Thinking about Roll Bars.... Let's talk about them.

Almost there actually! To be honest, my only real sticking point is that the oil drain fitting keeps ripping out of the pan. I've been trying to avoid pulling the motor again and swapping pans since I know I'll go to town repainting the bay and cleaning everything up, so it'll never get done. So I either need to ditch the SS line and just get a rubber one, or go up to the next size fitting and retap the pan..but then I need to get an adapter which will only put much stress/angle on the SS line. Everything else is just little things like finishing the PS depower, little brackets for stuff, and just generally buttoning things up. Once I feel confident about the drain fitting under stress, the rest should only take a full day at most.

After hanging out at that one BMW auto-x awhile back, I'm excited to embarrass myself driving at one soon.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Plus his Dad may be able to chime in on how he had told his son many times Mazda's were unsafe!

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+1

After reading the coolant change thread I think you would be better off leaving a safety critical item to someone or some shop with more experience. I'm not saying you couldn't figure it out eventually but from what I've been reading at this state of your automotive learning experience you shouldn't be messing with something like a rollbar install.

The Miata is actually not a death trap if you do roll it over. They desinged the car with roll overs in mind. If you are uber tall then ignore what I just said lol.

You guys are gonna scare off the new guy. Bunch of meanies!

Loops aren't that bad. I don't take off ramps at 90, just the 820 loop from 30. It's a pretty wide turn, but I was still turning at 90. And I've done it a few times. I get yelled at for trying to make my car look pretty and parking it..... and now im yelled at for going slightly over the speed limit.

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Originally Posted by Maniac Mitch

I think the Hard Dog Sport is a good choice. I recommend you find someone with a double diagonal bar that you can sit in and see how it blocks the inside mirror some. The double diagonal is stronger and I would prefer it. The Sport sits further back than the Hardcore model, so head contact would be easier with Hardcore.
From your previous questions, I believe you should get professional experienced install. This is safety equipment. The install is pretty straight forward, but since are you are justifying it for safety reasons, get the install. If in Dallas, I think Gary at Track Dog Racing is a good choice. He could even sell it to you. Call him with questions.

Maniac Mitch

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It's definitely my first choice.... I would get that with the diagonal double if the regular "Hard Bar" isn't safe. The hard bar is just $200, but it's also just 1 bar in a [ design. I'll be calling them today after work.

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Originally Posted by jeepinbanditrider

After reading the coolant change thread I think you would be better off leaving a safety critical item to someone or some shop with more experience. I'm not saying you couldn't figure it out eventually but from what I've been reading at this state of your automotive learning experience you shouldn't be messing with something like a rollbar install.

The Miata is actually not a death trap if you do roll it over. They desinged the car with roll overs in mind. If you are uber tall then ignore what I just said lol.

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I think I'll check out the price of install... if it's under $100... I'll pay them. If it's more... I'll check out what I have to do, and if it seems I might get it wrong, I'll probably end up paying them.

The Miata isn't a death trap rolling over? How so? I'm 5 foot 8, and pretty damn short, I just feel that if the car was upside down... my head would be dragging. What do you think?

Get the roll bar. If you get the HDHCDDHT (hard dog, hard core, double diagonal, hard top) then the bar sits a bit lower and further back, so you'll likely not whack your head.

It's really not a terrible install. You have to cut some pieces (a jig saw with a metal blade makes it easy), drill some holes (a long drill bit helps immensely) and be a bit strong (it's big and awkward).

Since you're in Ft. Worth you should make friends with Rogue on here. He comes highly recommended for working on Miatas (I've never used him though).

I'd say it'd be more dangerous with a "rat trap" style bar than without during a roll over. My understanding is that rollover protection was a design consideration on the Miata during it's design and that the windshield frame is sturdy enough to survive most rollovers. My parents have a "style bar" and I really don't want to experience a rollover in that.But when it comes down to it the chances you are going to roll your car over are pretty slim compared to being rear ended or tboned or something along those lines.

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Originally Posted by OZMDD

You guys are gonna scare off the new guy. Bunch of meanies!

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No... if we were trying to scare him, we'd post pics like THIS (open at your own risk)....

Holy crap, that's a scary picture.

I have a harddog hardbar, I chose it because I didn't have cut the carpet in my car. It doesn't look as beefy or cool as a 6 pt. rollbar, but it is a 4 pt. and stiffens the chasis and will provide protection, although I hope I never need it. It is not a style bar which some people call the human mouse trap which is a 2 point bar.

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Originally Posted by SixAce

...taking a highway loop at 90

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Are you a recent grad of the "Kyle Busch Driving School"? Me Too! I often take off-ramps @ 90mph in my wife's Sequoia.::Drive2::

I'm a man of action; the laws of physics cannot contain me! Even though it doesn't have a roll-bar, I feel safe because it has a roof and it's not a Mazda.

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Originally Posted by TexasStig

Are you a recent grad of the "Kyle Busch Driving School"? Me Too! I often take off-ramps @ 90mph in my wife's Sequoia.::Drive2::

I'm a man of action; the laws of physics cannot contain me! Even though it doesn't have a roll-bar, I feel safe because it has a roof and it's not a Mazda.

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:clap:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

:clap:

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+1

Wow. TXStig FTW!!

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Originally Posted by MiataProtege

Loops aren't that bad. I don't take off ramps at 90, just the 820 loop from 30. It's a pretty wide turn, but I was still turning at 90. And I've done it a few times.....and now I'm yelled at for going slightly over the speed limit.

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The roll bar won't save your life if you spin into a concrete median doing 90. That is more than slightly above the speed limit.

Never speed with your younger brother in the car with you. You are his role model, and you are also responsible for his safety.

One big speeding ticket costs about the same as an entire day at a driving academy on a real racetrack. Make friends with some of the racers and instructors on this forum. Buy your roll bar, but limit the speed to a race track where it belongs.

For the record, I typed out a flaming rant berating you. I then deleted it and decided to give you some positive directives instead. You can thank me later, if you live that long.

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Originally Posted by boisking

The roll bar won't save your life if you spin into a concrete median doing 90. That is more than slightly above the speed limit. Never speed with your younger brother in the car with you. You are his role model, and you are also responsible for his safety. One big speeding ticket costs about the same as an entire day at a driving academy on a real racetrack. Make friends with some of the racers and instructors on this forum. Buy your roll bar, but limit the speed to a race track where it belongs. For the record, I typed out a flaming rant berating you. I then deleted it and decided to give you some positive directives instead. You can thank me later, if you live that long.

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For the most part... I do 5-10 mph over the speed limit and try and keep my revs down... but I'm 20 years old. I enjoy going fast, and I do speed on occasion. With my 9 year old in the car? No. When I'm bored, had a long day at work or whatever the case, and need a quick thrill, yes I will bring my car up to 90+ mph. I will take a corner at 40 when I probably should take it at 25. I will merge lanes with a small amount of room for error. Am I the only one admitting that it happens sometimes? Maybe. But that's what I do, and I'm not going to pretend I do 59 MPH everywhere in a 60.

Talking to a brick wall, guys.

I was out drifting my miata last night. O no! I wasn't on a track with a helmet and cones! I do the ramp from 360 to I-20 at 90+ all the time... I speed excessively all the time. I can't stand it when people get on forums and say things like "don't speed and save that kind of driving for the track.", not everyone can afford track days and entry fees. Yes tickets are expensive.. if you pay them.

suck it purist!

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