Miata Mailing List: September 1998, Message #102

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Will Brown wrote:
> 
> On  1 Sep 98 at 16:55, Jason and Satori <jgarcia@pacbell.net> wrote:
> 
> >  The bar was the best fit that Aaron had ever seen, with all 4
> > connection areas fitting nicely, nothing more than 1/4" off
> 
> Care to expand on this part?  As in, how did you make it fit?  The
> last post I read about installing a HD bar mentioned something about
> using a handy-dandy plasma torch or something?
> 
> 

I completed the installation of my Hard Dog, Hard Core, the misalignment 
on mine was closer to a half inch, including some twist from one side to 
the other.  It would probably be easier to address a second time, but 
the first time through took me four hours just to get the four 
pre-drilled holes all lined up and bolted!  Then the rear support plates 
and  backing plates would not install as described in the instructions, 
fortunately reversing the backing plates, and installing the rear 
diagonals about 1/2" inboard from where the instructions called for, did 
the trick.  About the only thing that worked according to plan, were the 
bottem main hoop brackets and backing plates, which were drilled in 
placed.

All said and done, I'm pleased with the the hard core, and believe it 
does stiffen up the chassis.  Several local SCCA autocrossers have made 
favorable comments at last weekend's events.  

So it appears there is a range of tolerance from one installation to 
another.  Mine appears to be toward the outside of acceptable, but I 
made it work.  Hope you have better luck and less frustration if you 
decide to install one.  Find someone who has been through it before to 
perhaps save you from the first time frustrations.

Robert