Ok so in the Bay Area we've had a rash of Hardtop thefts and in looking for a possible solution to the problem someone suggested that you bolt down the front instead of using the latches. Apparently this is something the miata racers do when they track. Has anyone here, that runs a permanent hardtop, bolted the top down. If so what brackets did you use?

Since hardtops are not generally taken on and off daily, bolting it down(using theft resistant bolts) may be an effective theft deterrent. Curious to find out feasibility of bolting a hardtop down.

Of course those of you that do it for tracking does it make a performance difference for you? Thanks!

Figured I'd post in Racing and Comp since most people who would have bolted the HT down would be here.

 

Most of the bolted hardtops in R&C are going to be a bolted to a flange welded to the cage. Basically you'd have remove the striker base plate and the striker assy on the hardtop and then make a custom plate to go between the two.

For street use I'd imagine getting the gap at the windshield header would be tricky but key for leak resistance and eliminating wind noise.

 

Actually making the brackets is fairly easy to do and get them to seal correctly. For most race classes you are NOT allowed to bolt the hardtop to the cage. I made some pretty simple brackets for Rylan's and Will's car we built their cages.

-tony
TC Design

 

Very interesting.....So do you have any pics of the install. There actually might be interest in the BayArea for a bunch of these to secure hardtops especially Carbon Fiber ones.

 

CF?!?!

They're a peice of sheet metal. I'm sure tony can make more, but the are NOT designed for looks.

 

You realize that carbon fiber brackets are like using tin foil for your front door?

 

[QUOTE=krazik,Nov 8 2004, 06:19 PM]

 

That makes more sense then.

 

oh!!! . thats much better. I was worried.

Tony did make me a pink set tho.

 

OOOoooooh...can he make one in fuschia....cause that'll match my interior then