Roll Bar/Racing seat install
 

I've spent the better part of the day yesterday installing the Autopower roll bar in my RX-8.

So much for using the back seats :D: Unless you are very short...or a contortionist, it just isn't going to happen.

Anyway..today I was going to install the OMP WRC racing seats. I bought Wedge Racing brackets and a slider for the drivers side....and thought that I'd be OK.

WRONG :( There is no way that anyone taller than 5'7" is going to be able to sit on that with a helmet on..... The passenger side would be OK up to 5'9ish...

So I am now going to have to make custom brackets for both seats. I got the seats positioned in the perfect spot...and I fit great.....and don't need the slider, cause I can get in and out OK without it.

Now I have to go to buy the metal to fab the brackets, and borrow a welder from my friend.

I'll post pictures as I go along...here's a rough in of the bar......I have it bolted in...but haven't removed the plastic wrap from the powder coating yet.

Can you attach the OMP seats to the wedge brackets without the sliders? That is way I did it with my Kirkey seats.

Tried that...still not a lot of headroom....a bit less than stock...and my head rubs stock with a helmet on......

TeamRX8 recently put seats in his car and had a little problem with mounts and seat height. Maybe you can get hints from him.

I think he did what I'm doing...making custom brackets.

I want the seat as low as I can get it....It will be nice not to bang my head on the roof with the helmet on.

dannobre:

Any update on the Autopower install?

I just got back from Gingerman where I reminded myself that when I went driving LAST year I needed to do something about headroom (e.g., lower seat), which is just going to lead to me wanting a harness, which brings up the whole question about the shoulder strap mounting points and a roll bar/cage...

Are you doing the "roll bar" or the "roll cage"? It looks like the "roll bar".

What did you do for seating? Were you able to get the OMPs to work?

How far in front of the hoop does your helmet sit? Do you have a picture? If so, how tall are you?

Would you ever consider removing the roll bar, or is the install such a royal pain that you have just given up on the back seats? I used the "well, its sort of a familiy car" with my wife to be able to buy the 8, so being able to remove the bar between track days would be nice (we only do a couple events a year).

TIA!

i always wanted the autopower rollcage but the 6 point, but not sitting anyone in the back would suck..ahah

I have the bar in....but the seats are still in the works. I'm so busy at work right now...and have another project going that is eating up all my time :(

I hope to have this done in August..have a couple of weeks off then

I'm curious if you had to drill holes? I'm guessing yes. If so did you have to do any type of reinforcement where the roll bar bolts in? Also, I think this has a Bolt-In Removable horizontal harness bar. I assume you can just remove that piece and still use the back seats.

Bolting in a roll bar is a pain in the ass. I'd rather pay a shop to get it done..haha

Hmm. Would this bar be more dangerous for rear seat passengers in an accident? I have been looking at this too but My kiddos need to go in the back. They could squeeze in no problem but would the cage affect the side air bags or have the potential for rear passenger head injuries form hitting the bar in an accident?

Never mind what I said about the harness bar. Looks like you have the race version not the street version. I don't think the race version harness bar is bolt on and besides there is that diagonal brace.

wow the cage looks awesome.

so i guess that wedge racing seat mount sits you higher than stock too :(

Wedge racing brackets will work if you are 5'6" tall or less....

They might work with a different type of seat.......I'm not bad mouthing them or anything...the car is a biatch to but seats in because of the horizontal strengthening beam

The horizontal and the diag bars are bolt out....but I've pretty much gone to the 2 seater thing :)

You didn't say how it was mounted. Did you just drill holes and install?

any price info on cage and how far along with it are you.
thanks

dan it looks great man... damn it will all be coming together soon... if the seat only fits 5' 7" and under you should send it to me lol

I had a local fab shop install my sparco seats and harness bar.
Each seat backet was unique and took 9 hrs of total labor.
I have sliders on the drivers side only to save some cash.
Plenty of head room. I am 5' 9" and do not have a sun roof.

Looks great

Updates?
 

Any updates on this project? When you bought the Wedge brackets, did you look at the MemoryFab ones, too?

http://www.memoryfab.com/products/accessories/car129

If not, any thoughts on how the wedge brackets look compared to the MemoryFab ones?

Is your seat a side-mount or bottom-mount design?

Can anyone dial in on the above forementioned brackets...I'm 6"3 and in need of a barcket thats sits a bucket seat lower than stock to accomodate me with a helmet on...I'm really ready to purchase those...I think Imma shoot them a call

Well just got off the phone with memoryfab not to long ago and they did gurantee that their Super low position seat mount, mounts bucket seat 1-2 inches lower than stock. :fingersx: I'm putting my order in for one of their brackets and probably their S68 bucket seat...only 11lbs!!

MemoryFab
 

Derex8:

Let us know what you find with the brackets and seat. Specifically if you have any problems getting the seat in the car (interference with the B-pillar), and how comfortable the seat is for you width-wise (what waist size are you?)

I'm 6'2" and have the same problem you do -- I need to lean the seat back too far to be comfortable with a helmet on (which also jams my knees up into the dash). I only need about 1-2" extra room to be happy.

TIA! Look forward to pictures...

I know exactly what you mean man...Definately not the ideal seating position you wanna be in when Autoxing

Yeah I decided on the corbeau FX1 pro and memoryfab super low position seat mount.....

That is a really good price on a seat ($280). Let me know how much room you have between the seat and the B-pillar when you are done. I have been looking at the Autopower rollbar with the seat brace, but hadn't found many seats that can accept a brace. A friend has been trying to talk me into a Recaro Profi, which is about the same width as the FX1 Pro.

^^^ Damn didn't even take into considertion that...The base widht of the crobreau looks to be 18in, will that fit in the rx8?

Does anybody know the dimensions of that tunnel area for a aftermarket seat to go in?

I ordered those memoryfab brackets today and found out they don't carry the rx8 bracket in stock. they told me it will take 6-8 weeks regular shipping or 2 weeks max for air shipment from japan...I opted for the air.

We are looking into seats, but really want a set of reclinable Racing seats & low brackets since Im pushing 6'5. Too bad Memory Fab's super low bracket's dont work with their reclinable seats.

Any updates?
 

Dannobre:

Any updates on this project? My bonus comes through at the end of this month, so I will have funding to undertake this as well.

Still like your OMPs? What did you end up with for brackets?

I'm afraid that they are still sitting in my office....I have to make custom brackets for sure...just haven't had the time.

Roll bar has been in and done for a long time...that worked well...

What roll bar are you using? Is it custom?

It's an Autopower Bolt in.....Don't go there if you want to use your back seats :)

Now I just need to figure out how to get my tires to/from events :-)

Maybe I should ust get a car trailer and be done with it ...

Yours is the Race version, you think the back seats would be usable if one had the Streetsport model with the cross bar out?

does it fit in models with the sunroof?

I was told once they are made to order, so it will fit in a sunroof model if you tell them beforehand.

Did you go with the removable cross braces? Do you think this will make any difference in rear seat access? The rear access in the 8 is so odd with the suicide doors...

Make sure you tell them...mine causes problems with the roof light.....Don't really care though...just took it out :)

I don't think it will make much difference...the side bars are the problem.

Plus...you wouldn't really want anyone sitting back there anyway...even with a helmet...too much stuff to smash body parts on ....

Damn...knew I was a procrastinator...but hell...it's been 9 months since I started this....could have had a kid in that time ;)

Im thinking about getting an autopower *cage* also. How is yours?

I have had a cage before, but it was in my RX7 race car. If your car is going to be street driven, please change your mind. The tubes come too close to your head and even with padding, the smallest impact (head to tube) will hurt. Anything more will cause serious injury to your head. I can see having a roll bar, not a cage.

The cage will cause you to lose your A-pillar (side curtain) airbags, leaving you only the steering wheel one.

have someone custom make the bracket for you!
or get the bride lowmax......lol

Yeah but if your wearing a harness and sitting in a better seat it wont matter.

It would be very expensive....3-4hrs to fab the bracket for the passenger seat = way too much cash outlay...plus I have very specific things I want it to do...so DIY is the way to go...just takes time to make the template..and get to the shop with it to be cut and bent

Hmm. I don't believe they make a rollbar for the RX8, especially since we have no middle brace with the rear suicide doors. The car isn't driven much on the street, but here and there. Mainly looking at it for the looks & a place to mount the harness'.

The autopower bar is a "bar"...nothing forward of the seat...there are a few others as well....some quite expensive

Not looking for a full out cage that would go up to the a-pillars. If you look at the Autopower Bars, they dont come forward of the seats. I said cage cause I wasn't quite sure what to call it and why I put the * around the word cage

sammytcl has something like that in his rx8, he has the rear seats intact also but said i was a bi*ch for anyone regular sized to get in

Not to mention the brain damage from all the piping if you actually sat back there :)

Autopower also makes the full cage.