V8 Roadster frame rails an install odyssey...

[The Driver]

Installed the V8Roadsters frame rails @ Skip Cannon's place, with the help of Carl, Daryl and "Bear".

I bought this frame rails over a 1.5 years ago, while visiting the fam in Tampa. I drove from Tulsa, OK, where I lived at the time (Colorado Springs, was were I bought the '02 Tacoma) to Tampa.

I somehow forgot to pick them up, and when I was ready to have them ship, they sold my set to someone else. Because of that, they paid for the shipping to Tulsa.


I never really had a chance to install them, and frankly I'm glad as even with Skip's assistance, the full lift that he has at his shop, and air tools; it still took close to 3.5 hours to finish.


First the seats need to be unplugged and removed. Then the carpeting needs to be either removed or at least put out of the way.

The frame on The Driver's side needs no special care, just drilled the holes and install the rail. My cars "factory rails" were in really good shape, so there was no need to hammer them into submission, but I've heard others having to do this.


The passenger side... Well the fuel and brake lines + the ECU are on that side, so I had to be REALLY careful not to mess anything up. Skip "reworked" the brackets so as to use them again. He also, on Carl's advice, cut the end of the bolt that was closest to the rear tire, so as to avoid adding pressure of friction to the lines.


Also the chrome door sills got a bit bent during removal, but Carl is a former Jaguar restoration specialist, so he got the aluminium as straight as a Cherokee arrow.


Unfortunately, since it took so long to get done, Skip wanted me to leave his premises, so a test drive without the hard top was not done.


But on my way back home, the first thing I noticed was how little noise was coming from the cabin, so much so, I lowered the radio volume! The whole car just felt "crisper" and "tighter", specially over pot holes, and road imperfections. My FCM coilovers could do their thing, while the rails added integrity to the structure.

One or two complaints though. I have seen the Flyin Miata frame rails, and not only are their rails stainless steel, they are heavier than V8R's. It is quite possible that due to weight, they are stronger + with the FM ones, you could always install the "butterfly" later on.


Regardless, the frame rails are HIGHLY Recommended!

[cbaylis77]

Great review. I just picked up some Hard Dog door bars but I think I'll still get some rails because my under carriage is pretty beat.

[—tsingson—]

This kinda helps me because I have a set of Boss Frog frame rails sitting in the garage and I was really tempted to just sell them. If you did notice a slight difference then maybe I will throw them on the car. I know parts of my frame rails will need some "massaging".

[The Driver]

Actually , it was more than a slight difference, so long as the hard top is on. I can't wait to drive it w/o the top!

[—tsingson—]

Hopefully, I will be installing the rails sometime this summer.

[The Driver]

^ Make sure you get an extra set of hands, or it will take you an entire weekend.

[Pyr0monk3y]

Hopefully, I will be installing the rails sometime this summer.

Don't sell them, it's not a difficult job. It just takes a while. On your car it should be easy.

The worst part for me was having to fix all the rust I discovered under my carpet. Also, no one was around to help me remove the hardtop. This made it hard as hell to work on the interior.

PM me when you plan on tackling them. I'll be glad to help.

[The Driver]

Don't sell them, it's not a difficult job. It just takes a while. On your car it should be easy.

The worst part for me was having to fix all the rust I discovered under my carpet. Also, no one was around to help me remove the hardtop. This made it hard as hell to work on the interior.

PM me when you plan on tackling them. I'll be glad to help.

Shoot him a PM, I believe has them for sale.

[BlitzWing]

interesting I've never really looked at frame rails as being something worth the time but if they really do lower noise and make everything sharper I might have to look into it.

[The Driver]

interesting I've never really looked at frame rails as being something worth the time but if they really do lower noise and make everything sharper I might have to look into it.

Three weeks ago I installed the Flyin Miata shock tower brace. Now the hard top hardly makes a difference in stiffness. That combo is that good!

[BlitzWing]

Three weeks ago I installed the Flyin Miata shock tower brace. Now the hard top hardly makes a difference in stiffness. That combo is that good!

I've got the Mazda brace that came with the car. I've been told its more of a cosmetic item then an actual functional part. Apparently the factory set up does not really benefit from it. Not to sure how much truth is in that but the guy who told me that seemed to be a keen racer... or so he says.

I can believe a whole package of parts would do wonders I guess the only real way to be sure is to try it out myself.

[The Driver]

Yes, I too have been told that it was a cosmetic thing. Think about it, our cars are missing a roof, which in most cars is the stiffest section. That means that every brace helps, particularly in the front end. To anyone that says otherwise, I tell them to drive over railroad track with and without the STB. A good, high quality one, not an ebay special. Then they can talk to me, the torsional rigidity is so obvious, that it is non-believer proof!