM
  #16  
RX-Heven's Avatar
I'll blow it up real good
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco, CA
Those double hoops are purely cosmetic in almost all cases. Better than nothing though.

The problem with verts is allowing room for the top to function as it was meant to and still provide adequate safety.

Mine.





Attached Thumbnails Convertible roll bar-img_1277.jpg   Convertible roll bar-img_1281.jpg   Convertible roll bar-img_1280.jpg  
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 10:26 AM
  #17  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
If I remember you thread correctly you built your yourself correct. Can you give me some specs and clearence figures.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 11:27 AM
  #18  
Kremithefrog's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Albany, GA
Originally Posted by jgrewe
The problem is none of the above bars meet any rules for classes that REQUIRE a roll bar. You can have them in the car no problem but they are only slightly better than nothing for function. At best they give you a place to attach a harness.

Making a bar that fits rules isn't a problem, living with it in a street car can be. You may have to give up something behind the seats ,seat travel, it may have to have something welded to the car, there is a lot to work around.
Will the kirk racing one atleast be adequate enough to allow a vert into an open track day? I'm never gonna use my vert for competition but may take it to a road course for one of those $100-$200 a day track day things.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 11:58 AM
  #19  
jgrewe's Avatar
GET OFF MY LAWN
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 2
From: Fla.
You would have to check with the group you want to run with. Just from looking at it(Kirk) I would say no, but I'm a real safety freak. There isn't much keeping the bar vertical when the car slides upside down. The little tabs going to the seatbelt point ar OK but your just relying on a couple bolts(strong ones though). The area it is attached is good and strong so something could be done to use that area a little better.

RX-Heven's would probably pass for a track day, SOLO ll, and drag racing until the car goes real fast. Nice work in my cage building opinion.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 12:19 PM
  #20  
ourxseven's Avatar
1/1 scale Hot Wheels
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 6
From: winnipeg, Manitoba
Originally Posted by jgrewe
You would have to check with the group you want to run with. Just from looking at it(Kirk) I would say no, but I'm a real safety freak. There isn't much keeping the bar vertical when the car slides upside down. The little tabs going to the seatbelt point ar OK but your just relying on a couple bolts(strong ones though). The area it is attached is good and strong so something could be done to use that area a little better.

RX-Heven's would probably pass for a track day, SOLO ll, and drag racing until the car goes real fast. Nice work in my cage building opinion.

wouldn't the car pass with the roof up and integrated roll bar it has already ? ... less drag with roof up as well
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 05:21 PM
  #21  
jgrewe's Avatar
GET OFF MY LAWN
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 2
From: Fla.
It would be up to the tech people for whatever group you run with. I've seen too many bad things happen at track days to take them lightly. Just because your not fighting for a corner doesn't mean you not going fast enough to end up in the hospital or dead if ANYTHING goes wrong at the wrong time.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 10:00 PM
  #22  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
The only kind of racing I amdoing right now is auto-X, but like I said I would like to go to track day just for fun. Would this type of roll bar(dual hoop) make it so I could not run my auto-x or go to a track day. I want it to be as functional as possible but still look good. I am not worried about the speakers in the headrests because I do not have them anymore.
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2007 | 10:34 PM
  #23  
jgrewe's Avatar
GET OFF MY LAWN
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 2
From: Fla.
They won't keep you from running with the added bar if they would let you run with out it. I have not run an auto-x in years, the new street modified, or whatever they call it, might have an issue because it can be considered a performance enhancement(stiffens chassis).

I don't think you would have an issue, if your just running for fun being bumped up a class is no big deal. If you get serious about competition you'll have to follow the rules.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2007 | 06:54 AM
  #24  
fcdrifter13's Avatar
Thread Starter
Play Well
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
From: We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
OK cool thats good to know. I got out of being serious about racing about the time I joined this forum so its all good. Ill let you know something in the next couple of weeks and then we can get somethign rolling.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2007 | 10:35 AM
  #25  
RX-Heven's Avatar
I'll blow it up real good
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: San Francisco, CA
Mine passes on track days no problem.

The basic Kirk roll hoop that it used to be would usually end up passing too. However, that was not before I had to listen to them bitch about it and make me promise to reinforce it.

Now, they would never let the basic hoop pass as their rules/regulations have become stricter.

Last edited by RX-Heven; Jan 31, 2007 at 10:40 AM.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:53 PM.