Miata Mailing List: July 1996, Message #170
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   From: "Ara B. Malkhassian" 
Subject: RE: brace
   Date: Tue, 2 Jul 1996 15:45:54 -0400

Gus, you asked: Is that (cockpit) brace adaptable to my 90?

It depends.... I just did it. I recommend that you do NOT do it.

The problems:

1) Existing tower hole too small and not threaded. You have to take 
apart the entire seatbelt mechanism and drill out the hole (fairly 
easy) and use a nut and bolt system to put the bar in (fairly easy).

2) You have to cut out the plastic tower covers (fairly hard) to 
accomodate the bar's mounts.

3) You have to slip the tower cover in place while the bar is 
installed (VERY HARD!!!) becuase of the nut/bolt combo not allowing 
the cover to install properly. You end up cutting the part up pretty 
badly just to get it to fit. Its really frustrating. This is only if 
you don't break the cover (both of mine nearly did).

4) Then you have to file down the bar's covers because they are 
designed to have a lot of air space below them which doesn't exist in 
this application (fairly easy).

5) Finally, you have to file down the seatbelt anchor covers because 
they interfere with the bar.

In retrospect, I would have bought an aftermarket bar that connects 
the two seatbelt anchors. I'm sure its a lot cheaper too. I was able 
to buy a used 94+ bar, but new ones with hardware are almost $200.

Good luck!

Ara