Hey all I am stripping out my '03MCS to make it a dedicated track car, I have purchased an Autopower full bolt in cage, and a set of Sparco Seats/harnesses

I have researched the thread to put a resistor in the stock seat harness to keep from triggering the light, I understand that a 3.3 ohm 2 watt is used...?

Has anyone removed the side top airbags? If so what effect did it have and is a resistor required in the connector for the air bag canister harness?

My concern is two fold, #1 is if the airbag deployed would it deploy properly, or would the cage interfere and the force of the bag either distort the roof, or the cage? Secondly the canisters and bags surely weigh a few pounds each .....and we all now lighter is better.
Thanks for your input
Kumpie

 

Bump
Hello, anyone out there?

 

I kept my airbags installed, resistors worked for a while, light came back on ...go figure, I have lots of lights lit !!

I am by no means an expert on this ... I daily drive my sled, so I want em still in there, as far as bending the bar, etc. I doubt it

Have fun Steve .... See you in April at Mid Ohio with NASA ?

Phil

 

Thanks Phil, Minzila is gettin a complete redo, even yellow light protectors, they won't be able to tell us apart..........except you will be behind me....LOL. Come on up to the Man Cave Saturday.....makin a pot of Chili !



How about Onasled or R peterson, are you runnin with airbags?

 

Steve,

Keep to the left buddy ....LOL

Now that my exhaust isn't plugged by my CAT, see my pics, I go FAST , remeber when I lost 20 mph on the straights at Mid Ohio? Burned out my cat in my header and it lodged bacward into my exhaust

Those guys with FULL RACE setups take the bags out, switch steering wheels, etc ...

 

I removed all the airbags in my 2006 Race Car. here is a link to some photos
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...y.php?cat=1666

I used the same autopower cage. It will fit well in you 03 car, The airbags were not hard to remove, just getting to them. Make sure you have the big factory manual. The A, B and C pillars are a pain because you may have to break the clips to remove them. I few new clips and they will re -install. Cutting the holes for the rear tubes is a challange, but can be done nicely. I Installed a Cobra seat and am very happy with that. It is on the stock seat rails. I will be happy to answer any questions I can. Oh, BTW the airbag light and the seat belt light stay on all the time.

 

Dave
Thanks for the reply and the picture thread
I am not replacing my rear side panels, and have decided to remove the side /top air bag curtains,

Did you remove the front passenger bag while you had the dash off, and the steering wheel bag?
Thanks
for your help
Kumpie

 

Yes the steering wheel airbag is rmoved as well as the passenger side in the dash. One of the pictures shows the white hole at the top of the dash where the airbag was., I may have a few more pics of the installation. The rear side panels have to be removed to install the cage and get the rear tubes in. The headliner has to go back in first and then the cage can be set in and the rear tubes put through the rear side panels as it swings down. I installed the cage completley without the interior, then removed it and welded on all my tabs for the mirror, window net, etc, then repainted and reinstalled with the interior. It was a pain, but the end result looks good. You also need to modify the glove box if you want it to open. There are some more pics here: http://www.austintheen.com/gallery2/v/misc/racemini/

 

Thanks Dave it's all helpful, I have already removed the glove box and as stated am not putting the rear side panels back in, and maybe not the headliner as well?

Are there any tricks or helpful hints as to getting the dashboard and steering wheel cover to get at the front bags?

As you know firsthand a Disassembly guide would sure come in Handy, I am removeing the HK stereo which has been sold, and trying to get the darned wiring harness out also

As always any help is greatly appreciated
Kumpie

 

The worksop manual book http://www.minicarparts.net/Parts/MC04.cfm by Bentley has all the stuff you need to know on an 03 car to remove the dash. I followed the steps and it went very smooth. I got stumped on a few items that are different on the 05 and 06 cars from the earlier cars. and bought a haynes 05 manual for that. You need to follow all the steps to make simple.. I don't remember all the details right now.

 

Thanks Dave off to get a manual
Kumpie

 

Any progress report ? How's it coming ?

When will the cage be installed? Better get it ready by April :}

 

Hey Phil
The car is almost completely stripped, i removed the side top airbags and passnger front dash bag, in order to remove the steering wheel bag you loose the center of the wheel, for the time being I'm leaving it in place, but have pulled the fuse to deactivate the whole system..maybe will change the wheel later?
The Cage and seats are up at Detroittuned with Chad, and soon he will come to the Mancave to do the install. will post some pix soon, am anxious to get it done, there is a BMW school in April at Putnam, will send you details when it is open to registration

I have also bought a panaoramic cage mount rear view mirror(so I can see you better ), and will be putting in a fire suppression system and light weight battery.
Then I need to find a FR suit that will fit my big butt. Anyone got suggestions?

I removed the HK sound system as I had someone intersested in buying it. I spent about 5 hours trying to get the wiring harness and diversity antenna system out, but have given it up, as the harness goes up behind the dash and under the floor, too much additional dissassembly, so it stays in.
I may also switch out the Xenons with the GP so as to further lighten the car, and give better night vision to the GP.

If you want, come on over when we do the cage install, the Mancave is a good place to hang
Kumpie

 

When I raced & rallied I wore a Hinchman custom suit. They do great work & made a nice one that fit my beer keg stomach....just right.

http://www.hinchmanindy.com/

If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to come over & see your cage install. My car will be getting just a bar for now & seeing your cage would be quite helpful to me. Same rear bar I think.

 

Thanks for the tip on the Hinchman, Sure you can come over and watch the install, somebodys got to hold the beer!

PM me with your name and phone number and I'll give you a call when it goes down. Probably later in Jan?. Waiting on Doctor Chad..............paging Dr Chad............

 

Let me know when the install is ... I need a Dr. Chad Tune-Up as well and I can show you my already installed cage,

PS: Buy titanium or strong drill bits to drill the cage and frame holes, they break and wear out

 

Hey Phil the install is Jan 20/21 in Galion come on up, will have some Chili and Big Dogs on too. email me at pasngas@bright.net and I'll give you address and phone
Kumpie