Any of you doing any autocrossing (A Stock specifically) in an S2000, I've got a question.

I've been led to believe that without removing the soft top on an S2000, there is simply no way to fit a Solo 1 legal roll bar in an S2000. Has anyone on here tried to solve that problem?

I've seen some stuff online and in the S2000 archives here, and none of it looks like it'd pass a Solo 1 / HPDE tech in my area. I've seen the one over on pulpracing.com (thanks Bowie) that goes together with some sort of heim joints, that one doesn't look real good. "Viken" I think was the name of that one.

I've also seen one that looks like a Hard Dog double diagonal. The trouble with that one is, to my eye anyway, is that the top of the rollbar is closer to the front of the car than the bottom. My first thought was guillotine - this thing looked like it'd snap forward and cut your head off in a bad rollover. It also necissitated the removal of the factory roll hoops - I'm unclear as to the legality of this for A Stock autocross.

I've also talked to a respected local cage builder today who told me, in effect, no way.

So has anyone solved this problem? Or is it just unsolvable without removing the soft top? TIA.

 

I think the Elda Engineering bar would be Solo2 Stock legal. It lets you retain all interior body molding. You cannot push the driver seat all the way back with it installed though. So it might not work for you if you are tall...

http://marketplace.s2ki.com/s2...age=1

Andrew

 

Andrew this is exactly what I was looking for. Curiously, I didn't find that one searching the S2000 archives on here

Hrm. The list of excuses *not* to go get an S2000 may have just shrunk.

 

Do it.

 

Elda is not producing that roll bar. That have sold the design plans to Ludedude who runs the s2ki marketplace. He is in the process of finding a builder for those bars. I ordered mine back in January. The last update I got was the bar design was sent in for SCCA approval. They are still waiting for the result. This was about 2 months ago. I'm sure it has been approved. Contact username Ludedude on http://www.s2ki.com for anymore info and updates


^ all that applies to the new bar...version 2

Version 1 was made about 2 yrs ago and is SCCA approved. Its hard finding used ones as no one wants to part with it. If you are lucky enough to find someone selling theirs, expect to pay $ for it

 

Some talk about S2000 SCCA legal roll bars near the end of page one on this thread. Get in touch with "Tinker219" on here for more info.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1392240

 

Alright, the one on marketplace looks like it's got potential, though it's hideously expensive.

Here's a followup question. If a fabricator told me that the factory hoops have to be cut out to fit one (and I have not been told this, I'm just asking), to what degree does that impact my legality for A Stock?

 

karl...not to bag on you....but you are a bigger guy....have you driven one for any length?

i had fun with one on track...but seriously...dude i was CRAMPED....bad....not just length but width....and you aren't much bigger than me...

ride in jason franza's and i am just not comfortable in it....even for 25 minute ride home from hooping...

just my thoughts

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">karl...not to bag on you....but you are a bigger guy....have you driven one for any length?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have never even sat in one. A coworker is bringing his wife's in tomorrow, I'll be able to drive around in one then. I'm only 5'9" so I'm not too terribly worried about fitting in it, but tomorrow we'll know for sure.

 

I could be missing something in that picture, but I don't see any rear supports on that bar. IIRC it needs those to be Solo I legal.

But you don't *need* a bar for autocross Karl. Only if you decide to take it on track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I have never even sat in one. A coworker is bringing his wife's in tomorrow, I'll be able to drive around in one then. I'm only 5'9" so I'm not too terribly worried about fitting in it, but tomorrow we'll know for sure.</TD></TR></TABLE>

He means wide, not tall. I wear a 52" coat and I'm ubercramped in one.

 

Scott, you are missing them, they are there. Look a little bit left and above the pass side seat buckle thats above the door handle.

-Tom

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Only if you decide to take it on track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Exactly why I'm pursuing this. I think it'd make a fine DE car.

And people, I'm only a 36" waist, I'm not *that* out of shape...or is the car actually that small?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

And people, I'm only a 36" waist, I'm not *that* out of shape...or is the car actually that small?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just leave the top down, that's what I do. Helps living out here though

 

If you're OK in a Miata you're OK in this.

Scott, who was mildly cramped in his Miata and didn't care.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by trhoppe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, you are missing them, they are there. Look a little bit left and above the pass side seat buckle thats above the door handle.

-Tom</TD></TR></TABLE>

I see it now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alright, the one on marketplace looks like it's got potential, though it's hideously expensive.

Here's a followup question. If a fabricator told me that the factory hoops have to be cut out to fit one (and I have not been told this, I'm just asking), to what degree does that impact my legality for A Stock?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The hoops do not have to be cut. There is a part in the hoop plastic panel that must be cut for the roll bar. If you think the bar on the marketplace is expensive, go out to get some quotes. I have not gotten anything beloew 1200. It includes installation but they would literally fab it up so I would be without a car for about 2 weeks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nishant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The hoops do not have to be cut. There is a part in the hoop plastic panel that must be cut for the roll bar. If you think the bar on the marketplace is expensive, go out to get some quotes. I have not gotten anything below 1200. It includes installation but they would literally fab it up so I would be without a car for about 2 weeks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh don't get me wrong. What I meant (unless things have changed drastically over the last few years) is that *as bolt in rollbars in general go* this one is more expensive than most I'm familiar with (Hard Dog, Autopower).

The coworker that's bringing his in tomorrow took it to a local cagebuilder, with whom I talked on the phone today. He apparently *can* put one in but it was going to be such an ordeal he was going to have to charge and arm and a leg for it. So maybe you're right - I dunno, I'm not a cagebuilder.

I believe plastic and whatnot can be cut away in Solo to accomodate safety gear.

This is looking more and more likely the more I think about it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you're OK in a Miata you're OK in this.

Scott, who was mildly cramped in his Miata and didn't care.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i feel more cramped in a miata than in my s. if you're shorter than 6'3 you're be perfectly fine. width? i have a 33" waist and i fit just fine (i know, doesn't help much). seriously, get it. you'll love driving to work every day. sorry, can't help with your rollbar plans.

 

I'm 6'1", 215lbs and I fit fine in mine. Get it. You will love it.

I do not understand why someone else has not developed another reasonable roll bar for the car. There are a ton of them being used for track cars. I swore I would never buy anything from "The Go-Fast Labs" ever again.

 

OK I *think* I've got the rollbar thing sorted out. Let me see if I've got some of the things I think I've got straight.

Year to get is 2002: has the good gearing, the 2.0L motor, and 02 had a glass rear window. The diff is some sort of weak point at high power levels, which won't be a factor with an A Stock car.

Do they all come with a LSD? If not, how do you spot one?

Thanks guys. This is helping a lot.

 

lsd = standard, this ain't no miata.

 

i have an '01 just because I had to have the combo of white exterior w/ black/red interior. that said, the glass rear window is such an awesome feature of the 02+ that i'm considering dropping the grand to swap mine out.

all cars have lsd, and the 2.0 is the better motor.

when you go to test drive make sure the diff isn't making any sort of clicking noise, they are known to go bad if abused.

there was also a service bulletin on the clutches, but if you're out of warranty period you're out of luck. if you notice a pretty loud hum when engine braking, your car has the original clutch. it isn't a problem, but an annoyance.

other things to check for? obviously check that the top work properly. if it has an aftermarket head unit be sure your dash audio control still work. check for aftermarket front speakers. if they aren't installed, you're going to have to budget for them.

that's all i've got for now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Year to get is 2002: has the good gearing, the 2.0L motor, and 02 had a glass rear window. The diff is some sort of weak point at high power levels, or 8000 rpm side-stepped clutch drops that are "necessary" for ProSolos.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Fixed for ya.

Agree on all points about size of S2000s... I fit fine at 6'2", 34" waist, but I hate driving it with the top up. Can't see traffic lights ever. I also haven't driven one longer than 20 minutes...

Andy

 

ooh you bring up good points! carl is 5'9 so the stoplight issue isn't a concern, but is a minor annoyance if you're tall.

driving one for an extended period is a non-issue unless you're tall (like me) and subsequently cannot straighten your legs unless you put your feet behind the pedals (yes, i do it on occassion, sue me)