What is the best way to mount a safety harness in an FC without a roll bar? This will be used in autocross only.

 

The only (slim) possibility that I can think of would be....
a 3-point harness, where the shoulder straps form into a single behind the seat. Now... you take a look under your carpet behind the driver seat... there are a handful of threaded holes that you could insert an eyebolt into or simply bolt the harness into one. I like the eyebolt idea, harnesses when ordered usually give you the opton to receive them in bolt in or latch in, you'd then use the latch in obviously. A minute hole in the rug to let the eyebolt pop through would do no harm, just try to ensure it's rather centered between your shoulders. And the other rule is the shoulder belt point shouldn't be anchoered above the level of your shoulders and not lower then 45 degrees. So... pull up the carpet, have someone sit in the seat with the harness on, pull the shoulder end/s tight and eyeball which holes might work. For the right thigh I'd utilize the same bolt as your stock seat belt. The bolts are like 2 inches long and should handle the pressure if need be. Be sure to crank it all the way back down. As for the left thigh, take a peak under the carpet, probably a threaded hole you can make use of there also, only bolt it in, no eyebolt here.

I will/shall/cannot be held resposible for any injury to any persons following this advice in employing such ideas in their own or others forms of transportation for recereation or any other purposes. Cover my a$$ lol

 

I would not mount harnesses in a vehicle without a rollbar, period. Stock 3 point seatbelts are designed to allow the body to rotate, to keep you from getting crushed in a rollover. Harnesses will lock you into an upright position, so you will get crushed if the B-pillar collapses. "But Paul, I don't think the B pillar could collapse".. Check out last month's Super Street, there's a nice pic of a mustang that rolled at Willow Springs last year.. It's now a convertible.

PaulC

 

I hope this includes a proper "race seat" which has the required holes for the shoulder belts.&nbsp DO NOT MOUNT RACE HARNESSES WITH THE STOCK SEATS!&nbsp You NEED the holes for the shoulder straps to keep you in the seat in case of an accident.&nbsp If you try and use the stock seats (no holes), the should straps might slip off and send you into the windshield.&nbsp Tech should automatically fail you if you try this!


-Ted

 

I think the answer is: "Follow the instructions that came with the harness"

Cory

 

the follow the instructions advice is correct. no roll bar, no race seat, no 5 point harness period. I was at the race that the mustang rolled(with instructor in the passenger seat). roof was crushed to the window sill. if they had full harnesses they both would have been hurt badly or killed. On our web site there is another story of another accident at Willow Springs where the belts slipped off the shoulders in an accident because the belts were routed to wide to clear the headrest on a non race seat. this allowed the driver to impact the steering wheel and broke some ribs and possibly his sternum. always make sure to mount all aftermarket belts as the manufacturer recomends as this is the only way they will work as designed.

 

Thanks for the advise and concern. Like I said in my original post I will be using the harness in autocross only, not on a road course or on the street. I run in E stock, so I have to use the factory seat. I will keep using the factory shoulder belt, so the possibility of the shoulder harness slipping off shouldn't be a safety issue.

After reading all your responses, I think I will mount the lap belt only and see if that keeps me in place. If I decide to install the shoulder harness after that, it sounds like the only thing I have to worry about is roll over, which would be very unlikely in an autocross.

 

rollovers do not happen often but it does happen even in autocrosses. check around with some long time autocrossers and they can give you some bad stories. It only takes a small crease in the pavement and the car can roll very easily. I would not take the chance if you are not allowed to have a roll bar. and without a race seat to hold the belts together they will seperate in a frontal impact. the stock belts are good for the type of setup you have. I do realise it would be nice to have the harness to hold you into the seat but with out the other items to protect you you are leaving yourself exposed to injury.

 

You might try a chest belt. I know several autocrossers who use a webed belt (Home Depot tool belt?) about chest high to help keep their torso from tossing about on course.

Cory

 

Well done... Okay, so I wrote my reply at one in the morning. I assumed he'd be using a proper race seat. And from my auto X experience I felt he'd be pretty safe for those 30-60 seconds from rollover. But oh well, now I look like I had my foot in my mouth the whole time. I should have just said copy at least the 4-points of my 6-point cage to be truly safe...

 

Don't think you can roll your car at an auto-x eh?
As a friend in the auto-x forum on LS1.com said.. A picture is worth a thousand words.



PaulC

 

I didn't say it wasn't possible, I just think it's rare. If it occured every so often then we'd probably see that reflected in the prep rules. I'm not tying to get on anyones nerves here! lol Take the precautions necessary for your choice of competition and level of driving so you don't lose your head. Oh and money is no object when it comes to safety. Cheers

 

Do NOT install a 4 or 5 point harness in a car without a rollcage. If you do roll it, you're in SERIOUS trouble. The roof will not be supported by a rollcage, so it will collapse, and you will be held straight upright, and eventually during the crash you will become the highest point in the car, holding up the roof with your head and neck (not happy). I think this is why 5 point harnesses aren't street legal.

 

well what about attatching the harness to a rear strut bar? i was thinking of setting my car up like that eventualy. i will also eventualy have a roll bar too. and i already have a race seat, but not installed.

 

That still doesn't get around the issue of your car crushing your head and snapping your neck like a twig...

 

well he asked how to put in a harness without a roll bar, so i gave a sugestion. if he has a rear strut bar, or wants one, attach the harness to it. my two cents, thats all.