Mazdaspeed Rollbar Install on Aus Spec NA6 - INSTALLED!

[gobsmax]

Hello All,

I recently acquired a Mazdaspeed 4 point rollbar and having a hell of a hard time trying to figure out how to install it on an Aus Spec NA6.

My Mazdaspeed 4 point roll bar Comparing this pic with the one from zawrilla's, they seem to mount differently to the rear. Zawrilla's bolts on top of the parcel tray, while mine go though the parcel tray and bolt onto the cavity in the boot. Zawrilla's setup. Comparing the two, my fixing plate is also different, so I may think that I don't actually have a genuine Mazdaspeed rollbar, or maybe it's a different one.

The hoop itself attaches fine to the seat belt towers, it's the two rear struts which seem to bolt onto the chassis past the parcel tray. There doesnt seem to be any pre-drilled hole, and I dont want to be drilling holes so close to the fuel tank.

Has anyone got pictures on how the rear struts are bolted to the parcel tray? As the only way they seem to fit is through the parcel tray and onto the cavity in the boot next to the shock struts.

Parcel Tray


Passenger Cavity


Driver Cavity


There is a hole on the drive side cavity, but I would still need to drill two more holes.

Thanks in advance,
Alan

[rossint]

Mines really similar to yours except my cage also bolts to the floor behind the seats and I have side impact bars as well. You'll need to drill some holes and bolt it into the boot by the rear struts. You'll also need to cut the metal plate that makes up the front of the parcel shelf so the bars can go through it. Hope these pics help a bit.

[gobsmax]

Hi rossint,

Thanks for the pics. I was under the impression there was meant to be pre-drill holes. Looks like i'll have to pull out the drill.

Cheers,
Alan

[16bit]

you sure will. danny helped me with mine with a right angle air drill. i toiled for hours and got no where with a cordless! I have a very similar bar to that.

[zawrilla]

Hello All,

I Comparing the two, my fixing plate is also different, so I may think that I don't actually have a genuine Mazdaspeed rollbar, or maybe it's a different one.

I'm pretty sure Mazdaspeed could've made multiple design rollbars. If anything the parcel tray/seatbelt tower set up is probably the most basic of them.

I sent you some more pics of the rollbar and a few words regarding the way I installed it via email, but now seeing this, I don't think it's going to help, considering the two bars are different.

[rossint]

There's also a full cage version of the one I have with bars that go from the hoop to the window and down to the floor, so yes they made different variants based around the same design.

[Sasso]

Alan yours looks better than zawrilla's one because it bolts to more solid metal, for peace of mind. mmmm full cage.

[RG.net]

ah sh*t, now i know what your talking about, my friend has this cage, and i needed to do this with my cusco and mazdaspeed full cage.

You'll need to drill into those cavities. Jack the rear of the car up and there will be a cover you need to take off to reach the bolts to tighten.

[davo]

Alan,
I hope you haven't hacked the deck installing your rollbar. I'm installing the an identical Mazdaspeed bar to yours (chrome bar shown on the link). Pop the cover on the top seatbelt mount. Remove the bolt and underneath you will find a 4mm washer and 3 tubular spacers of a couple of different lengths. Use the two spacers that together come up to the top of the plastic trim on the seatbelt tower. The base of the rollbar sits on top of those spacers. The 4mm washer and the remaining spacer sit above the base of the rollbar with the seatbelt attachment on top of them and the bolt replaced through the lot. On one side a 4mm washer was lost (probably when the belts were changed for Australian compliance) and the seatbelt then wont clear the mount and can't pivot. A quick trip to MX5centre fixed that. Once you have bolted the bar onto the seatbelt towers, if you just move the feet of the braces snug against the deck it becomes evident which deck bolts to remove and replace with the longer bolts and spacers supplied (shown in your photo). Five of the six stay bolts go into captive nuts on the deck and the rear-most drivers side bolt will need a washer and nut placed under the deck, accessed from the boot. The only trimming you may want to do is the rearmost 1cm of the seatbelt tower trim as the new height of the bolt head will lift the plastic there. If it doesn't bother you just leave it slightly raised.
My bar was secondhand and without the spacers and bolts. High tensile M6 x 30mm did the job for me if anybody else ever decides to install a secondhand bar without the fitting kit. Once you've mounted the base plates for the stays and have cut the rubber mat and carpet to fit around the base of the braces, remove the hoop leaving the stays bolted to the deck. ( Just a hint on cutting the carpet. Separate the rubber mat from the carpet. Work out the approximate position of the 1.5" stay tubes and mark them on the rubber mat. Using a sharp knife, cut a "cross", centred over the 1.5" circle you marked. It wont hurt to cut the cross a little larger than the circle. Slide the rubber mat over the stays and true-up the mat by centering the holes in the front edge of the mat over the holes on the front face of the deck panel. With the mat in the right position, push the rubber up against the stays and trim around the base of the stay tubes with that sharp knife. Remove the mat from the car. Place the carpet face down somewhere safe. Place the rubber mat upside down onto the now upturned underside of the carpet. Align the mat and the carpet using the attachment holes along the front edge of both. Ensure that the sides of the rubber mat are centred within the sides of the carpet as the adhesive may not let the carpet sit true against the mat straight off. Using that sharp knife and the new cut outs on the mat as your guide, cut the two circular pieces of carpet out.) Slide the rubber mat and carpet over the stays. I found that the adhesive from between the mat and carpet smeared all over the stays. Don't scratch the finish trying to remove the adhesive. After trying a few different solvents, I found that Methylated Spirits easily shifts the mess. Just moisten a cloth with Metho and it wipes away. Re-install the rollbar hoop. Admire your work
The cut edge of the carpet could be bound, you could trim the edge by stitching a strip of cloth over the edge or just make a cover from rubber or plastic with an internal diameter to slide over the stay tube and an outer diameter to cover the cut carpet. My cut was fairly neat so I'll probably just get an appropriate O-ring and slide it down the stay.
Hopefully this will help someone who like me, wanted to buy or install the same Mazdaspeed bar onto the mk1 mx5. My bar had the curved stays and does mount to the deck. While researching I did see other Mazdaspeed bars with straight stays and they do not appear to brace to the deck.
Now all I need to do is replace my soft top. I'd like a glass rear window but haven't yet determined whether it will fit between the 31.5" gap between the stays. If anyone has the same bar, let me know.
Alan in your photo "passenger cavity", the three holes are in the photo. One near the fuel tank cover, one at the rear of the seatbelt tower and one at the rear of the cavity. The left "passenger" side stay base has a half-circle cut-out along one edge.
Best of luck,
David.

[gobsmax]

Hi David,

Thanks for the excellent reply. I managed to finally get the roll bar in. Started at 11am and finally got it finished @ 9pm at night!!! Had to cut the rear parcel tray which covered the cavity and drilled some new holes into the chassis. Bar is very sturdy and I have notice the rear of the car being a lot "stiffer", not so much body roll. I do think there are variations of this bar, but still very happy with it.

[davo]

Alan,
roll bar looks great. Certainly a much stronger installation with the braces going down there.
David.

[Shinigami!]

hey guys i didnt want to start a new topic for such a question but can anyone help me as to whether i will need a mod plate for a mazdaspeed rollbar? i'm from qld by the way. many thanks

[orx626]

hey guys i didnt want to start a new topic for such a question but can anyone help me as to whether i will need a mod plate for a mazdaspeed rollbar? i'm from qld by the way. many thanks

In one word, YES. You do require a modification plate and certificate....most important for insurance purposes as well.

Cheers,
Danny