Harness or Seat Belts??

[sevans]

In the process of putting in a roll over bar I now find that the seatbelts won't fit in the original location. It looks like it's possible to reinstall them but not without a considerable amount of work. I am now wondering whether to bother at all.
I was considering one of the following two options:
1) Reinstall seatbelts with eyelet type bolts so that a harness can be clipped in when required.
2) Demon Tweeks show a harness with an inertia reel on the top strap (3 point mounting). Install this but with an extra solid mount so that the harness can be mounted directly, in effect removing the inertia reel bit for track days etc.
Anyone have any experience or recommendations on this? Anyone removed the seatbelts and using just a harness?

[pete]

I've got Luke 4-point harnesses in my Griff. I had the luxury of keeping the original belts installed, but in practice I never use them. Harnesses get used all the time, even for popping down to Tesco; even my passengers use the harnesses!

I'd advise you to go for 3" wide harnesses with a rotary release buckle - don't bother with the ones with a seatbelt-type buckle, they're actually harder to get into and out of as the shoulder straps stay fixed to the lap belt. I believe mine aren't officially road legal (no E mark) as you can't put them on one handed, but it's passed two MOTs since having them fitted.

Hope this helps,
Pete

[GreenV8S]

In the process of putting in a roll over bar I now find that the seatbelts won't fit in the original location. It looks like it's possible to reinstall them but not without a considerable amount of work. I am now wondering whether to bother at all.
I was considering one of the following two options:
1) Reinstall seatbelts with eyelet type bolts so that a harness can be clipped in when required.
2) Demon Tweeks show a harness with an inertia reel on the top strap (3 point mounting). Install this but with an extra solid mount so that the harness can be mounted directly, in effect removing the inertia reel bit for track days etc.
Anyone have any experience or recommendations on this? Anyone removed the seatbelts and using just a harness?

What's stopping you keeping a standard 3-point inertia reel setup in front of the bar? I've got standard lap/diagonal and harness on both sides, no problems. Just uses a couple of tabs on the uprights of the roll-over bar to take the shoulder clip, and the inertia reel is moved forward a couple of inches and bolted onto the uprights. Lap straps are bolted under the eye bolts that the harness clips on to.

Doesn't this work on yours?

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[sevans]

What's stopping you keeping a standard 3-point inertia reel setup in front of the bar? I've got standard lap/diagonal and harness on both sides, no problems. Just uses a couple of tabs on the uprights of the roll-over bar to take the shoulder clip, and the inertia reel is moved forward a couple of inches and bolted onto the uprights. Lap straps are bolted under the eye bolts that the harness clips on to.

Doesn't this work on yours?

Pete, it's not quite the same on the early wedges. The upright for the hoop sits exactly where the seat belt would fit. Having spent all afternoon looking at this I think I have found a way to reinstall them. To do this it is better to turn the seat belt reel 180 deg and mount it on a new plate welded to the original bracket slightly higher up. This positions the seat belt further back, higher and towards the outside of the car. The trim panels will need a new exit slot and as you suggest the shoulder clip will need mounting on the roll bar itself.
Any recommendations on harness's. There is a vast selection.