fd3virgin

does anybody here run stock seats with harnesses? i am getting my nuts cut off (getting married ) and don't want to spend 1.5-2k on seats and rails yet. the only problem is that i have stock touring leather seats and not sure if i will be moving around. there is a cobra raceseat gb going on. decisions, decisions...... thanks. kvn

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

ive seen it on a miata, ricky cut holes in the seat to do it.

Gene

iTrader: (1)

1.5-2k on seats? Maybe if you're buying fancy-pants big name Carbon-Kevlar ones. Kirkey aluminum ones are under 400 each and work great. You'll want a seat back brace to go with them, so figure $450, plus some fab costs to make brackets, or you can modify the Sparco or whatever brackets and use those, that's what we did on a Spec E30 and an Integra Honda Challenge car. This is the seat we used: http://www.stableenergies.com/prodin...umber=KR-RRINT

PinkRacer

We use a Corbeau one-piece fibreglass seat, very affordable, and nice. More comfortable than the aluminum ones. Here's what we have:

http://www.corbeau.com/products/fx1/fx1.shtml

List price is $299.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Yes it works, but not exactly like it should. The main issue is that you cannot properly mount/use the anti-sub strap. You can mount it "good enough", but not proper. Even with leather seats, you get held in really well. This is a shot from a few years back:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...e/MVC-018F.JPG

RacerJason

iTrader: (5)

Don't think about using any 4-5-6 point harness without at least the beginnings of a rollcage including a main hoop. If you're strapped in upright (not that you won't be able to slide the shoulder belts in an emergency off a stock seat) and are in a rollover situation you leave yourself at risk of greater injury.

Stock seat and belt = moderately safe but little lateral/longitudinal support
Stock seat and comp. belts = moderately dangerous and likely illegal for street
Comp. seat and stock belt = depending on the seat moderately safe
Comp. seat and comp. belts = greatest support and safety if used w/ cage

Most belts are not DOT compliant. I believe Schroth makes a handful that will pass.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

You are making assumption that he would remove the stock seats when installing competition belts, which is not necessary. He would have the ability to move the harnesses out of the way for street driving and use the stock belts where they should be used.

Gene

iTrader: (1)

I don't see anything about FIA certification on the page. Not sure I'd want to run a composite seat that doesn't have one since I'm leery of drilling holes in a composite seat for a back brace, and I think most racing sanctioning bodies require a back brace in seats that don't carry the cert. The aluminum ones are well padded and pretty comfy.

RacerJason

iTrader: (5)

Some sanctioning bodies don't require the mount to be drilled/bolted fastened but simply braced. I'll see if I have a picture from SCCA Pro...

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

As far as I know, Corbeau doesn't have FIA approval on any of their seats anymore. They used to a few years back, but I don't know what happened. I chose the Momo Start 2007 for that reason over a Corbeau seat.

Black91n/a

The Momo is a good deal, IF you can wedge yourself into them.

If you shop around you can find some pretty decent FIA rated seats for under $1k for a set. Some companies to look at that make FIA rated seats: Momo, OMP, Sparco, Recaro, Cobra, Racetech and Sabelt. If you can you should definetley try it on before you buy, and measure the car carefully and see if you can find anyone else using one to be sure that it'll fit the car.

fd3virgin

mahjik, are you compromising safety w/o a properly mounted anti-rub strap. they have to go in the middle of the seat where you sit correct? do they let you run hpde's w/o it. i want some fia cert seats. the cobra gb was about 550 a piece. 225 a side for the bride rails and seat brackets, teh harnesses are about 4-5 hundered..... so around 2k shipped. damn, i need to go to coinstar and cash in my pennies kvn

fd3virgin

[QUOTE=racerjason;8049072]Don't think about using any 4-5-6 point harness without at least the beginnings of a rollcage including a main hoop. If you're strapped in upright (not that you won't be able to slide the shoulder belts in an emergency off a stock seat) and are in a rollover situation you leave yourself at risk of greater injury.

i would retain the stock seat belt for highway driving and the harnesses for the track. i have a 4pt roll bar. do i need a cage???? a lot of instructors i got a ride in for hpdes' don't have roll cages. just 4pt bars. thanks. i am a noob. kvn

Black91n/a

A 4 point bar should be sufficient to keep the roof up.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Simple answer, yes. However as I mentioned, you'll still get protection, just not as much as a properly mounted sub strap.

Yes, they basically go through the base if the seat.

Most of them do. I suppose you could find a tech guy at a DE who is just going to be a butthead about it, but I never ran into one.

Take a look at the Momo Start. It's a little cheaper than the Cobra.

PinkRacer

The seat we have has a hole already there for a back brace, with a bolt provided to attach it. It comes ready for the back brace.

Also, as far as I know, they used to be FIA certified at one time, but the certification got so damn expensive, the prices of seats went up greatly. So they still make just as good a product, but sell it for more affordable prices.

fd3virgin

screw it i just coughed up the paper for some cobra imola kevlar seats with the bride rails/mounts from rishie (autornd). thanks for the inuputs. kvn

wrankin

If you haven't already bought harnesses, go find a set of the G-Force 6-points (if you are going with a true race seat, you might as well go with a 6-point). FIA certified and they can be found for $120 to $130 each.

-bill