Bucket Seats in a stock interior

[shaunwil]

During lockdown I've been in the process of removing my roll cage and refitting a standard interior (plus sound deadening & an actual radio !). I'm wanting to keep my buckets but come up on a sticking point.

I think I'm going to make a custom rear strut brace to mount my upper harnesses but I'm trying to get my head round it. I've got some plates cut out from work and ordered some 40 x 40 x 4mm box section.

What else have other people done ? Any images would be great.

Shaun

 

[Sturneyrx7]

I use the stock seat belt with mine.

there are a few harness bars around though like the DJ motorsport one if they still have any left

 

[shaunwil]

Which buckets do you have ? Mine feel like they are too high in the sides for the stock belt.

I think I still have my standard seat belts in the cupboard, may have to try them out.

I can't find The DM one on their website, plus are they still trading ?

 

[Sturneyrx7]

Recaro pole position is my seat.

dm are basically closing down, if it’s not on the site I would assume then don’t have any left

 

[shaunwil]

I've got the bits to make one, got 5mm plates cut. Just need to do a bit of Cardboard Aided Design and some welding and see how I get on.

I've got Spaco tubular seats,

 

[marco]

I have recaro apex seats and whilst I have a dm rearstrut fitted, plan is to use standard seatbelts for ease of use. previously used standard seatbelts and wasnt really an issue.

 

[4packet]

Are you looking to use harnesses without a roll bar/cage? If so, there is a pretty strong argument against this in the event of landing the car on its roof. I use a Recaro SPG seat with normal seat belt. Would prefer the additional hold on track from a full harness, but not an option for me without a roll bar.

 

[Sacrilegious-FD]

Cracking idea, have a harness hold you in place that way you can use your neck/spine as structural re-enforcement.

 

[Sacrilegious-FD]

Get a 1/2 cage if you want a harness,

 

[shaunwil]

Its going no cage now,

Sorry if I'm sounding dense but can you give more detail why you wouldn't have the same issue with the standard seatbelt if you rolled the car.

 

[Sacrilegious-FD]

You have lateral movement from your waist, with 3 point , so you are likely to slide out of the way of the roof caves in (no a degree at least). There have been many many discussions about it, rx7 club will have all the info you need. But this is generally considered a big no no along with having a full caged car on the road without a helmet. I will be doing 1/2 cage (at some point)

 

[Sacrilegious-FD]

Aka you pin your body in place and the roof caves you are truly fucked,

 

[shaunwil]

Makes sense, just been off reading an interesting speedhunter article. http://www.speedhunters.com/2017/12/think-you-know-everything-about-racing-harnesses/
Reading the comments section there is big discussion about it. I don't think my seats are compatible with oem seat-belts. I will have to refit one side and see.
I might even look at swapping the seat for something else. The drivers seat is getting threadbare.

 

[shaunwil]

I realized I still need to make a strut brace for the rear any way. Got some laser cut plates from work (5mm mild) and started to flesh the brace out. Not got far yet, welded to upstands off the plate ready to measure and cut up the middle bar (40x40x4mm box) and weld in place. Top of the bar will sit level with the partition. I'll cut the excess off when I get there. Then with the aid of cardboard I'm going to add stiffening to upstand.

 

[MightyCondor]

I was able to mount the seat belt retainer so that it tucked through the side harness hole in my Cobra Suzuka. Worked perfectly. Crash tested!

 

[shaunwil]

I'll have to fit the original belt and see if I can find a solution.

 

[shaunwil]

Well I dug out the stock belts and they seem to fit much better than I remember. I've fit them on both sides now

Slowly getting there !

 

[Rhino]

You have lateral movement from your waist, with 3 point , so you are likely to slide out of the way of the roof caves in (no a degree at least).

I can vouch for this, I rolled a 205 GTI one and a half times and it pushed the roof down to the top of the seats. The 3 point seat belt allowed movement after the initial impact and that definitely helped, if it had been 4 point harness it would have been a different outcome. Admittedly 205's shells weren't very strong to start with.

 

[shaunwil]

Strut brace is making good progress