Rollbars

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:05 pm

I've been thinking about investing in a rollbar to stiffen up the '5 a bit and also help me avoid unneccesary deadness if I happen to do something stupid and end up shiny side down. So any advice on them would be appreciated, a few questions:

*Where to buy / normal cost etc?
*How much surgery is required to fit one?
*Do they have to be certified or anything?

Should add I don't want a full cage for practical reasons (ie I don't want to drive everywhere wearing a helmet) but equally I'm not interested in 'style bars' which look the part but don't really do anything except presumably fold over and smack you in the back of the head in a crash.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:36 pm

As a minimum, you could get a 'half cage' that has come in from Japan...these are unable to be certified for motorsport use in NZ, so are not worth a whole lot of money., some surgery is usually necessary to locate the rearward facing bars, and this may or may not require a spare wheel relocation (I have never carried a spare wheel in any event)
You are welcome to call and look at my cage (certified - $1000)) when you are next in Q'town...

Ian

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:20 pm

Some of the Jap roll cages are manufactured out of Aluminium and thats why MANZ don't certify them.
It's a pity really as if the roll cage was constructed correctly it would be as stong, if not stonger than steel. And lighter!
Make sure you pick up the rear suspension points as well.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:49 pm

Ummm, actually, while it is true that alloy is unacceptable to Motorsport NZ, Japanese steel roll cages are also unacceptable. In many cases this is because they do not comply with our design guidelines, have the wrong tube dimensions and you need to have the roll bar constructor sign the paperwork that the materials used comply with our regs as laid down in the Motorsport Manual. I know, I tried to get them to accept a very tasty (and no doubt originally expensive) Mazdaspeed roll structure....In saying that, I would have no hesitation in fitting one to my car, if I had no intention of competing.

Ian

ianbell · Post by **ianbell** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:05 pm

I installed a steel, Japanese rollbar (half cage) in my NA MX5 and there are no real issues other than the loss of a bit of seat travel. The aluminium "parcel shelf" need to be cut for the back-stays to get to their mounting points. There is no interference with the spare wheel. Certification is another issue. I was advised that Low Volume Cert was required but it depends who you talk to - the LVV website says you do, but the Land Transport site says you don't, and the WOF guys actually asked me why I had a Cert for the roll bar, saying that I didn't need it. I wrote an article for the club magazine at the time, and can email or post you a copy if you want. I like the roll bar - it made the car a lot tighter, with a lot less body flexing, and I feel a lot safer with something stronger than air or vinyl above my head.

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:46 pm

Ian wrote:As a minimum, you could get a 'half cage' that has come in from Japan...these are unable to be certified for motorsport use in NZ, so are not worth a whole lot of money., some surgery is usually necessary to locate the rearward facing bars, and this may or may not require a spare wheel relocation (I have never carried a spare wheel in any event)
You are welcome to call and look at my cage (certified - $1000)) when you are next in Q'town...

Ian

Thanks, I may take you up on that at some stage - I'm in Cromwell so it'll be a good excuse for a blat through the gorge

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:53 pm

ianbell wrote:I installed a steel, Japanese rollbar (half cage) in my NA MX5 and there are no real issues other than the loss of a bit of seat travel. The aluminium "parcel shelf" need to be cut for the back-stays to get to their mounting points. There is no interference with the spare wheel. Certification is another issue. I was advised that Low Volume Cert was required but it depends who you talk to - the LVV website says you do, but the Land Transport site says you don't, and the WOF guys actually asked me why I had a Cert for the roll bar, saying that I didn't need it. I wrote an article for the club magazine at the time, and can email or post you a copy if you want. I like the roll bar - it made the car a lot tighter, with a lot less body flexing, and I feel a lot safer with something stronger than air or vinyl above my head.

Thanks for the advice, hopefully I can get away without a cert then, a copy of that article would be great if you could email it to **Got email, cheers**. Any idea where to find a Jap rollbar/half cage selling cheap? Or is it just a matter of keep an eye on trademe and hope something comes up?

Tightening up the body flex sounds good, I found the underbody suspension braces helped but it still gets shaken around alot when playing silly buggers on the loose stuff

Gravelben · Post by **Gravelben** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:23 pm

Well I got one (just happened to come up on trademe at the right time):

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =161013155

Hopefully it will arrive by the weekend so I can fit it then. Also figured I'll do the gearbox gaiters and oil soon too and while I was in the mood bought a shortshifter (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 079428.htm) as well, will be interesting to see how much difference it makes.

Rollbars

Rollbars

Who is online