Harness installation question

[Peter Empson]

We trial fitted the half cage and 6pt harness today, however we're not entierly sure where in the car the crotch strap should be attached. We think the standard seat belt mounting point is ideal for the lap belt on one side and we wondering if it's ok to attach the crotch strap to the same eyelet? There don't seem to be an hard edges under the seat, so the belt isn't in any danger. A mirror image will be mounted on the transmission tunnel if this is ok. Here's a pic of what we're trying to do, is this a good idea? The installation instructions I have are rather useless.

 

[Big Dave]

Pete.
Idealy the crotch strap should go straight down not forward or back....
Ive mounted a thin but stiff bar on the underside of the runners + wrapped the crotch belt round that.. It does lift the seat slightly, but it works great.It moves back + forth with the seat...
Otherwise fit a eye bolt directly below the hole in the seat , into the floor of the car...

 

[Peter Empson]

Nice one, thanks Dave that's a great help, I knew something didn't seem quite right.

 

[edh]

about time you fitted that cage - I seem to remember you just beat Dave to buy it from me, early in 2005

 

[Fen]

I agree with Dave. I didn't actully get round to fitting my crotch straps, but my plan was (is?) to use an eye under the seat so it mounts through the floor. My seats are bolted directly to the floor so I don't have to worry about the mounting positions moving (nor any short people being able to drive my car, I guess)

 

[John Sims]

I agree that directly under the hole in the seat would be the place to fix it so it isn't bearing on the seat at all.

However, I have heard comment that it should be rearwards to stop submarining. In this case it depends on how the straps are tensioned. If the shoulder and waist belts locate themselves firmly (so you don't need a crotch strap) then the crotch strap can be relatively loose. In this case I agree that its only purpose is anti submarining and could be fitted even behind the seat. It's not a theory I tend to agree with.

To me this seems a waste as IMHO the further advantage of the crotch strap is to hold you in place if you become upside down. This being the case directly under the hole is the best place.

I used to have my strap tight as it meant I could get greater tension on the should straps without having the waist straps crushing me.

If you are using the crotch strap as a tensioning strap not just an antisubmarine strap it needs to be as securely fixed as the rest of the staps as, if the mounting breaks, the whole harness will slacken.

 

[Lancerlot]

The crotch strap eyelet needs to be fixed to an anchor plate that, ideally, should to be welded to the underside of the floor. The belt supplier should be able to supply a suitably threaded plate.
Regards,
Clive

 

[Peter Empson]

Thanks for all the help.

I bought plenty of FIA approved mounting plates so we're ok there, my only concern about mounting them on the underside of the car is what happens if you catch something on the road with them and they rip out? I imagine it's pretty unlikely but nonetheless the thought made my eyes water...

The plates are effectively just a nut tack welded to a square of metal, so they would stick out below the car by 15mm or so I guess - am I being paranoid?

 

[Lancerlot]

Hi Peter,
Weld the plate with the nut inside the cabin and shorten the eyelet so that it doesn't protrude beyond the reinforcing plate beneath the floor if you are concerned about damage due to low ride height OWHY.
Regards,
Clive

 

[Big Dave]

Pete.
You being paranoid.....[][][]

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: Big Dave UK

Pete.
You being paranoid.....[][][]

Fair enough!
Thanks for all the responses, I'll have a chat with Alan and make sure we get it properly mounted up. The cage should be back in a couple of days with the harness bar and diagonal welded in, so next week we should get the rest of the harness fitment finalised.

Ed, I can't quite believe I've had the cage since 2005! Shows how long I'd been putting off getting the bodywork done []

 

[Big Dave]

Pete. You mention you are having the harness bar + diagonal welded to you roll bar...
Can you then still get a full set of tyres etc in the car once the cage is fitted. I know i cant, thats why my H bar + diagonal is going to be removable....Just a thought.????

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: Big Dave UK

Pete. You mention you are having the harness bar + diagonal welded to you roll bar...
Can you then still get a full set of tyres etc in the car once the cage is fitted. I know i cant, thats why my H bar + diagonal is going to be removable....Just a thought.????

Thanks Dave, that had crossed my mind and I'm not sure if it will be possible to be honest, the diagonal doesn't go too far back but it's always been a tight squeeze. I decided to weld it in for two reasons, I want to minimise the bar creaking too much (not sure if this will be an issue) and given that there isn't likely to be any trim inside the car it was going to be difficult to put tyres in without damaging the paint anyway. I could remove the passenger seat (a 2 second job now there's no 3 point seat belt to worry about) so if I regret the decision there's still a possible solution.

I have also toyed with the idea of towing the car to track, either with the 944S or the van, but think I'll just try some Toyo 888's as a compromise between slicks and road use for the time being.

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: Peter Empson


Ed, I can't quite believe I've had the cage since 2005! Shows how long I'd been putting off getting the bodywork done []

actually, now I think about it, it was early 2006 - still ages though []

 

[Peter Empson]

The half cage is finished and fitted []. The guy sorted the harness bar has done a beautiful job, the welds are really neat. But the best thing is its been painted in the new body colour and to my great relief looks as nice as I remember. Now this is done the anti submarine strap bolts are going to be fitted into the floor and another part of the project is done [].

 

[Fen]

Looks good.

From a paint protection perspective I have some tyre "bags" that I got after seeing some Dave had. They are basically nylon and canvas things that you put round the tyre and Velcro up. They cover the tyre completely and also the outer half of the rim leaving a hole in the middle, so protecting the boot from the wheels and making the whole thing cleaner to handle. They also have a handle so it's easier to pick the wheels up. I got mine from Stuart at K300.

 

[Peter Empson]

Thanks Fen, that's a really good idea. I vaguely remember reading something about those before, might just have to invest in a set soon.