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Author: Subject: Three point belts on the drivers left side
Slimy38

posted on 10/7/18 at 03:40 PM Reply With Quote
Three point belts on the drivers left side

A very quick question, I may have asked it before but nothing showed up on the search. If I were to use three point seat belts from the donor car, is there anything stopping me from having the seatbelt reel mounted inboard, feeding over the drivers left shoulder? It would then go from left shoulder to right hip where the seat belt buckle would latch, then across the hips to the anchor point down by the transmission tunnel.

Assume all other considerations (structural integrity, belt security etc) are as required by IVA, this is purely to have the seat belt the other way round. Passenger belt would be similar, so passenger right shoulder to left hip then across to right hip for the final anchor.

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theconrodkid

posted on 10/7/18 at 03:53 PM Reply With Quote
the reel needs to have the top mounting above it so i cant see it working, whats wront with the reel on the outside a 3 point statics ?





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loggyboy

posted on 10/7/18 at 04:02 PM Reply With Quote
Rear seats in my M3 do this. Cant see any reason the principle would be an issue, assuming you can get it to function correctly. Its important when using OE reels to get the same orientation etc to ensure the inertia part fires correctly.





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Slimy38

posted on 10/7/18 at 04:11 PM Reply With Quote
It's actually the seat reel and the inertia function that is dictating what I'm planning to do. If I put the reel on the normal outboard mounting (IE behind the seat) I lose a precious few inches of seat travel and it wouldn't be directly below the guide (so I think it might not work properly). My plan is to bolt the seat reel to the diff mounting cage, then have the guide mounted above it on the cross member behind the drivers left shoulder.

Having said that, conrodkid I think you've just pointed out something blatantly obvious that I overlooked, IE 'what is wrong with the reel on the OUTSIDE'. The use of the Healey body means that I can actually mount it 'outside' the frame. It would still be bolted to the same fixing, but wouldn't use up valuable internal space.

Thank you both, I think I have more options than I thought I had.

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nick205

posted on 10/7/18 at 04:13 PM Reply With Quote
In 7 type car I'm not sure you've have space either side of the seat for the reel part of a donor cars 3 point seat belt. In a tin top they're buried inside the lower B pillar beneath the top retaining loop. Having taken a few out of tin tops over the years they're not small parts.

Appreciate you may be looking to make maximum use of donor parts, but wouldn't 4 or 5 point fixed harnesses be a better solution?




[Edited on 10/7/18 by nick205]

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Slimy38

posted on 10/7/18 at 04:24 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
In 7 type car I'm not sure you've have space either side of the seat for the reel part of a donor cars 3 point seat belt. In a tin top they're buried inside the lower B pillar beneath the top retaining loop. Having taken a few out of tin tops over the years they're not small parts.

Appreciate you may be looking to make maximum use of donor parts, but wouldn't 4 or 5 point fixed harnesses be a better solution?



You're right, they are big chunky things that would compromise a good chunk of the seating area, hence the question. I may move to a 4 point harness at some point in the future, but I also want to use the donor seats which I believe would become load bearing if I used a harness.

[Edited on 10/7/18 by Slimy38]

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40inches

posted on 10/7/18 at 08:02 PM Reply With Quote
I think it would depend on the seats, fibreglass shells have a large space behind that I used for my reel, I wnted the reel on the outside so the "open" part of the belt was to the inside of the car.
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adithorp

posted on 11/7/18 at 06:33 AM Reply With Quote
If you've got room then yes, you can mount them that way. Seen it on Westfield's and a few others.





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ianhurley20

posted on 11/7/18 at 07:25 AM Reply With Quote
A friends 65 plate Westfield has belts this way round and it was factory built so I see no problems






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Charlie_Zetec

posted on 11/7/18 at 08:53 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by 40inches
I think it would depend on the seats, fibreglass shells have a large space behind that I used for my reel, I wnted the reel on the outside so the "open" part of the belt was to the inside of the car.
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Interesting - did the car pass IVA like that? I would've thought [and it's only a thought] that the compression on the side of the GRP seats would've been highlighted as an issue - in the same way the upper mount can't have belt pressure applied on the seat itself in the event of accident, with the mount at the same height as the seat aperature (if that makes sense?).





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40inches

posted on 11/7/18 at 09:15 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
quote:
Originally posted by 40inches
I think it would depend on the seats, fibreglass shells have a large space behind that I used for my reel, I wnted the reel on the outside so the "open" part of the belt was to the inside of the car.
Description
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Description



Interesting - did the car pass IVA like that? I would've thought [and it's only a thought] that the compression on the side of the GRP seats would've been highlighted as an issue - in the same way the upper mount can't have belt pressure applied on the seat itself in the event of accident, with the mount at the same height as the seat aperature (if that makes sense?).


The top of belt is in the same position as the harness belt. The belt doesn't touch the seat sides when a person is sat in the seat

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Charlie_Zetec

posted on 11/7/18 at 09:32 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by 40inches
quote:
Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
quote:
Originally posted by 40inches
I think it would depend on the seats, fibreglass shells have a large space behind that I used for my reel, I wnted the reel on the outside so the "open" part of the belt was to the inside of the car.
Description
Description
Description
Description



Interesting - did the car pass IVA like that? I would've thought [and it's only a thought] that the compression on the side of the GRP seats would've been highlighted as an issue - in the same way the upper mount can't have belt pressure applied on the seat itself in the event of accident, with the mount at the same height as the seat aperature (if that makes sense?).


The top of belt is in the same position as the harness belt. The belt doesn't touch the seat sides when a person is sat in the seat



Unless you're supermodel thin - can i say that?!? But point well made, hadn't though of that. Every day's a school day!





Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!

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David Jenkins

posted on 11/7/18 at 09:47 AM Reply With Quote
I bought an old Westfield SE build manual many years ago, which was very useful when I built my Locost.

In that manual there are the instructions for fitting 3-point belts:
westie seatbelt
westie seatbelt


This was some time ago, so I have no idea whether this would pass IVA. Also, I have no idea whether it's a good way to do this - make your own mind up!






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nick205

posted on 11/7/18 at 03:37 PM Reply With Quote
4, 5 or even 6 point harnesses still seem a better option to me.

Fitted 4 point harnesses to my MK Indy and once strapped in you weren't moving far at all.

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Angel Acevedo

posted on 11/7/18 at 03:54 PM Reply With Quote
My concern is the tiny amount of protection against leaning too much outside the vehicle.
once tight on the outside, it would be very difficult to slip sideways towards the exterior.
While on the inside, it would be easier to "submarine" under the shoulder belt..
Or am I talking rubbish?





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nick205

posted on 12/7/18 at 02:35 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Angel Acevedo
My concern is the tiny amount of protection against leaning too much outside the vehicle.
once tight on the outside, it would be very difficult to slip sideways towards the exterior.
While on the inside, it would be easier to "submarine" under the shoulder belt..
Or am I talking rubbish?



Have to agree with you AA. Fixed harnesses seem better suited at avoiding these issues.

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