Hey Guys, Just reviewing all the recent seat belt talk... was wondering how you mount a three point harness into a roadster? Any Ideas? The shoulder point is the one that I cant figure out... Danny
Well for it to even be effective you'd have to mount it to a frame mounted peice. Otherwise your the exect same as using a two point. I would say run a peice of pipe up through your body right behind the door thats attached to your frame then to the belt. Other than that I would say look at a new drop top and see what they did.
Check out how they do it in new convertibles. I've seen the same process done on a concours restored '57 Chrysler 300 convertible, and it looked awesome. (The concours judges will overlook seat belts) Another idea on a Roadster would be to check out how they mount seat 3-point seat belts in the rear seat area of new cars. Of interest would be how they do it on the new Chevy HHR. We took one apart at work, and I studied the rear seat 3-point system. They beef up the seat frame and mount the retractor inside the seat frame, with the belt exiting the top of the seat by the shoulder. Depending on the layout and style of seats on a roadster, you could mount the retractor behind the seat, under that filler panel area between the deck lid and the ****pit. -Brad
Juliano's site has a how to section. Not sure if it deals with mods for a roadster, but contact with them can probably be of value. Huey
Hi Guys, I dont think I'll be doing retractibles, just the standard adjustable 3 point harness. I think this requires some more thought on my behalf... Danny
not too much help, but the 3 points in the back of the Olds mount in the parcel tray, I guess its all going to depend on the height of your seats vs the body.......
Dan what about Lap belts? I'll be fitting laps only in mine once the EK hits the road. But I guess if you really want 3 point maybe make a roll bar (or steel frame) that sits behind the seat that runs up to the body and is adequetely braced. Unless of course this bracing is already there (it is in mine), add mounting plates for the upper part of the belt.
Im pretty sure the Miss Stickshift roadster has 3 point seatbelts - see last month's Crusin mag or go to Ozrodders.com Steve
Hi Mate, Ive got laps in there already but im worried about eating the steering wheel in even a moderate frontal impact. Thought if there was a relativly easy way then id go the three point. Danny
Ok Dan, then get in behind the seat and check out the steel situation, you probably will only need a little bit more bracing and it should be good to go.
Good question. If you do a three-point, consider that you now need a belt point over the outer shoulder of the occupant (I know, I am stating the obvious). The third point anchor doesn't have to be up high. It just has to reach up and over the person's shoulder. You could have a well-crafted hoop on the seatback to maintain its position, and anchor it to the floor. Current car seatbelt designs don't "load" the seat with that force on impact, so you could get away with a lower anchor if you leave the seatback movable. Hope that's too not confusing. Can't ya tell I work in automotive interiors?
Hi Hillbilly, Thanks for the reply. I had considered mounting it to the floor and running it up and over the seat but this will need some more thought. My shoulder is higher then the seat and I'm thinking the belt might compress the spine in an accident? Danny
Yup. Since I've got hair color to go warsh out......... Yank the panels in the boot to see what runs just beneath your catwalk. You'll want something that resembles a cross member running left to right in the car. Obviously it will be supported by the framework that constructs the sides of your car. If you yank the back of your bench seat, you'd hope to find a piece of plating........dear god, please let there be plating between YOU and the GAS TANK! I'd run them thru a cross member just below the cat walk and behind some plating. Use big washers and grade 8 bolts unless mounting hardware is provided. That should be enough to support your upper body upon impact. Installing them at an angle will make them pull back and to the mounting side ie. left or right. Lap belts alone are fine, but they tend to pull into your guts a bit more with out shoulder restraints and tear your innards....like livers and things. Your upper body and face will also have a personal relationship with your steering wheel, dash, windscreen and sometimes the force of the impact can pull you up and out of a lap belt. Shoulder restraints prohibit that. Brett, children ESPECIALLY come out of lap belts upon impact.
Not really a problem thats why the EK is being built, number two is due in about a month and the roadster will be for my enjoyment only till both are at least 4-5yo (by then it will have belts). The EK will be the famly truckster for events for a while, not too mention the roadster is now my daily driver it will need a break by the time the EK is finished... Did I mention its chilly this time of year I hate winter....
just to add another point. shoulder belts DON'T have to come over the outside shoulder. they can come over the inside (middle of the car) shoulder if it's easier to find a mounting point. later jim
Psycho, When I did the trim in X38's roadster we fitted 3 point (lap sash) belts into his car. The seat cushion was made as low as possible so they didn't cut into your shoulder too much. The squab (seat back) is contoured to the back of the ****pit area and I put notches in the timber of the seat framefor the belts to run inside. They are bolted to the body just below the top of the squab and hidden. I'm sure that X38 would have a photo of his mounts from before the seat was installed. PM him. Seat belts are ugly but a necessity - talk to Neil Stamp in Victoria who sells coloured belts and he is right up on the legalities for rego. Devil Rod, I have mounted retractable lap sash belts into my 53 Victoria and I also have 2 little ones. The rears are mounted in the boot on the inner guard with the pivot points on the parcel shelf and the front belts are hidden also. I've been in a heavy impact and there's no way I'd risk mine or my family's safety with lap belts in the off chance of some turd pulling out on you when your going for a cruise. NRMA have done a study that say youd be better off with no belts than lap only!
Yeah that's because they cause a tearing action on the body. They don't support the heavier part of a persons body......torso, arms, head...so on.
Yeah, thats why the EK is getting 3 pointers. After all the kids will be in that and not the roadster. Roadster will have a break and some mods done to it over the next couple of years and the more I hear and read 3 pointers as well!
Sorry mate, misread it the first time and thought you said the EK was getting lap only Mine's pillarless and I had a number of "discussions" with the engineer who said that the top mount was too low but he was happy with lap only. Ended up lowering the seat with new seat runners. I'm too tall anyhow
"Thanks for the reply. I had considered mounting it to the floor and running it up and over the seat but this will need some more thought. My shoulder is higher then the seat and I'm thinking the belt might compress the spine in an accident? " Yes, I think there would be some direct contact with the shoulder from the belt. In most current cars, the seatback is at shoulder height (or higher). I suppose you would either have to have a higher seatback, or mount your anchor point high enough to avoid that downward force at impact. Same idea as most roll cage mounted harnesses on the track.
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