Hi all, Miata Noob from Seattle here
 

Salutations,

Picked up my first Miata last month: went to go look at a "1996 (base) Miata with a hardtop and a roll bar" and it turned out to be a '97 STO with a paint-matched hardtop and a style bar. The car was in pretty rough shape when I got it, I've been slowly cleaning and restoring the interior, and will probably move onto the exterior when we have a reasonably temperate dry day up here.
Haven't modified the car yet, although I'll be sorting out the handling with a set of Xidas, IL hardened rubber bushings, and a torsen to get the most out of the rear wheels. Not really concerned with power until I get the handling sorted out, although I might go ahead and get a bp4w/bp5a head mounted on the block for a few extra hp, and to get ready for boost.
Hope to see you all around!

Need a torsen? I got one in Portland :)

Welcome! Any plans to track the car?

Welcome. Im just in Shorewood (fancy dancy White Center) Got any pics of the car.

Definitely don't cage it at first :) Just put a rollbar in it and get some seat time, I promise you won't regret it!

What roll bar is in it now? Boss Frog or Hard Dog; or is it just a style bar?

If Boss Frog or Hard Dog, properly installed, then it should be OK.

My mom bought a NA with the Blackbird Fabworks bar which I had been lusting over (bar not the car). Once I sat in her car, I did not like that bar as it made rear visibility difficult. Your height and/or the seats you are running may adjust the impact, but you may want to see if you can sit in a local car with one installed before ordering. I love the look of the gussets, etc of the bar, but I'm leaning towards different style diagonals with better visibility. Just something to think about.

Josh

Ill trade you my hard dog double diagonal for your BFW

If mirror visibility is a concern, the Hard Dog with the double diagonals (can't speak for any others) isn't the best if you are over 5'9... Anything below is fine, but take my opinion lightly. This is coming from a guy who has stickers covering his back window and removed the center rear view mirror. A look over the shoulder works just as well if not better for me.

I'm 6' and it doesn't bug me a bit

I am 6 foot 1 and have no problems with the hard dog with double diagonals. Actually really good. And my aluminum seat is bolted flat to the floor now.

I'm 5'6" and I fit everything :D

Thanks for the advice,
I'm 5'8", so I'm not terribly concerned about visibility.
That blackbird fabworks bar sure is sexy, but I'm leaning towards the zerekfab double diagonal bar with the Hard dog in a close second.
I'm in the market for 15x6 wheels, aside from the 15x6 6ULs from 949 and the stock 99-00 5 spoke wheels, any suggestions for something lighter than the stock 14.5lb Enkeis I have on the car in the same price range as the 6ULs? Seems like there's a pretty steep jump after the 6ul to save an extra pound or two per corner...

Friend i will trade you fro my Hard dog double diagonal and install it for your BFW bar

15x8s :D

ya, you dont want 6 inch wheels.

This ^ If you're dead set on 6 inch wheels for whatever reason, do it. But my advice as well as these two would be at least an 8 inch wheel. That will allow you to at least get into the 2xx width tires and it is so worth it! Depending on the offset, you really don't even need to roll, pull, or even touch your fenders either. Although, it never hurts to roll them..!