Is It Possible??? 5pt harness+useable backseat...

[JohnC]

Hey Guys,

I know this has been dicussed before, but I'm curious as to what you guys are using...

I want to make my Cuda project as track worthy as possible, but still be able to keep my back seat as useable for people to sit in as possible.

My car has all the XV chassis stiffening stuff so I'm not too worried about rigidity as I am safety.

I wanted to run a 5pt Simpson camlock, but where should attach the shoulder harness mounts??? to the floor? to the backseat belts? or to a removeable cross bar on a 4pt roll cage?

Opinions and suggestions welcome. What have you guys done? And what should I do based on your experiences?

This is a very performance-oriented cuda (high hp, big brakes, lightweight wheels, race suspension) that I want to be as race-ready as possible WITHOUT loosing my useable back seat.

My goal is to do some SCCA solo, Run throught the Hills, Ultimate Street car challenge (if I'm lucky enough to be invited, etc.)...
... but still drive on the street too...

Thanks!!

[awr68]

I like what Mike did in Rich's car....I think it would work nicely for you since you don't seem to be as concerned with the extra rigidity that a 4-point roll bar will give you. This will allow for a removable harness bar for open track days, auto-x, ect. with the safety for rear seat passengers on the other days. And DO NOT just bolt harnesses to the floor!

You can see pics of this harness bar install in the first 31 pages of this (http://www.mikescustomcars.com/projects/projects.asp?proj=RBarbara&album=17) folder.
http://www.mikescustomcars.com/i/projects/RBarbara/910.jpg

[JohnC]

I like what Mike did in Rich's car....I think it would work nicely for you since you don't seem to be as concerned with the extra rigidity that a 4-point roll bar will give you. This will allow for a removable harness bar for open track days, auto-x, ect. with the safety for rear seat passengers on the other days. And DO NOT just bolt harnesses to the floor!

www.mikescustomcars.com/i/projects/RBarbara/910.jpg[/IMG]

Thank you, Tony, but I don't object to a 4pt Roll cage if you think it is a better option although what you showed me is another option I didn't think of. Also, no worries-- I was not going to bolt anything to the floor--just weld.

Anyone know a good quality manufacturer for a chrome moly 4pt roll cage?

[awr68]

Also, no worries-- I was not going to bolt anything to the floor--just weld.


You can bolt the harness to the rear seat's seat belt location as it runs the harness at approx. a 45* angle. What I was worried about was that you would run the harness down the back of the seat and mount it at or near the rear bolts for the driver's seat....big no-no! This will compress your spine (during an accident) due to the angle the harness is mounted.

[JohnC]

You can bolt the harness to the rear seat's seat belt location as it runs the harness at approx. a 45* angle. What I was worried about was that you would run the harness down the back of the seat and mount it at or near the rear bolts for the driver's seat....big no-no! This will compress your spine (during an accident) due to the angle the harness is mounted.

Gottcha! Thanks. So which of the three options are mostly accepted by SCCA rule guys???:

1. 4pt cage attachment
2. rear seat belt attachment
or 3. the way pictured above.

I want to do what penny and onelapcamaro do without breaking any rules or disqualifying myself (and keep a backseat).

[skatinjay27]

i really like what mike did to riches car for a harness bar, its very creative... BUT just like any "harness bar" its not safe.
say you have the harness on and the car happens to get into a roll over accident and the roof ends up getting crushed since theres no main hoop for the added support. which means your head/neck might get crushed as well since your body wont be able to lean over to posible save your life.

i would just go with a 4 good point with a removable cross bar.

[awr68]

I agree w/ AJ! A harness bar is a harness bar...

I would, and did, do a 4-point bar. You have to decide how you will feel about having rear seat passengers. There are two sides to that topic....that's for sure.

[JohnC]

Ok,

Anyone know a good quality manufacturer for a chrome moly 4pt roll cage for a '70-'71 Cuda?

Thanks Guys..you are a great help as always.:hail: :D

[awr68]

Perhaps Reiter's Metal Craft in Mt. Clemens, MI or Joe at Stenod Performance could assist you? I know Stielow thinks highly of them and used both on Charley's Jackass project as well as a few others.....

I wonder if Bruning is doing a cage in Ned's Cuda....they might be able to help as well?

Ok, now you have me thinking out loud! :)

[DRJDVM's '69]

John.... I'm in the same boat as you.... I want a 5 point harness but debate the safety of having a cage with a back seat and passengers etc..

The plan with my car is to do a custom 4 point cage as tight as possible to the contours of the car etc so I maximaize space and make the cage as hidden as possible. Thats on the agenda but Bruning has alot of other stuff higher on the list right now with my budget priority. It will happen, but not yet...

I dont know of any pre-fabbed cages for Cuda's....

[JohnC]

John.... I'm in the same boat as you.... I want a 5 point harness but debate the safety of having a cage with a back seat and passengers etc..

The plan with my car is to do a custom 4 point cage as tight as possible to the contours of the car etc so I maximaize space and make the cage as hidden as possible. Thats on the agenda but Bruning has alot of other stuff higher on the list right now with my budget priority. It will happen, but not yet...

I dont know of any pre-fabbed cages for Cuda's....

Do you think T.J. could build two (one for you and one for me)??:question: ...no, I'm serious:_paranoid

[Vegas69]

My original plan was to use the back seat. It will never happen. The rear bars just compromise the head space of a passenger. Mike's cage really hugs nice but I would still be concerned. You just can't have both. You either need to want to ride 4 or go racing in my opinion. I have mine setup with a 4 point cage and three point modern belts. I can always add a harness bar and woul dhave had I known the back seat would be unsafe in my grown up mind set.