I have an RCI 5 point harness (Y type) I'm putting in my 68 Chevelle. In the instructions (not very good instructions I might add) it says to mount the shoulder belt slightly below shoulder level and to "never anchor straight down behind the back". The picture shows it being mounted to a roll bar. I read the instructions to mean you can't mount the shoulder strap to the floor. The harness is supposed to be for either a roll bar or floor mount. Did I just read this wrong and it's ok to mount to the floor?

Call RCI and see if they can give you a more detailed description of the recommended mounting procedure. Because of the almost infinite variations found in the diffrent cars these belts are sold for, the instructions are bound to be a little vague. Remember that if your car is still equipped with stock floorpans every effort should be made to use the original mount locations for the lap belts, GM spent millions to design and test for optimum locations. As for the shoulder harnesses, mine are attached to the rollbar crossbrace so I can't offer any suggestions from experience.

Remember that if you can't use the stock mounting for the seat belts, and have to use the floor pan, be sure to strengthen the underside of the floor with steel plate, so the bolts don't come through the floor when the seat belts are needed. Don't use washers only... They don't work!

Rob,
The shoulder belts are designed to keep you from going forward in case of a collision. If they are mounted any lower than just below the shoulder, they will not do the job. If mounted to the floor, they may help you from hitting the roof in a roll-over but will be of no help in keeping you out of the steering wheel. Just my interpretation of the instructions but RCI should be the final judge. I think the part that mentions floor or roll bar mount has to do with the lap belts as installed in a race car.
P.S. Rob, the NHRA rull book has a pretty good drawing and description of safety belt mounting procedures.

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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

[This message has been edited by BillK (edited 01-01-99).]

[This message has been edited by BillK (edited 01-01-99).]

If my memory is correct, never mount seat belts to the floor unless the harness goes over a horizontal roll bar tube that is about shoulder height. I believe that if you just mount it to the floor without going over a tube you will compress your spine and possibly cause serious spine damage in the case of a bad accident. As was mentioned, the NHRA rule book shows proper mounting technique.

Rob:
In the NHRA Rule Book it says that the sholder harness must be " mounted level with sholders to 4" below".
In my 68 Chevelle I have the same RCI belts you have. I mounted the sholder straps at the front edge of the package tray, which worked out to within that range. Even though it was done according to the book a couple NHRA Tech guys weren't happy with it and said it had to be mounted down at a angle, so I moved it down to pass through the crack between the bottom of the back seat and the back of the back seat ( the strap is just long enough ). So far they have been happy with it, but it depends on the tech guy and how he interprets the rules. No matter what you do, someone will not like it.
I have a bench seat and the lap belts fit through the stock belt holes in the seat base. If you have buckets it will be even easier. The inside belt bolts right up to the stock mounting hole. The out side belt needs a mounting bracket. On mine I used a 2 1/2" piece of 1 1/2" (1/4" thick) angle iron, drilled a hole in one leg to fit the stock belt mounting bolt, drilled a hole in the other leg to mount the belt anchor that came with the belts. After beveling the corners and some paint it looks fine. If you don't make a bracket the belt anchor will lay flat on the floor and the direction of pull will be side ways to the bracket. I have seen the tech inspecters tell guys to fix it before the next race or they won't pass it.
GaryR

Rob,
Most aftermarket shoulder harnesses were not designed to be used with stock seats. They can be used with stock seats and can be mounted to the floor. However, the straps must utilize some sort of change of direction. This being just below the shoulder. Most aftermarket seats that are designed to be used with aftermarket harnesses have at least 1 slot in the seat backs to facilitate this. If you have stock seats and do not have a roll bar or other structuraly sound object. DONT USE THE HARNESSES. If you just want a lap belt, you're probably okay (legally), but... In my profession, I have pulled more dead people out of cars with lap belts than I have with shoulder belts. I have also seen misuse of belts (usually with children wearing the belts but laying down or too small for the belts)almost get cut in half by the belts. As has already been said, car manufacturers spend lots of time and dough putting safety equipment where it's most effective. If you can change the seatbelts back to stock, do it. If not, change the seats or add a rollbar. As long as I'm up here on my soapbox I would like to remind all who read this thread to please wear your seatbelts. It amazes me how many people still don't wear em. If you'd seen what I've seen, I guarentee you would!
Incidentally, have you ever seen a baby car seat? It's no coincidence that most rulebooks and harness designers mimic these designes. Whatever you do Rob, make sure you don't compromise your safety or any one else's.



P.S. Sorry if I got a little too heavy on you guys!

[This message has been edited by Glenn Kent (edited 01-09-99).]

[This message has been edited by Glenn Kent (edited 01-09-99).]

[This message has been edited by Glenn Kent (edited 01-09-99).]

[This message has been edited by Glenn Kent (edited 01-11-99).]

If belts aren't installed properly they give a false senese of security.And may not do the very thing the are supposed to. Do it right SAFETY FIRST, FAST SECOND a lot of race drivers owe their lives to these belts...FRED

OK, another question then (from a novice). I've got stock lap belts and wrong color/design aftermarket shoulder straps. Will this be acceptable to the NHRA guys if my car (which I will be bracket racing this spring) breaks into the 12-12.99 second range...or should I start looking now for a 5-point harness?

Doc
I looked through the 1998 NHRA rulebook and it basically says that "seatbelts are mandatory in all cars". Any car that runs 11.99 or quicker(1/4 Mi.)or is required by the rules to have a rollbar or rollcage must have driver restraints meeting SFI 16.1 spec. and must be clearly labeled as such. If you don't plan to run any faster than 12.0, stock seatbelts are fine. It doesn't say this in the rulebook, but if your belts are not stock and do not mount in the original mounting locations, the track officials at most tracks will balk if the belts don't have an SFI 16.1 spec. label on them, regardless of how fast you are. I think, if you're going to do any racing at all, a properly installed 5 point is the way to go. Keep in mind that SFI spec. restraint systems must be recertified every 2 years. (The cost of recertification is barely less than replacing them. Most racers just replace them every 2 years). You can get a rulebook from NHRA for about 10 bucks. Their phone number is (818) 914-4761. Hope this helps.