Time To Replace Seat Belts

[jikelly]

It looks like time is catching up with my original seatbelts. The fabric in the belts is worn and starting to fray. One of my rear belt connectors no longer functions and the other's retractor doesn't work correctly.

I'd been debating about installing a roll bar in my 73 convertible for a long time now. That would solve two issues.

1. It would give me an attachment point for 3 point belts.
2. My stang would be legal for many more racing events.

Okay, so what do I do now?

I would like to install at least 3 point belts in both the front and rear of the car. That's unless I do a roll bar and 4 point harnesses, which some have cautioned against using. The roll bar I haven't moved forward with installing either because of the major permanent change to the car, and because of the loss of the rear seats for passengers.

UGH!!

I've seen seatbelt kits from Retractable Seat Belts and some other places.

However, new cars have come with 3 point retractable belts for a very long time now. It has to be possible to adapt newer belts to work in our old cars, but I haven't heard of anyone doing it. There was once a webpage that went through the steps someone followed to install Sebring seats into a 73 conv to take advantage of those seats having built in shoulder belts. Unfortunately I have never been able to find that page again.

Boy are the seats in the new Challenger nice.

 

[Rusty67]

The major issue with puting the newer 3 point type belt into a convertable is where do you anchor the top of the belt ? If you had a coupe this would be an easier question to answer. How bad do you want "better" seatbelts and how much trouble are you willing to go through to get them ? Couldn't you put 4points in without a cage ?

 

[69gmachine]

That's unless I do a roll bar and 4 point harnesses, which some have cautioned against using.

Just out of curiosity, what was the risk in the 4 point installation?

I installed a roll bar in my Mach1 that's patterned after the Shelby bar except it goes all the way to the floor. I installed Schroth 4 point harnesses and electronic inertia reels. The seats are from Summit and have the holes for the belts to pass through at the top.

It's a pita to get buckled in, and although the inertia reels are functional, they are mounted too close to the seat so the belt comes down at a right angle, then enters the seat at another right angle. That makes it impossible to lean forward even when they aren't in the locked position. If I had it to do over again, I would have the mounts for the reels pointing straight down rather than straight forward.

 

[jikelly]

The reason is because they are not DOT certified/legal and if you don't get the angles from the mounting point to the seats right you risk spinal compression in a crash. Then there was the thing about if you roll you can't lean out of the way. Course in my old stang I think a roll would be the the end of my car and who ever was in it.

 

[bnickel]

The reason is because they are not DOT certified/legal and if you don't get the angles from the mounting point to the seats right you risk spinal compression in a crash. Then there was the thing about if you roll you can't lean out of the way. Course in my old stang I think a roll would be the the end of my car and who ever was in it.

not necessarily, my uncle rolled his MGB when i was kid and it landed wheels up, he got out without a scratch, granted it was a relatively low speed roll and the car just rolled over it didn't roll over and over but it's totally possible to survive a rollover in a vert

 

[69gmachine]

The reason is because they are not DOT certified/legal and if you don't get the angles from the mounting point to the seats right you risk spinal compression in a crash. Then there was the thing about if you roll you can't lean out of the way. Course in my old stang I think a roll would be the the end of my car and who ever was in it.

The Schroth 4 way harnesses I'm using are DOT certified. The instructions recommended using seats with openings to keep the harness in the correct position over the occupants. The reels are centered behind the seats, which is the optimum placement, but using the Shelby design they ended up too close. The Shelby seat belts draped over the top of the seat. Because I have slots lower down, the belts have to come straight down then forward through the seat openings, then down over the occupant.

I haven't welded the bar to the floor yet because I'm still trying to decide on the permanent design. I may add another bar lower down, or I may just change the angle of the mounting bracket.

 

[other_shoe]

You might look for late-model BMW convertible seats. I know several have belts integrated with the seats, and I think they are much sharper looking than the Sebring seats.

Also, my Mom had a couple of Sebrings. I'd recommend going to a used or new car dealer and sitting in some and checking the function, as I recall being unimpressed. She loved the cars and the seats though.

You should also check out 68efivert's set up. I think it looks good -- though I must admit I like the lightbar better on a car with the hood and side scoops than on a more spare body like my stock '67.

Looking forward to seeing your solutions.

 

[jikelly]

Well crap!!

I knew it might be a problem running autocross in a convertible. It seems that the modifications I've made to my stang are going to require that I install a rollbar before I can compete. I'm holding out hope that the race director will let me slide, but looks like it's time for me to face the music.

I've been on the fence about a rollbar for a while now. It's such a major change to my car that I'm considering getting a new car rather than alter my 73. What do you guys think?

Those Challengers are really nice BTW.

 

[bnickel]

i'd try to do something like a shelby style roll bar, looks wise at least. i'm sure there are places that can do a nice bar that will work for you. if the rules require you to build a cage or multi-point bar then i'd think about changing classes