'92 Miata: Budget Project Car

[Huzer]

I've been reading quite a bit about roll bars here lately and for tall guys that want to still be able to drive the car [safely] on the street, the hardtop really seems to be the answer.

What are you planning on doing with the car that requires the broomstick test? I'm just curious.

Really, it's for my own safety. I either need to be below the bar (functional) or way in front of the bar. Being way in front of the bar means that it will thus have to be low to clear the top, so it becomes more of a looks mod than safety. I should be able to get below it with enough work.

Ultimately, for track days, if it's "close enough", that should work. The obvious sticking 6" up past the bar most likely will not work. I've sat in a grand total of 1 Miata with a rollbar with a radically foamectomied seat. With the seat all the way back and reclined, my head rested against the rollbar. That's a no-go for me. I'd prefer to not use it as a headrest.

Update: Boss Frog Cleaview Maxx on the way. With the Corbeau on the floor and some wiggle room left for fitment, I'm not concerned about NOT being able to be under the bar. I did order the SFI padding with the bar as well.

[roninsoldier83]

That sounds reasonable. I'm assuming you'll likely put the bar in at the next tech meet? I'd love to sit in it & get an idea of where you're at with that setup before I eventually pull the trigger on my own setup.

[Huzer]

Yep. I'd be nice to get a tracking number this week for it. If so, next weekend I'll be putting it in and you're more than welcome to sit in the car anytime to see how it fits. I couldn't find another Maxx locally to sit in for fitment, only regular. These are supposed to sit as high as the non-hardtop versions, but sit further back about 3".

I ordered the carpet for the interior, as well. The other interior bits for this year will be a new shift knob, depending on how the Momo feels after I drive some more. I'm not in love with it, it's extremely light. I have yet to decide on a matching passenger seat or leaving the stock passenger seat installed. I'll also be getting a harness bar/harnesses down the road. I'll be honest, if I do get a passenger seat, I may get the FX1 (non-Pro model) to give myself a tick more wiggle room, and move the current seat onto the passenger side. That's not a priority now, though.

[roninsoldier83]

I'll keep that in mind and will likely look into the FX1 seats if they're lower than your current setup & still moderately comfortable.

Any reason you went with the Boss Frog Clearview Maxx over the Hard Dog Sport or ACE?

[Huzer]

I like the beefier tubing of the Maxx (similar to the HardCore) vs the Ace/Sport. From what I've found, it sits further back than the Sport by about an inch and a half, and almost as far back as the Ace (half inch difference). It sits a tick over an inch taller than the Ace, and about the same as the Sport. With that, it ended up being a better fit.

[roninsoldier83]

I didn't realize that. I thought that the ACE only sat about an inch further back than the Sport?!? If that's the case, it sounds like it might be a better bar than the ACE, especially with the diagonals not obstructing your vision. The extra 1" height over the ACE while sitting almost as far back would be ideal.

Did you happen to find any sort of roll bar database with measurements for them?

[Huzer]

From the Hard Dog and Boss Frog sites. The bottom picture is the Boss Frog bar. Note the 28" measurement listed for the Maxx.

[coloskydiver]

In my Miata I ran a Boss Frog Dual Hoop. I had my FX1 Pro seat bolted to the floor in the back and elevated in the front to give comfortable recline. For track days I would remove the cushions on the bottom of the seat and would barley clear the bar but cleared and I am 6'2". I understand the for a dedicated track car to go with a full cage and hard top but for a dual purpose toy and it being a Miata, you need have to keep the soft top. The fitment require me to sit with a slight slouch but the racing belt held me comfortably in that position. You can also perform a foamectomy on the cushions on the FX1 Seats since the covers pull right off to give you better clearance on the street. From what I understand, you car is going to see 80% or more street time and need to plan accordingly. Let face it, if you are in a serious accident in a Miata, you will have more concerns than you head barley clearing a roll bar. Don't get me wrong, a roll bar is a must for many reasons but the bottom line is the Miata was not designed around us taller fella's and simply need to make due.

[roninsoldier83]

From the Hard Dog and Boss Frog sites. The bottom picture is the Boss Frog bar. Note the 28" measurement listed for the Maxx.

Tim, you've done a much better job investigating than I have! I didn't realize that the Boss Frog Maxx measurements were that far back and still 1" higher than the HD ACE. It seems fairly close to ideal (well, for tall guys it will never be "ideal", but it's not bad for a primarily street driven car).

I was actually thinking to myself: "why doesn't Hard Dog make their ACE roll bar that high for extra clearance?" And after doing a bit of reading, I think I understand why: It appears that the ACE is made to work with both the soft-top and a hardtop. Whereas the Boss Frog Clearview Maxx seems to only fit under the soft-top. So if a person was only planning on using the soft-top, the Boss Frog might be the best bar since it sits almost as far back as the ACE, but is still as tall as the HD bars.

Boss Frog Clearview Maxx Pros:

-Sits almost as far back as HD ACE (28" vs 28.5").
-Taller than HD ACE, which makes it easier to get under bar at the track (19" vs 18").
-Thicker tubing than the ACE (extra safety).
-Vision less obstructed vs double diagonal ACE due to separation of diagonal bars.

Cons:

-Not quite as far back as ACE (0.5").
-Seatbelts will not retract as quickly due to placement of the mounts.
-Slightly higher cost (negligible IMO).
-Heavier than HD ACE (not a big deal IMO).
-Will not work with hardtop (HD ACE will).

Honestly buddy, I'm glad you've brought this to my attention. I have a bit more to consider.

In my Miata I ran a Boss Frog Dual Hoop. I had my FX1 Pro seat bolted to the floor in the back and elevated in the front to give comfortable recline. For track days I would remove the cushions on the bottom of the seat and would barley clear the bar but cleared and I am 6'2". I understand the for a dedicated track car to go with a full cage and hard top but for a dual purpose toy and it being a Miata, you need have to keep the soft top. The fitment require me to sit with a slight slouch but the racing belt held me comfortably in that position. You can also perform a foamectomy on the cushions on the FX1 Seats since the covers pull right off to give you better clearance on the street. From what I understand, you car is going to see 80% or more street time and need to plan accordingly. Let face it, if you are in a serious accident in a Miata, you will have more concerns than you head barley clearing a roll bar. Don't get me wrong, a roll bar is a must for many reasons but the bottom line is the Miata was not designed around us taller fella's and simply need to make due.

You make quite a few very good points. It appears that we're the same height... when you said that your head barely cleared the bar with the BF double hoop, I'm assuming you had the Maxx correct? By "head", you mean your helmet correct?

Thanks guys!

[Huzer]

NP. I don't have a shipping date yet from Boss Frog, but once it's here, you're more than welcome to stop by for a test fit. Really, my tech day schedule kinda hinges on when this will get here, as I know extra hands for this are essential.

One thing to add, people have fit the Maxx under a hard top. I think things get tight when you add padding.

[Saul_Good]

Boss froggy with seat
http://instagram.com/p/h8vaNbIPcm/
http://instagram.com/p/h8vRGZIPca/

[roninsoldier83]

NP. I don't have a shipping date yet from Boss Frog, but once it's here, you're more than welcome to stop by for a test fit. Really, my tech day schedule kinda hinges on when this will get here, as I know extra hands for this are essential.

One thing to add, people have fit the Maxx under a hard top. I think things get tight when you add padding.

Fair enough. Let me know once you get a tracking number and I'll be sure to try and make it if possible.

I assumed Boss Frog's website was correct when they said it wouldn't fit, but you're right, I found a couple of pics proving that a hardtop does fit... It looks pretty tight and I'm sure the padding is probably a no go.

Boss froggy with seat
http://instagram.com/p/h8vaNbIPcm/
http://instagram.com/p/h8vRGZIPca/

Thanks for the pics! What seat are you running?

[Saul_Good]

Fair enough. Let me know once you get a tracking number and I'll be sure to try and make it if possible.

I assumed Boss Frog's website was correct when they said it wouldn't fit, but you're right, I found a couple of pics proving that a hardtop does fit... It looks pretty tight and I'm sure the padding is probably a no go.



Thanks for the pics! What seat are you running?

Sparco Rev. The hardtop will fit as i have one i use with the rollbar i showed above. Good stuffs.

[Huzer]

Just went through the receipts I have for the car. TB was done about 20k ago. The rear diff and tranny oil was replaced about 10k ago, as well as a coolant flush. That saves having to do the belt. Accessory belts have been replaced recently as well, as has the starter and a few other random bits and pieces.

[roninsoldier83]

Sparco Rev. The hardtop will fit as i have one i use with the rollbar i showed above. Good stuffs.

Just curious, does your head/helmet clear the bar with that setup? If so, by how much? And I suppose more importantly- how tall are you?

Sorry to yet again jack your thread Tim.