SamN Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 I'm thinking of fitting 4 point harnesses in my Zed. For the rears points I think I will be welding plates (like these) into the rear strut brace and screwing eyelets into them. For the lap belts, I'm not 100% sure yet but was thinking of drilling holes and welding or bolting eyelets here: Would this be ok for the lap belts? Any better suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Surely there is an easier way than that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamN Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 Surely there is an easier way than that? If I fitted bucket seats I could bolt to the side mounts but I'm not fitting buckets for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteman35 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 You can get a harness bar that runs along the back of the seats, then just make sure you buy harnesses that can be wrapped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteman35 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 (edited) Edited November 26, 2013 by peteman35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlh Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 peteman35, Which harness bar is pictured? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Think about the forces that will be applied in the event of a crash, and the direction those forces are going to travel in. If you mount the lap belts to that part of the seat frame, not only are you weakening the seat frame itself but also you'd be pulling the forces the wrong way IYSWIM. Use the existing seat belt mount point with a longer bolt on one side, then drill and weld a threaded plate to the transmission tunnel or the floorpan for the otherside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Think about the forces that will be applied in the event of a crash, and the direction those forces are going to travel in. If you mount the lap belts to that part of the seat frame, not only are you weakening the seat frame itself but also you'd be pulling the forces the wrong way IYSWIM. Use the existing seat belt mount point with a longer bolt on one side, then drill and weld a threaded plate to the transmission tunnel or the floorpan for the otherside. Exactly how I've done it. I wrapped the shoulder straps round the standard strut brace in the back, I had it looked at and the forces required to bend it would apparently be so much that it wouldn't be my main concern as I'd likely have other, far more serious injuries, like a minor cases of the deadsies being one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamN Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 Yeah I know you can get harness bars but they're expensive. Yeah good point, I guess the best way is to weld eyelets in for each mounting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Yeah I know you can get harness bars but they're expensive. What price your life? That's what we're talking about here, the safety straps that will protect you in case of an accident. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamN Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 Correct, which is why I'm asking if there is a cheaper alternative which is just as safe. If I wasn't concerned about safety then I'd have just gone ahead and done it rather than asking 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Correct, which is why I'm asking if there is a cheaper alternative which is just as safe. If I wasn't concerned about safety then I'd have just gone ahead and done it rather than asking I wouldn't recommend using harnesses without a seat designed for them then. The standard one has no way of ensuring the shoulder straps are in the right place. If you put them through under the head rest they will be too close together and if you put them either side, in an impact they could come off your shoulders as there's nothing holding them on. The standard seat belt mounting points will be ok for the outside one, and the inside one would be best on a harness mounting plate on the outside of the car welded to the transmission tunnel. Wrap the shoulder straps round the standard strut brace with all the plastics removed. Obviously, as I'm sure with Ekona's advice. This is all at your own risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamN Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 Very valid point, I may get a bucket seat and just fit the harness for track days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I nearly mentioned that myself, but then I've not used the standard seats with harnesses so don't know how they fit with regards to shoulder straps slipping off. I ran the MX5 with a stock seat and a harness for approx 2 miles before I decided that it really, really wasn't a good idea at all, but then the standard Elise seats are absolutely fine with them so it's very application dependant. I prefer harnesses for road use too, although it can make reaching some controls a little awkward (like the stereo and things like that), but again car dependant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamN Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 Yeah I used harnesses for road use in my e46 and preferred them. Once you've had them you don't feel as safe in a standard seatbelt in my opinion! I'd use a bucket seat for road use but quite like the comfort and heated element of the standard seats (for a change from my last car which was fully stripped/buckets/harnesses etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliveBoy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 All the Z controls are reachable with harnesses on (for me anyway!) only things which aren't are the cup holder, the TCS switch and the door if it blows all the way open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrLizard Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I wouldnt mount the shoulder straps to the rear strut brace, wrapping them around it i would think was ok assuming there is no sharp edges but putting the eyelet thing into it i wouldnt do, there is a min spec of width the fia require (which you obviously dont need to adhere to) but its worth mounting it into a decent thickness of metal, a bar would be better. the others we mounted into the transmission tunnel and the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y23DRH Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Any one know a palce does a harness bar for a 2005 350z roadster so i can fit my 4 points in ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Any one know a palce does a harness bar for a 2005 350z roadster so i can fit my 4 points in ??? Think you need a roll over cage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Any decent fabricator should be able to make you a bar that bolts to the stock seatbelt mount points. I was going to get one done for my old car, but then I decided to sell up instead. You'd lose a little seat travel I think, but nothing major. As far as I know, there are no bars like you're after on the market for the ragtop. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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