Title: Rear seat belt mountings
gtmdriver - September 27, 2009 03:25 PM (GMT)
Can anyone post a photograph showing the location of the rear seat belt mountings on the chassis.
Mine are definitely non-standard.
Paul - September 28, 2009 05:05 PM (GMT)
Here's where they mount on my Fug 4 :
Paul - September 28, 2009 05:06 PM (GMT)
Tigger - September 28, 2009 06:37 PM (GMT)
There was nothing on mine either I welded a support across the chassis just behind and a little lower than the top of the seats, it helps to strengthen the chassis's urge to twist under load as well... B)
gtmdriver - September 28, 2009 06:38 PM (GMT)
Thanks for that.
That's definitely not where mine are.
Knighty - September 30, 2009 12:17 PM (GMT)
the location of pauls is about where you want em - high up - I previously had mine mounted on the floor, then had a think about it and realised if I had a big crash - all they will do is pivot about the attachment point - not good - so I have both of my upper straps linked to one M10 bolt which is screwed into an insert that I had made at a machine shop, then welded in place, I used an M10 bolt with the longest amount of blank-shank possible, as if the thread goes all the way to the head they will just act as stress raisers if you have a shunt and the bolt may shear off - worst case scenario I know........ heres a drawing for the insert and how it looks on my fug


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gtmdriver - September 30, 2009 01:38 PM (GMT)
That's interesting.
I'd assumed that a 3 point harness would need a central fixing point for the rear mount.
100bob - September 30, 2009 07:36 PM (GMT)
I done the same as Tigger, bar across the back, weld eyes to it! I assume Tigger must have tabs of whatever on the frame at the back corners of the bottom of the seat same as I have. These things really need a harness to look the part, but the mounting points on the harness must be central to the seat. Do not fix both top ones to the side frame or if you do crash the strap towards the centre of the car will have a longer distance of travel to tension and will try to cut you head off ( think about it carefully )
Knighty - October 1, 2009 10:05 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (100bob @ Sep 30 2009, 07:36 PM) |
| I done the same as Tigger, bar across the back, weld eyes to it! I assume Tigger must have tabs of whatever on the frame at the back corners of the bottom of the seat same as I have. These things really need a harness to look the part, but the mounting points on the harness must be central to the seat. Do not fix both top ones to the side frame or if you do crash the strap towards the centre of the car will have a longer distance of travel to tension and will try to cut you head off ( think about it carefully ) |
that implies any side mounted upper seat belt anchor point will cut your head off!!!.......I did want to do the bar thing on mine but it would have blocked off my rear boot / storage.......I'm quite sure what I have done is completley safe B)
100bob - October 2, 2009 12:18 PM (GMT)
I was refering to 4 point harnesses only, as that is the belt setup in question. The seatbelts in almost all our regular cars are three point. Putting the top fixing at around shoulder height on the outer pillar of the car is the obvious solution for comfort, safety and convenience. On impact, any unsecured item will be thrown forward. We are essentially, an unsecured item, that is why we wear a seatbelt in the firstplace. This is Newtons Law of Inertia. We then come to the concept of basic geometry and angulation under inertia. Anything unsecured will take its shortest route forward. Any loose, uneven lengths ie the harness, will take its direct route to a centre point. This will force the innermost strap to pair with the outer strap. Compounded by increased bodyweight due to velocity, the innermost strap could rip across your neck, potentially taking your head off! Otherwise there would be masses of kids driving astras, escorts, corsas etc with a posy set of harnesses bolted to original manufacturers mounting points. Have we ever seen this?? It is called a four point harness because it has to fix at four points. No two of these points the same. Trust me, it is dangerous. But, clearly MOT was cool with it and I aint driving it! B)
MrMunster - August 24, 2010 12:07 AM (GMT)
Just for clarification's sake (I'm getting a bit lost here)
I don't think any specific "belt set up" was mentioned. However a harness can be three, four or five point, with any harness the mounts for the shoulder straps should be "in line" so central in the case of a three point harness (the shoulder straps are in a V shape and have a single mounting strap) or directly behind the shoulder strap for a four or five (the fifth is between your legs).
In all cases the shoulder strap works best going through harness holes in the back of the seat, otherwise the harness is not much better than a lap or three point seat belt (roll the car and you will be thrown from side to side!)
The ideal height would be a little lower than shoulder level, higher than shoulder level is not so good in the case of a roll over. Incadently, high back seats or head rests (if correctly adjusted) are safer still. These will reduce your head being thrown back to far and breaking your neck..... Action, reaction bla bla.
A "normal" car has a seat belt and can be two (lap belt found in some old cars like an early Jeep cj) or three point (most modern cars). These are fine mounted above the shoulder and to either side.
So if it's a belt you have then paul's position is absolutely fine, if however you have a harness then tigger's and 100bob's is the ideal.
My set up is using Cobra 7 seats (high back with harness holes) and Luke three point harnesses mounted in the aforementioned "ideal" position using the eyelets provided with the harness to welded (by a hot rod builder) brackets onto the frame.
Paul - August 25, 2010 05:40 PM (GMT)
Nicely timed MrMunster!
I'd been wondering whether to get harnesses instead of the static belts when you revived this thread.
Looks like I'm best off with belts for the meantime then as it'll be tricky to keep the rear seats usable with any sort of centrally mounted belts.
Will probably go for a new set of belts before the MOT as the ones on there look antique.
MrMunster - August 27, 2010 10:14 PM (GMT)
Glad it helped someone ;)
Yes, if you want the rear seats usable belts would be the sensible option.... Have harnesses in the the back tho!! B)