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

Convertible style bars

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Old Mar 11, 2004 | 04:05 AM
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Convertible style bars

Any help in finding style bars like the mx-5 ones? I've searched a lot but I can't find any info. R-Magic offers one but I don't like it.
Thanks in advance.

George
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Old Mar 11, 2004 | 05:09 AM
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I don't know about style bars, but the only roll bar I have seen for the vert is made by Kirk Racing.
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Old Mar 11, 2004 | 06:19 AM
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Yeah Kirk racings bar is ok but I don't like the way it looks. I was thinking of buying the Kirk bar for fittement and dimentions but then building a one off bar that has duel loops like the Audi tt. Plus the kirk bar does not have a front to back support bar whick worries me about this. You have to aleast have one bar going back to make a triangle when it bolts the the chassis. I should get around to it this summer.
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Old Mar 12, 2004 | 09:08 AM
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Is there any site info for the Kirk racing bar? Bukwild I have a photo showing a TII with an Audi TT or Mx-5 style bar but I can't find any info on that.
I'll try to see if the Mx-5 bar fits into my TII
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Old Mar 12, 2004 | 09:30 AM
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see?
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Old Mar 12, 2004 | 10:13 AM
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yeah that is what I am looking at fabing up. I will make mine a real roll bar with a three point stance. Hopefully I can make them available in the 300 dollar range. Chrome of course will be in the 5's.
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Old Mar 12, 2004 | 10:15 AM
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i'm doing a full roll cage in mine, and making the back half where i can still get the top down
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Old Mar 12, 2004 | 09:48 PM
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Do you want a bar that will look cool or do you want one that will keep you from smearing your brain on the pavement if you flip the car?
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 12:20 AM
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for me, its so it will be safer of course, and more likely to be accepted during track inspection.
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 01:41 AM
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Originally posted by Gene
Do you want a bar that will look cool or do you want one that will keep you from smearing your brain on the pavement if you flip the car?
I want the latter........
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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 05:04 AM
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Originally posted by Black7Conv
see?
thats pretty spiffy... wouldn't want to roll in it.. but you know
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 03:37 AM
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I think it's difficult to have a bar that looks both cool and saves your life when the bad moment comes...so for the time being I choose the first option...
Bukwild when you are ready send me a PM.
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 03:59 AM
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http://www.aerodyne.net/

under R-magic picture MC11

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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 08:07 AM
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yes this bar is cool looking but it does not have 2 bars going back to bolt up to give this a real "roll" safety. If you roll with this bar it will help kill you not save you.
My roll bar will be much safer
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 01:08 PM
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Both those bar shown suck gorilla nuts. They only bolt into the seat belt post. The kirk bar at least mounts to the floor and the seat belt post for a "4 point" connection. It's not really a 4 point but since it is a single bar, it needs to have that many connect points at least. It will pass tech for track events also. Those others will not. The problem with triangulating the bar towards the back is then there is no room to operate the top without having to remove the targa section halfway up EVERY time. The only other option is to have a removable bar, via a pin connection, that triangulates it back so you can have the best of both worlds. You can run a bar forward, but that creates many other issues.

http://www.cris.com/~Asam/index.html
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 01:17 PM
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yeah I was trying to see if I want to extend the bars forward and climb over them every time I get in the car or make a removable pin connection. Their is a guy in PA that has a supercharged vert and he has his down the center by the shifter. It looks like it has to suck to me.
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 11:44 AM
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Can anyone post a pic of, or place to get an 'ugly' roll bar that will still allow you to put the top down? I don't think they could look that bad, as long as I can paint it black to match my car 8)
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 02:19 PM
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do a search of a kirk racing rollbar. Their website shows one.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 02:35 PM
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Here is a bar with rear supports. Do not know the brand or if you have to remove the supports to raise and lower the top. It does look as if they leave room for hassle free operation of the top. The RXX-7 has the same bar also.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 02:40 PM
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Here is a pic of my Kirk bar.

Here is a write up by fc3s.org on the install of the kirk bar. It has plenty of pictures.

http://www.fc3s.org/how_tos/safety/c...e_rollbar.html




Last edited by RX-Heven; Mar 17, 2004 at 02:58 PM.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 02:45 PM
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One of my friends has a real role bar in his convertible that bolts to the floor and it doesn't interfear with his top.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 02:57 PM
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Originally posted by vaughnc
One of my friends has a real role bar in his convertible that bolts to the floor and it doesn't interfear with his top.
How about some pics? Are you sure it's not the Kirk bar?
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 03:30 PM
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I have to correct myself. The RXX-7 i.e. George Samuels 3 rotor vert does not have the same roll bar. It is a one off custom unit that does allow full operation of the top still.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 03:34 PM
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Originally posted by RX-Heven
Here is a bar with rear supports. Do not know the brand or if you have to remove the supports to raise and lower the top. It does look as if they leave room for hassle free operation of the top. The RXX-7 has the same bar also.
Hi, Dave. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but the RXX-7 has a custom-made rollbar. At the time it was made, there was nothing on the market that would allow full top operation AND be track legal.

Mitch Piper made the bar. It is (or was at the time) SCCA Solo I legal, but NOT race legal. People taller than 5'7" would have difficulty getting past a flinty-eyed tech inspector, unless they had a severe spinal deformity. I only drive it in DE events, so no one complains.

The only drawback is that passenger seat travel is limited. This means I can't date any tall girls. (In addition to the stricture from the rollbar, my short wife would also object.)

John Becker, President of the Mazda Sportscar Club of Washington, D.C. had the original model of this rollbar in his '88 convertible. Since his 5'7" wife refused to ride in the car, he had Mitch change the diagonal brace to allow greater seat travel. (Mitch grumped that the modification had decreased the integrity of the bar.)

Hope all that helps.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 03:39 PM
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Beat you to the correction....thanks for the prompt response btw.
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