Roll Bar Install, PICS!!

[nateman101]

04 s2k
Just got a Hard Dog Roll bar....
Welded diagonal...
I just started today, and within the first 6 hours of the install, I'm about done with mounting the roll bar in the car....
Let me warn you, be prepared for a difficult task of removing interior peaces and cutting holes to mount the roll bar.... I am taking pics from the beginning to the end to give you and idea of how it is done.... Once i am done, i can give you some advise, because it definitely isn't easy to do... but it can be done....
I have no experience with installing roll bars, my dad has done one in Miata, and it is def. much more advanced, but same concept.

I would say removing all the plastic from inside has been a pain, and drilling holes has def. not be easy to do, but it is possible

I am 15 years old and am doing this project with my dad....

Once it is done, i will upload sum pics..

Questions? just ask

[RL1924]

I have heard there a pain in the ass... BTW how old do you have to be to drive in NC? You already have your OWN s2000 at 15 lucky guy.

[JDMzimbo]

Look forward to the pics! I want to get a roll bar sometime in the future for sure.

[nateman101]

haha, yea im very luck....
racing is in the family...
my dad raced legends cars and legacy cars....
he drives a zo6 vette daily...
we also have a 94 r packaged miata with eaton sc on it
2006 exige with a aftermarket eaton sc on it
and my car.... a s2000
the miata and lotus are my brothers cars, he got a gt mustang (piece of shit, but it was his choice) as a first car, so its only fair i got something fast as well....
We still have the legends car...
it has a little 1.2l inline 4 yamaha motor in it, and it screams like a streetbike....
Its fun

as plans for the s2k, its going to be my daily driver, with some visits to the track along with the z06 and the lotus.... the Miata is for sale (anybody interested?)

[kigz]

I was tricked!!!! I was expecting pics on demand! you should change your title before anyone else gets tricked!

[LOUDERS2K]

Too late i was tricked. Very lucky having such nice cars around at such an early age, i just hope you take driving seriously and not recklessly like many kids around here.(California)
Pics soon please

[gomarlins3]

Originally Posted by RL1924

You already have your OWN s2000 at 15 lucky guy.

That's one way to put it.

[nateman101]

sorry guys.....
i will put the few pictures i have, and the rest when i finish

[nateman101]

Here are the pics i took the first day.....

[nateman101]

And some more....

[nateman101]

Here is all i have so far...

[RL1924]

Originally Posted by gomarlins3

That's one way to put it.

I was being nice about it for once Seems to me not like the normal 15yr old punk that just wants to get more POWER and drop some neons on it.. Seems to come from a family that knows/respects cars, and probably will drive the car to its fullest pretty soon on the track, and not doing fly by's on the highway against a civic hatch , at least I hope lol.

[MutantCheese]

I will not be doing this to my S....ever.

[s2000isu]

BAN HIM!!!! he posted a picture of the secret compartment

[JDMzimbo]

looks good man, is your dad a pilot? i noticed all the flying stuff on your garage wall.

[gomarlins3]

Originally Posted by MutantCheese

I will not be doing this to my S....ever.

I thought the same thing, but I then saw a roll bar that didn't stand out so much visually and had second thoughts. I still like mine to look stock, but it would be nice to be able to quickly install a roll bar for track days or hill climbs. You never know when you will need one.

[Old Guy]

Maybe it's just me . . . .

But all those coins in the secret compartment would drive me nuts, rattling around. I have a couple things in the furthest back compartment, and I ended up putting a small wash cloth in there so they didn't make noise when I corner.

I do drop coins in the small "hole" behind the cup holder. But it's so small it's hard to get 'em out when you need 'em, so I don't use it much. What the hell good is that space for anyway? I thought it would be perfect for my Crackberry phone, but then it was too hard to get out as well.

Maybe I just have fat fingers.

[MutantCheese]

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Maybe it's just me . . . .

But all those coins in the secret compartment would drive me nuts, rattling around. I have a couple things in the furthest back compartment, and I ended up putting a small wash cloth in there so they didn't make noise when I corner.

Same here, I have my S2K manuals and my 9MM Ruger in the rear area. My PSP slim is in the front area. I use it for movies. All are pretty snug. I keep loose coins in a pouch in the "glove box" just below that.

I do drop coins in the small "hole" behind the cup holder. But it's so small it's hard to get 'em out when you need 'em, so I don't use it much. What the hell good is that space for anyway? I thought it would be perfect for my Crackberry phone, but then it was too hard to get out as well.

Maybe I just have fat fingers.

I have an AP2. The second useless cup holder is perfect for an iPhone.

[dingleberries]

15 and he found the secret compartment a feat that takes some months

[nateman101]

haha, I had to talk to the previous owner to find the "secrete" compartment..... lol
Yes, my dad is a pilot
And those coins don't make too much noise.....
I really appreciate your positive feed back and how you aren't complaining about how shi%^y my pictures are, because i was really excited to be taking my car apart, and i didn't want to lag behind my dad because we were working on each side separately.

I am planning on taking some detailed pictures once it is all installed to show you what your S would look like if you installed a roll bar.....

BTW.... We are just following the instructions off the Hard Dog Roll Bar website

[spartikus]

What are the hooks behind the drivers side seat for? Is the little grate thing back there where the cabin filter is?

[nateman101]

Those hooks are called laundry hooks, for like hanging your clothes and stuff... but it is quite useless.....
And i'm not too sure what that vent if for, because there isn't much behind that...

[turbosix]

nate, how much of a pain in the ass is it to remove the secret compartment? my cig lighter pulled out of the hole and i need to screw the fitting back onto the back of it that keeps it attached in the hole

[TheSoundMan21]

Nate have you driven the S yet? Track days or anything? Whats your driving history? Or are you one of those kids that got your pilots licence before the drivers one?

and crap this kid has better grammar than me.

[redS2k06]

Originally Posted by nateman101

haha, yea im very luck....
racing is in the family...
my dad raced legends cars and legacy cars....
he drives a zo6 vette daily...
we also have a 94 r packaged miata with eaton sc on it
2006 exige with a aftermarket eaton sc on it
and my car.... a s2000
the miata and lotus are my brothers cars, he got a gt mustang (piece of shit, but it was his choice) as a first car, so its only fair i got something fast as well....
We still have the legends car...
it has a little 1.2l inline 4 yamaha motor in it, and it screams like a streetbike....
Its fun

as plans for the s2k, its going to be my daily driver, with some visits to the track along with the z06 and the lotus.... the Miata is for sale (anybody interested?)

Nate you got one great dad man............

[nateman101]

For removing the "secret" compartment, I would suggest getting the s2000 Honda manual, it has pretty good diagrams on explaining how all the interior pieces come apart. As for me and my dad, we just pulled s*&t up and you really have to force stuff out.... (we did not break anything) but to make it help you out, try to do it without taking all of it off.... because you HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR INTERIOR PIECE OUT!!!! reading between the lines.... its a major PAIN IN THE ASS.....

[nateman101]

I've been driving it since i was 14, all street driving.... its been to the track (VIR) one time by my dad, before he got his z06....
I have not started to get my pilots license yet... but i will probably solo when I'm 17, and get my license when i am 18...

[midwesta]

Originally Posted by turbosix

nate, how much of a pain in the ass is it to remove the secret compartment? my cig lighter pulled out of the hole and i need to screw the fitting back onto the back of it that keeps it attached in the hole

If you pull the plastic from right behind the seat (two screws that go into the "laundry hooks" (lol they are for the optional bag to hang from, not laundry hooks) then you should be able to sneak your hand behind the cig lighter and tighten it up.

If you want the remove the whole secret compartment and the glove box you need to remove the roll hoops.

Never break the plastic around the roll hoops. remove the whole roll hoop cause the plastic will never go back together properly.

[spartikus]

are the roll hoops really roll hoops meaning are they for safety or for looks?

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by spartikus

are the roll hoops really roll hoops meaning are they for safety or for looks?

there are steel bars under the plastic, it is for safety.

Originally Posted by midwesta

If you pull the plastic from right behind the seat (two screws that go into the "laundry hooks" (lol they are for the optional bag to hang from, not laundry hooks) then you should be able to sneak your hand behind the cig lighter and tighten it up.

If you want the remove the whole secret compartment and the glove box you need to remove the roll hoops.

Never break the plastic around the roll hoops. remove the whole roll hoop cause the plastic will never go back together properly.

aha, thanks. and that also explains why i always read "never been separated" when i see people selling roll hoops.

[nateman101]

Yea know, i just do not understand why the s2k from the factory does not make bigger roll hoops that are SCCA certified, because it would really mean that its a track car right out of the box.... My s2k was only on the track once, and thats because one club up a VIR let it go on there, but you had to sign a waver basically saying we are in no way shape or form responsible for what happens to you.... I'm not sure what the waver really said, but the chances of it being able to do that again are very slim, it was only because both the miata and lotus broke down on the second day of the track event, and the guys were nice enough to let my car on.

[gomarlins3]

It depends on teh organization running the event, not the track as to whether Miatas, S2000, etc. can be on the track. I have had my S on a few different tracks and sometimes my car wouldn't be let on. It depends on the rules set forth by the organization.

Look into Miata, BMW, or Porsche track days. They have the same situation we do in regards to the roll bars. If they are letting Boxsters, Z3/Z4's, and Miatas on, then the S can go as well.

You will sign your life away no matter which group you run with.

[nateman101]

the signing your life away i figured you will do with any group.....
but i know the cobra mustang club is a little more lenient when it comes to rules compared to the Miata club and so forth....
but who knows... all i know is my car needs a roll bar in order to not get hassled by rules and reg. with just about every club....
plus i think the roll bar looks awesome

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by nateman101

Yea know, i just do not understand why the s2k from the factory does not make bigger roll hoops that are SCCA certified, because it would really mean that its a track car right out of the box.... My s2k was only on the track once, and thats because one club up a VIR let it go on there, but you had to sign a waver basically saying we are in no way shape or form responsible for what happens to you.... I'm not sure what the waver really said, but the chances of it being able to do that again are very slim, it was only because both the miata and lotus broke down on the second day of the track event, and the guys were nice enough to let my car on.

how tall are you? everything i have read states that you do not need an aftermarket rollbar / hardtop unless your head sits above the windshield cowl because unlike miatas, the s2000's windshield frame is built to withstand the car being dropped upside down from like 10ft in the air.

[midwesta]

Yeah I have never run into a problem with running my stock S2000 with no roll bar. The organization who is renting the track sets the rules, usually because they bring their OWN insurance instead of using the track's insurance because it is cheaper.

[nateman101]

I'm 5'11"
But with a helmate on , i don't pass the broom stick test (same with my dad) , unless i crouch down a little.... My dad was hopeless with passing the broomstick test, he is well over 6ft
Plus, everybody who i sall with a s2k at the track that day had a roll bar in their car.

[turbosix]

Originally Posted by nateman101

I'm 5'11"
But with a helmate on , i don't pass the broom stick test (same with my dad) , unless i crouch down a little.... My dad was hopeless with passing the broomstick test, he is well over 6ft
Plus, everybody who i sall with a s2k at the track that day had a roll bar in their car.

if you pull the OEM seat you can actually lower it about an inch if you're wanting a lower seat height.

you have to drill into the seat bottom but there is a diy on s2ki about how to do it.

[MutantCheese]

Originally Posted by nateman101

I'm 5'11"
But with a helmate on , i don't pass the broom stick test (same with my dad) , unless i crouch down a little.... My dad was hopeless with passing the broomstick test, he is well over 6ft
Plus, everybody who i sall with a s2k at the track that day had a roll bar in their car.

YAY! Being short finally has it's advantages!!!

[turbosix]

rather spend $$ on a roll bar to track my car than be a puny little man, cheez

[MutantCheese]

Originally Posted by turbosix

rather spend $$ on a roll bar to track my car than be a puny little man, cheez