I was reviewin a couple articles referin on how-to forms to install racing harnesses, yet i found out it was easy to install the left and right side straps, yet for the one "shoulder strap" from the top would have a harder installation cause you have to drill a hole in the back next to the fuel lines, which i find pretty sketchy, to make a long story short im tryin to figure out another way to install a 3/4-point harness installation for both driver and passenger seats without havin to drill wholes, i saw certian harness bars for instance: M2 harness bar, yet im not sure if it would fit or what the installation for it would end up as, i would just like to know how other fd owners have installed your harnesses or harness bars, photographs would help a ton, thanks again

 

I wrapped mine around my rollbar. But you can get the m2 harness bar which just replaces the stock rear strutbar. Well It goes where the rear strut bar would be if you don't have one.

 

up

 

There are debates about using harnesses without rollbars. The safest way it to install a rollbar and then mount the rear straps to the rollbar. The sides you can use the rear bolts for the seat rails. The front anti-submarine strab; you can either drill a new hole into the floorboard or use the 10mm bolt that is already there. It's not as large as the other mounting locations, but it works fine for the front strap only.

 

Mahjik, your knowledge really is limitless.

 

well considerin purchasin a rollbar just cant find a popular model for the fd, if anyone has any rollbars they suggest usin i would appreciate it thanks.

 

I have the kirk racing roll bar, There are no real downsides to it unless you are tall. The installation was a breeze and come spring time I'm going to upgrade to 6" x 6" pads welded in so it will be NHRA certified, but for the moment it is only scca.

 

To get an idea of how it looks, this was off of the how-to instal on nopistons.com

 

Other than a harness bar, does anyone have any recommendations for mounting the shoulder straps of a 5-point harness ?

TIA,
:-) neil

 

Drilling through the floor board and putting 1/4" steel plates on either side, and put the bolt through the plate then the floor then the other plate and putting a locking nut on the other side. The plate should roughly be about 3" squared atleast.

 

do not mount shoulder straps to the floor board. in the event of an accident floor board mounted should straps of a racing type harness pull down on your body, compressing the spine and possibly causing very serious injury. mount them in a fashion so you pull against them, not up on them.

 

I have a M2 harness bar for sale. PM me if you are interested. You can use bolt in style harnesses, makes the install very clean and simple.

 

Why not just wrap them around the rear strut bar? If it isn't strong enough, just make a stronger one and install it in place of the stock bar.

 

That's what the m2 harness bar is.

 

The stock one definitely isn't up to that task. You can bend it over your knee.

Most people frown upon using a harness bar verse a rollbar in the case that the car rolls, roof crushes down, and the harness without a rollbar keeps you upright (thus making your head the highest point).

While I do use the M2 harness bar without a rollbar, I will be eventually getting a rollbar after I take care of a few other things (like an engine).

 

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This is true but not in the case of an FD. The shoulder straps should be installed in such a way that from the tops of your shoulders to the attachment the belts stay within so many degrees of horizontal (consult your belt manufacturer). In the case of the FD since the trunk floor is much higher than the actual floor pan you can safely mount harnesses there as the shoulder belts won't deviate too far from horizontal.

Now putting racing seats in a sedan and installing the shoulder belts by bolting to the floor behind the seat is a definite no-no and will do exactly the damage you describe.

 

Check your PM's & hotmail account.

:-) neil

 

I added a 3 point harness to keep my *** planted for autocross. Dr. Erik sent me a really cool machined 2 piece gooseneck that mounts to the strut tower at the same point as the bar. All i needed was a longer bolt. The lower points are in the same location as the standard belt. When I'm not racing, I drop the back side down between the bar and the cover and fold the front on the floor behind the seat, and use the standard belt. Simple, clean and effective.

Tomas

 

Where can I get that "gooseneck" ? Who is "Dr. Erik" ?

:-) neil

 

Has this been tested?

 

But totally reliant on the strength of the small welds holding the tabs on the strut tower bracket...

 

I imagine "Dr. Erik" is Erik Strelnieks. Erik is smart enough to know that it wouldn't be safe for an actual crash but people in autox just use the harness to hold them in one place. That's the big disclaimer I'm sure; autox only.

 

Yes Damon is correct about Dr. Erik and autocross. As I said in my post it depends on your venue. I've used this only for autocross for two full seasons and none of the connection points show any sign of fatigue/failure and I weigh in at 230lbs.

As far as availibility, Erik got it from someone else who custom made it and never used it.

Tomas