Adjustable roll bar for a Miata???

[mikvi]

Hi,

 

Is there such a thing as an "adjustable" roll bar.

 

I have a 99 Miata with a Hard Dog Roll Bar but since I am tall I can't get the top of my helmeted head 2" below the top of the roll bar. The car is also my daily driver.

 

I'd like to be able to drive to the track, drop the top, and adjust my "adjustable" roll bar up high enough to meet the 2" requirement.

 

Anybody know of anything like this? Any other tall Miata people out there? Please let me know.

 

Thanks,

Mike

[getfast]

Roll bars bolt (or weld) into a car and need to be solid enough to never move. If you could "adjust" one, I'm guessing it would be a question of placing some sort of shim under each of the mounting points and it doesn't sound like a good idea. If you need to be lower in your car, look toward lowering the seat instead. The cheapest/easiest way is to take all the foam out of the bottom cushion, but the best way is to buy racing seats and mount them on the floor.

 

Hope it helps,

 

Jon

[mikvi]

Hi Jon,

 

Thanks for responding.

 

I'm actually working with someone on a racing seat setup. We tried a Sparco but there were two problems: the seat wouldn't go back all the way because the roll bar blocked it and my helmeted head was only about 3/4" to 1" below the top of the roll bar.

 

We are negotiating on what to do next, so I thought I would do some research and see what alternatives might be available.

 

When I take out the seat and sit flat on the floor, the top of my helmeted head is just 2-3/4" below the top of the roll bar (roll bar is 1.75"), so there is only about 3/4" leeway to work with..

 

I'm not that familiar with what kind of seats are available out there. Is there a seat that would bolt directly to the floor that would work for me?

 

Thanks,

Mike

[getfast]

I have seen several Sparco setups mounted directly to the floor via custom brackets, permanently set at whichever angle and position the driver prefers. Not sure if they sell anything "off the shelf" that would do the job, though... given that you don't have much height to work with, the normal side-mount/bottom-mount setups would be too high.

 

I'd say check with your nearest fabricator and/or wait for people with more Miata experience to chime in...

 

Good luck Mike,

 

Jon

[Renntag]

Mike,

 

Jon is dead on with the "adjustable roll bar" not meeting the safety requirement, and the best option being a comp seat.

 

Get a Sparco or MOMO seat and have custom brackets made to bolt it directly, and as close as possible, to the floor. The next step is to remove the "butt" cushion from the seat and possibly angle it such that you are not straight up and down, thus giving you more clearance.

 

For street driving comfort re-install the cushion.

 

The other thing I would recommend is to look into having a custom rollbar made that will be a tight fit to the top. Most 'off the shelf' bars are made to offer ample clearance so they work in every car ( of that model ). You might be able to make the mounting plates a little thicker to compensate, but if its bolt in, that wont work w/o cutting and re-welding.

 

I am not sure where you are located so I cant make a recommendation for a fabricator.

 

Best of luck.

[superspec15]

Hey Mike,

i am looking to perchase a roll bar soon, and i am worried about my height. What model hard dog do you have and, if you dont mind me asking, how tall are you. It would be great to get a comparison between your height and mine. I am 6' 2" and i dont know if ill fit.

[beerkat]

i had the same sort of problem with the roll bar in a Mustang. Went to a OMP racing seat in a fixed position to solve the problem

[rrrracer]

No adjustable roll bar available.

 

Tallest roll bar: Hard Dog Hard Core non-hardtop version

 

Lowest seat: any of the aluminum seats (Kirkey, Ultrashield, etc) that can be bolted directly to the floor. These are significantly thinner than any of the padded composite seats (Sparco, Momo, et al).

 

You would need to cut out the OEM factory rear mounting nubs to do this, but well worth it in terms of lowering the driver. We've actually pounded the floor down to accommodate taller drivers.

 

Alternative: run with a hard top over your roll bar

[bpanther]

We had a similar problem here. One of our Miata drivers is about 6'3" and with the stock seat he was sticking up about 1-2" ABOVE the bar. He was able to get a local shop here to build a set of brackets for a kirkey seat and it gets him down below the bar.

 

Better yet, it takes him about 10 minutes to swap between the race seat and the stock seat for NASA weekends.

[Renntag]

...it takes him about 10 minutes to swap ...seat(s)...

 

I wouldnt want to have to swap seats....but that is an option.

[superspec15]

Alright well i am a little bummed that i wont fit but hey, i get to buy a racing seat now! I love the excuses to get new toys!

[bpanther]

Alright well i am a little bummed that i wont fit but hey, i get to buy a racing seat now! I love the excuses to get new toys!

 

Not a "toy" by any definition. A race seat with good bolster support is one of the best performance items you can buy for your car. I'd do it before springs, shocks, tires or ANY engine item.

 

It'll keep you sitting upright and you won't be hanging onto the steering wheel for support. This lets you concentrate on driving.

[mikvi]

Hi bpanther,

 

This sounds like the way to go but I have a few questions.

 

What roll bar is being used? A Hard dog Hard Core (that's what I have), a custom setup, or something else?

 

Can he still use his soft top?

 

Is his Miata a 99+ or is it an older model?

 

Which Kirkey seat (Intermediate road race,...?)?

 

How far below the top of the roll bar is the top of his helmeted head?

 

Did he have to give up some legroom to drop his head (i.e position the seat a little forward, to allow the back to be lower).

 

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm currently negotiating with a shop to do the work and they think the solution is a sparco seat with a custom rollbar (throw away the Hard Core Bar). I want to be sure that I haven't missed some other alternatives.

 

Thanks,

Mike

[RacinDave]

I went through this same issue last year at the same time but luckily I am short enough to not need to change seats. I have a 95 Miata and I got the hard core (not the taller one) bar. I installed it myself so I know it intimately.

 

I also got a good look at another miatas with the non hard top bar. At your height you are definitely going to want to squeeze every inch. You need the taller bar and lower seats. I don't see any other way around it. Good luck and if you come to Mid Ohio I have a black 95 miata. I'll have #38 on it.