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 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 ***. 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

 

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. I'm putting my order in for one of their brackets and probably their S68 bucket seat...only 11lbs!!

 

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.