300ZX Tech: Rollbar, Seats, Harnesses

**JohnC** · 03-10-2005, 07:49 PM

Ok, not much tech here either. Just some pics of my recently installed AutoPower rollbar, Evo 2 seats, and 6-point harnesses.

The rollbar, fresh from IOPort Racing. I took the seats out and made sure things would fit okay.
[Image: IMG_3024.sized.jpg]

Painted - 1 coat of gray primer, 2 coats of black. Took about 3 hours total of adjusting and drilling holes to get the damn thing in. Autopower supplies grade 5 hardware, I replaced it all with grade 8 from Lowes.
[Image: IMG_3028.sized.jpg]

Heres the seats and harnesses installed. Custom (from scratch) brackets and installation from Piper Motorsports. This included 4 extra brackets welded to the frame for the lap belts:
[Image: IMG_3029.sized.jpg]

Shameless pic-whoring:
[Image: IMG_3030.sized.jpg]

Overall, the new seats and mounting get me about 1.5" lower than the stock seating position. And, of course, it will hold me in position without requiring me to brace against the door. Life is good.

.RJ · 03-10-2005, 08:31 PM

As former owner of those seats, I demand one sesson on track in them! Big Grin

**JohnC** · 03-10-2005, 08:37 PM

.RJ Wrote:As former owner of those seats, I demand one sesson on track in them!

You've already left enough brown stains on the seats, no more...

**Mike** · 03-10-2005, 09:14 PM

damn that looks 10x easier than in the civic... looks good!

white_2kgt · 03-10-2005, 11:06 PM

nice blue seats ricer!

--chad

**Mike** · 03-11-2005, 12:11 AM

curious, why isn't the crossbar welded straight to the main hoop?

PDenbigh · 03-11-2005, 12:53 AM

probably for installtion reasons.

**JohnC** · 03-11-2005, 01:19 AM

PDenbigh Wrote:probably for installtion reasons.

Bingo.

white_2kgt · 03-11-2005, 08:24 AM

PDenbigh Wrote:probably for installtion reasons.

Sounds like someone's installed one of those before Smile

--chad

**Mike** · 03-11-2005, 10:31 AM

i'm not seeing how it would be any harder to install with the bars welded straight up... are the crossbar and diagonal now removeable? help me see it!

**JohnC** · 03-11-2005, 10:39 AM

Mike Wrote:i'm not seeing how it would be any harder to install with the bars welded straight up... are the crossbar and diagonal now removeable? help me see it!

The crossbar is just for the harnesses. It was an optional piece. The diagonal is removable for ease of installation. Yes it could be installed with the diagonal in place, but easier to do without. To get it into the car, you end up lowering one end (and almost putting the leg *under* the car to get over the center hump) and tilting it forward. Those pictures don't show very well how high the door sills are. You're blocked above by the t-roof. It wasn't too difficult, but was definitely made easier by taking out the diagonal brace. Almost forgot, the diagonal brace also blocks the bolt hole for the base plate on the passenger side - so we had to actually remove it *again* to get the bolts in. Clear as mud, right?

**Mike** · 03-11-2005, 10:55 AM

heh, i'll have to see it to believe it. the diagonal just doesn't look as sturdy as one welded straight to the hoop... the little buckle thing looks like an obvious point of failure/weakness... but what do i know? anyone with welding/metalworking experience?

BLINGMW · 03-11-2005, 10:56 AM

looks hot! Definatly better than in the R. :wink:

PDenbigh · 03-11-2005, 12:46 PM

Mike Wrote:heh, i'll have to see it to believe it. the diagonal just doesn't look as sturdy as one welded straight to the hoop... the little buckle thing looks like an obvious point of failure/weakness... but what do i know? anyone with welding/metalworking experience?

It might be weaker. Welding would be easy if the car didnt' have carpet/interior, but without welding blankets all over the place you will burn the car down (Sound familiar Chad?). At least that's my proposal ;-)

.RJ · 03-11-2005, 12:58 PM

Mike Wrote:heh, i'll have to see it to believe it. the diagonal just doesn't look as sturdy as one welded straight to the hoop... the little buckle thing looks like an obvious point of failure/weakness...

Those pin joints are nearly as strong as a welded joint - if a grade-8 bolt like that mounted in double shear fails then you have much, much bigger problems to worry about. Actually you wont be worrying, because your lid will be crushed.

white_2kgt · 03-11-2005, 03:26 PM

PDenbigh Wrote:
Mike Wrote:heh, i'll have to see it to believe it. the diagonal just doesn't look as sturdy as one welded straight to the hoop... the little buckle thing looks like an obvious point of failure/weakness... but what do i know? anyone with welding/metalworking experience?

It might be weaker. Welding would be easy if the car didnt' have carpet/interior, but without welding blankets all over the place you will burn the car down (Sound familiar Chad?). At least that's my proposal ;-)

yea, you know all about welding with the interior in place! I got some bondo the other day btw Smile

--chad

**Chris** · 03-14-2005, 12:24 AM

damn the things you miss being on spring break!!

looks awesome John!

So I guess you're under the bar now with a helmet on?

**JohnC** · 03-14-2005, 12:37 AM

Chris Wrote:damn the things you miss being on spring break!!

looks awesome John!

So I guess you're under the bar now with a helmet on?

Yup.

**JohnC** · 03-22-2005, 04:06 PM

And a quick followup - this setup was perfect at Road Atlanta. I don't have a bruise on my knee from bracing against the door, and I didn't hit the t-top at all, even with the helmet on. Being sucked down into the seat and supported laterally made a huge difference in being able to control the car. My instructor was also very complementary on the setup.

Well worth the $$$ and trouble.

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