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Growing up, my Dad had a sailboat. He used to say that the definition of a sailboat was a hole in the water that you throw money into. When I started taking my car to the track, my friends said: you know what they call this? Track Crack!
I had hard dog make a bar for my r53 sunroof car, I think he did a template but not sure, I used him because I wanted the rear supports to mount to the shock tower area so I could retain the entire hatchback area, could also retain seats
I had hard dog make a bar for my r53 sunroof car, I think he did a template but not sure, I used him because I wanted the rear supports to mount to the shock tower area so I could retain the entire hatchback area, could also retain seats
Initially, it was a really close call between Sneed and Hard Dog. The only reason Sneed won was because Hard Dog had a 3 week fab time. Ultimately, Sneed took 3 weeks to ship an inferior product that had to be returned. When I called Hard Dog to place the order after the Sneed4speed debacle, the lead time had increased to 5 weeks. Kind of a bummer because the Hard Dog kit looks to be great quality. Definitely night and day between that and Sneed. Since I was already behind 3 weeks (thanks Sneed) I had to explore other options.
I reached out to some NASA track mates for advice on local stuff and got turned on to Top Garage. This actually works really well because when I pull the sunroof and go to a full cage next year, he can use the existing hoop and rear brace. I. Am. So. Excited.
I think this is a really smart way to do the build and install. Have someone local to do the whole thing, even if it is done in sections. Looking forward to pictures...
FWIW - The bar I have mounts the rear brace bars to the rear seat latch mounts. That is likely less than to “code” but the idea of the bar was to be removable with no extra holes drilled. We rationalized this brace mounting location as being acceptable with the idea that the rear brace bars are to keep the hoop upright in a rollover, and figured this area is already pretty strong from having to hold the seats in place for a front end crash....
Time to get painting. Still need to get rid of the sunroof and figure out a timeline for turning this into a six point cage. Top Garage really nailed it. I’m actually happy that the Sneed4Speed roll bar was such a pile of garbage that I sent it back and paid a professional to do this right.
Is that supposed to be removable?
You do realize that is probably stronger than the rest of the car!
Do you realize how much that is going change the stiffness of the car and how it handles?
What, no seats?
Does Rob know the inside of your car is blue?
Now where are you going to mount the spare tire?
No, really, how many months did it take them to make that?
Ummmm you’re going to paint over that work of art?
Really nicely done!
A serious question - Why no cross brace on the hoop section? Or did I miss it in the pictures?
He knocked it out in one day! We messaged back and forth on Thursday, and I drove up to Atlanta on Friday morning. Put it all back together and drove home Friday night! And yes, it is noticeably stiffer
So we couldn’t do a diagonal because of my seating position. He had to bend the harness bar around the seats, so the diagonal would ave been sketchy. I’m going to adjust the seats a little more forward and he’ll add the diagonal and adjust the harness bar as necessary when we go to a full cage. Planning on going all in sometime me in January or February, it’s way too hot to be doing anything in the garage
My bolted-in bar made a noticeable difference in stiffness, which I didn’t expect given that it was “just bolted”. With the added stiffness, I thought it might change how the back of the car handles vs the front, but it stayed pretty even. I expect yours will be to your liking.
Now, time to put the seats in and get that thing to the track!
I feel so connected now. It is an absolutely awesome feeling and I cannot wait to get back to the track. Besides removing the headliner and like, 90% of the sound dampening material, I also removed the rear speakers to get the sound insulation out of the wheel well. The sound in this car is unreal. Every creak, every squeak, the sound of sand and gravel hitting the fender liners, the rattling and vibration from the solid motor mounts, the exhaust, when you lift, the sound of the turbo recirculating contrasting with the violence of the banging and popping, the cacophony of mechanical noise. This is the car I dreamed of as a boy. Ear plugs are a must, but damn I am in love.
Last edited by scotty_r56s; Aug 17, 2020 at 10:54 AM.
So we couldn’t do a diagonal because of my seating position. He had to bend the harness bar around the seats, so the diagonal would ave been sketchy. I’m going to adjust the seats a little more forward and he’ll add the diagonal and adjust the harness bar as necessary when we go to a full cage. Planning on going all in sometime me in January or February, it’s way too hot to be doing anything in the garage
A diagonal was not required in my 2003 R53 because the ceiling box is so small. The car is NASA and BMWCCA race legal.
What are you doing for wheels and tires? You have probably have said, but my feeble brain might have deleted that info...
I’ll let you know what I think of the Falkens, if your thought is to go with a 200TW tire.
Thanks! Top Garage in Buford GA! Chris did an excellent job on the roll bar. I was pretty stoked when the wife wanted to help mask and paint on Sunday, I thought for sure she had about enough of me being the garage!
Right now I'm on Konig Hyper Gram 17x8 ET+45 with Hankook Ventus RS-4 224/45 zr17. I have 15mm spacers up front and 5mm in the rear. I think it would be better with 20mm all around, but then that means longer wheel studs, trimming the fender metal and adding flares. It can wait a month
Originally Posted by Alan
A diagonal was not required in my 2003 R53 because the ceiling box is so small. The car is NASA and BMWCCA race legal.
That's great to know! I'd rather not mess with the seat position. To add a diagonal, I'd have to move forward. Now that I know leaving it out is an option, it makes life a little less complicated.
I read though your list of stuff. I would highly suggest more camber in the rear. You need to balance the rear with the front to keep it from wanting to swap ends. I would recommend the stock setting or more, which I think is about -2.25 deg. I have about that on mine and have wear to the tread edge markers. Anything much less than that and the tire could roll enough to put you on the sidewall. On a front tire that means the car will understeer. On a rear tire it means that the car will swap ends.
I read though your list of stuff. I would highly suggest more camber in the rear. You need to balance the rear with the front to keep it from wanting to swap ends. I would recommend the stock setting or more, which I think is about -2.25 deg. I have about that on mine and have wear to the tread edge markers. Anything much less than that and the tire could roll enough to put you on the sidewall. On a front tire that means the car will understeer. On a rear tire it means that the car will swap ends.
I totally agree. I checked the tire temps with a pyrometer last event, and I was happy with how they were pretty even across the tire. However, she does get a little too loose for my liking in the rear. I'll add some camber and give it a shot!
@scotty_r56s
Im also in GA, are you in an emissions county? I picked up my first MCS last Friday with the intention of making it a track car (happy I found this thread!) I’d still like it to be emissions legal. I used to have a street/track e36 and miss the track.
I’ve known Chris for years, he was on my list for my cage!
No emissions testing where I’m at. From what I understand Mario’s @MarioKart (mqubed_motirsports on IG) downpipe and tune will pass emissions testing. Are you in any of the Atlanta MINI groups? If you have any questions about the car or want to check it out in person, let me know!
No emissions testing where I’m at. From what I understand Mario’s @MarioKart (mqubed_motirsports on IG) downpipe and tune will pass emissions testing. Are you in any of the Atlanta MINI groups? If you have any questions about the car or want to check it out in person, let me know!
thanks!
Unfortunately I’m not in any group for anything anymore since I don’t have Facebook. I do have IG (added you last night)
Kind of a bummer because the Hard Dog kit looks to be great quality. Definitely night and day between that and Sneed. Since I was already behind 3 weeks (thanks Sneed) I had to explore other options.
