2023 Roll Bar options
#1
2023 Roll Bar options
Of course this has been discussed in depth historically on this forum however today in 2023, the options are quite different.
I and probably most street/track FD owners are looking for a 4 point roll bar. I will only consider 4 point bars that mount to the shock tower such as Samberg or Raceshop. Unfortunately they are no longer available.
Does anyone still keep in touch with Justin Samberg or Raceshop to see if they will consider orders/group buy?
Armen
I and probably most street/track FD owners are looking for a 4 point roll bar. I will only consider 4 point bars that mount to the shock tower such as Samberg or Raceshop. Unfortunately they are no longer available.
Does anyone still keep in touch with Justin Samberg or Raceshop to see if they will consider orders/group buy?
Armen
#2
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
With the yen as weak as it is, you should consider Cusco or Okuyama. Both offer many different models. There's also a shop called Saito Rollbar that sells a variety of different options, but I'm not sure if they will ship internationally..
I probably would have bought a cage by this point, but I was worried about it interfering with heel-toe, being an RHD car.
I probably would have bought a cage by this point, but I was worried about it interfering with heel-toe, being an RHD car.
#3
rotary amuse
iTrader: (12)
^ I have also been looking to upgrade my Autopower 4-point race roll bar since my last few time trial laps in my RX-7
For what it's worth, for anyone looking for a bar that is NASA and SCCA competition sanctioned, the Autopower's are still being produced and a good value
I do agree with Armen's indirect point that the Autopower rear bars design is suboptimal with it not being tied in to the rear strut towers
I have a few great cage fabricators in my area, and will be replacing mine with a custom back half Porsche Cup style (what can I say, it's a safe and aesthetic design) welded in roll bar tied to the b-pillars
Samberg's style with the plastics retention is a really nice design - would be great if Justin or someone resurrected it
AST has some good options too if you'd be willing to import a kit
My two cents and to each their own, I would not recommend or ever trust my life to the Cusco / Safety 21 or similar style roll bar
#4
Lives on the Forum
iTrader: (9)
Worth noting, there was controversy BITD about the M2/Raceshop bar in that, while it seems like a great design, it wasn't actually SCCA sanctioned, due to the bends in the rear stabilizers that helped it meet the strut towers, and the fact that I believe it was thinner walled owing to being chromoly, which SCCA outlawed because it was a cost escallation. There may have been an issue as well with the double-shear joint on the diagonal. Sandbergs I believe was based on that design, but may have addressed some of that. Caveat: I haven't checked the latest rules/directives, I'm paraphrasing an issue since its been a long time and it may have been forgotten.
That's not to say it wasn't/isn't safe (I have one), but it may not get through an **** retentive scrutineer, if you're into that. Autopower will.
If I had to do it over now, I'd find a good race fabricator (like Piper Motorsport here nearby), and have it built to my spec, addressing sanctioning concerns which a good fabricator will know in and out. Some may be willing to build it custom as a bolt-in/removable if that's a big deal. Again, with the way my car has gone, that woulds be less of a concern for me. The illusion that I might someday return it to stock to sell it that was present at the time of I bought the bar, is long gone LOL.
That's not to say it wasn't/isn't safe (I have one), but it may not get through an **** retentive scrutineer, if you're into that. Autopower will.
If I had to do it over now, I'd find a good race fabricator (like Piper Motorsport here nearby), and have it built to my spec, addressing sanctioning concerns which a good fabricator will know in and out. Some may be willing to build it custom as a bolt-in/removable if that's a big deal. Again, with the way my car has gone, that woulds be less of a concern for me. The illusion that I might someday return it to stock to sell it that was present at the time of I bought the bar, is long gone LOL.
#5
I actually had an m2 roll bar years back. Very disappointed in fitment and just overall design with the rear bars reaching the trunk storage bins so I ended up selling it. Now, after witnessing a few rolls I have realized the importance of a good roll bar.
It would certainly be nice to be SCCA compliant even though most time attack events I've participated in don't uphold SCCA NASA level standards.
I wouldn't mind having a custom fabricated bar made but surprisingly I do not know of a shop that I would trust to do so, even in Los Angeles.
It would certainly be nice to be SCCA compliant even though most time attack events I've participated in don't uphold SCCA NASA level standards.
I wouldn't mind having a custom fabricated bar made but surprisingly I do not know of a shop that I would trust to do so, even in Los Angeles.
#6
Rotary Motoring
iTrader: (9)
I like the clean look and added structure of the roll bars that bolt to the rear shock towers, but
Other issues with this design (besides above listed) are-
Shock upper mounts arent approved backing plates for the rollbar plate above it.
The large hole in the top of the shock tower for mounting the shock top means the rollbar mounting bolts have less sheetmetal to move before they shear out even with a proper backing plate.
The rear shock tower roll bar mount adds structural rigidity to the unibody at a critical suspension mounting point- most rules dont want your rollbar (safety) be designed to add rigidity/performance (though they all to some degree).
Other issues with this design (besides above listed) are-
Shock upper mounts arent approved backing plates for the rollbar plate above it.
The large hole in the top of the shock tower for mounting the shock top means the rollbar mounting bolts have less sheetmetal to move before they shear out even with a proper backing plate.
The rear shock tower roll bar mount adds structural rigidity to the unibody at a critical suspension mounting point- most rules dont want your rollbar (safety) be designed to add rigidity/performance (though they all to some degree).
#7
Full Member
iTrader: (2)
I wouldnt trust my life to any of the rear shock mounting options for the FD. the design just doesnt allow anything solid. There is a place in indiana that sells premade main hoops for FD rx7's if you want to make/weld up your own. The hard part is already done at that point
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gracer7-rx7 (08-02-23)
#11
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
No bolt-in roll bar is going to be anywhere near as strong as a full weld-in cage.
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Howard Coleman (08-04-23)
#12
needs more track time
iTrader: (16)
One should use the appropriate diameter and thickness tubing for the weight of the vehicle. Probably 1.75" to 2" diameter and 90 or 120 for the wall thickness of the tubing for the FD. The rear bars should probably hit the trunk floor somewhere or the sides of the shock towers with appropriate reinforcing plates. Either are challenging to fit on a car that has an interior - which is why the shock tower became a popular way to do it.
Kirk Racing and Autopower remain the go-to places for bolt in roll bars in the US. Kirk seems to have done a few different designs over the years judging by their pics:
Photos | Kirk Racing Products
Searching reveals that there was a Group Buy for the Kirk once upon a time. Nostalgic.
#15
Lurker...
iTrader: (6)
Been looking for a roll cage for about 3+ years myself, was on the failed 2nd group buy for rogue motorsports bar... anyone have experience with agi precision? https://agiprecision.com/mazda/rx7-fd
#16
Been looking for a roll cage for about 3+ years myself, was on the failed 2nd group buy for rogue motorsports bar... anyone have experience with agi precision? https://agiprecision.com/mazda/rx7-fd
#17
Rotary Freak
Due to rules here, you require reinforcement plates under the feet of the cage - at least for speed events. In the old money, around 19 sq in (not necessarily square or rectangular). Not sure of his current stuff, I'd strongly suspect AGI mounts to the side of the shock tower, but contacting Adam directly would be a far better bet for accurate info. Do know he's sold rx7 cages into the US and elsewhere.
Wrong side of the country and possibly be too flat out to talk anyway, he might be engineering a car over at VIR early in October.
Wrong side of the country and possibly be too flat out to talk anyway, he might be engineering a car over at VIR early in October.
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SETaylor (11-08-23)
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