Seats and seatbelts

[Jim_Newman]

I'm thinking of installing a 4(maybe 5) point seatbelt assembly in my BN7. My concern is that the seat backs are not exactly appropriate for the two shoulder straps. They would continually be in the wrong place before putting them on and they would not provide any lateral restraint with the low seat backs. I realize some racing type seats have slots through which to route the shoulder belts. Has anyone tried to modify a "proper" seat back to achieve the same function - i.e. guide slots for the shoulder belts. If not, has anyone found a good after-market competition seat that they are really happy with in their big Healey?
As always, I look forward to hearing from you.
Jim

 

[Randy Forbes]

Unless you have an appropriate rollbar in your car, I would recommend against using a 4 (or 5) point shoulder harness.

An approved 3-point lap/shoulder harness still allows you the option of ducking into the passenger's seat (or lap).

Too bad you're so far away, as I've made a couple of rollbars for Healeys, though thankfully, none have been subjected to the ultimate test...

 

[Michael Oritt]

"Unless you have an appropriate rollbar in your car, I would recommend against using a 4 (or 5) point shoulder harness.

An approved 3-point lap/shoulder harness still allows you the option of ducking into the passenger's seat (or lap)."
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In addition to preventing ejection from the vehicle a good belt-harness setup also provides a secure seating position so you are not hanging on the steering wheel.

I understand your point but think it fantasy to count on "ducking" into the opposite side of the car in case of rollover--the forces exerted would make it quite unlikely that one could sustain this manuever. Yes, the image of one being strapped securely into a four or five point system in a car without a rollbar that goes upside down is not pretty, but is that likely? If one could get over that he would only need to install a strong horizontal bar at about shoulder level just behind the seats to which to secure the should harness straps to.

 

[Legal Bill]

I'm going with a lap belt. Anything else is unoriginal

 

[GregW]

Not necessarily, that be what that bolt on the wheel arch is for. For the later models at any rate.

 

[Johnny]

Jim, I can remember reading about race car drivers not ever wearing a seat belt. They would simply "leap" out of the car at speed if they felt a collision was inevitable. It took a long time to convince drivers to wear a helmet, let alone by hackled by a seat belt.

 

[Jim_Newman]

Thanks for all the good input guys.
If one gets upside down with a lap belt only, a 3 point or 4 point belt or with no belt at all, the outcome will not likely be nice.
I should have mentionned at the outset that I have a roll cage of sorts,a hardtop and a 3 point inertial reel belt system adapted from a modern car.
I do not feel hampered by a seat belt. I like being firmly planted in the seat and I like some additional lateral support when cornering. Most importantly, I'd like to minimize being impaled on the steering column in a (don't want to think about it) severe frontal crash - which a lap belt won't do. The geometry of my current system is far from optimum as the shoulder strap tends to slide off my shoulder. Though I no longer "race", a fixed adjustment type of system like those used in competition is what I would prefer - but I need to modify the seats or find seats that adapt well to the Healey.
Any other thoughts or advice - most appreciated.
Jim