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over the shoulder safety belts

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maxwedge5281

maxwedge5281

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i am considering installing at least four point or five point safety belts in my two seater 100/6. i am especially interested in the over the shoulder belts and how to affix them in the rear shelf area or floor pan or rear bulkhead. there are probably lots of pros and cons on their usefulness in event of a crash or rollover without a rollbar. i just do not wish to install one but would...i think...like to be a bit more secure in the car. with the solid steering coumn and no fixed top not the safest situation! thanks for any ideas or help! i do not race the car!
 
I think if you do a little research, you'll find that four or five point harnesses aren't recommended unless you've got fixed seats with holes in the back for the shoulder belts to pass through and most recommend a roll bar or at least a shoulder bar to attach the top belts to. Incorrect installation can actually do more harm than good. If you're not tracking the car, I'd probably go with a three-point system. Directions for the factory approved mounting points are here: https://www.healey6.com/bulletins/Seat Belt-ASJ.pdf
 
 
As you can see I have followed the AH instructions for find the attach points - one is at the end of the transmission tunnel - one on the flat surface of the rear seats (probably better if placed on the vertical part base- NOT at the middle due the lack of the rigidity of the panel) for the third I have simplified NOT utilizing the under door panel BUT the rear panel corner, easy and more strong point at my advise
 
andrea, did the kit include the necessary mounting points hardware.? or, did you have to fabricate that? was the kit from moss? thank you
 
Hi Max
I see this morning the MOSS EUROPE site and haven'i find the seat belts evidently aren't sell now
the kit was composed by the belts only and bolts an plates was ordered separately on the same order at MOSS UK (there are different tipe of ring and bolts/plates)
I have find some sellers in UK of this belt SECURON 605-NOTE: are EU certified for road use or club race -NOT for FIVA rally or race https://picasaweb.google.com/112770...ATIONAUSTINHEALEY10061958#6259983978934666914
NOTE also the simplified system to coupling/uncoupling to the bolt ring

https://www.minisport.com/sec605-red-securon-3-point-harness-snap-hooks-red.html
https://www.burtonpower.com/securon-3-point-harness-road-black-sec605bk.html
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Securon-..._trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=20
but all sell the belts only but I haven't find the bolt kit
 
Hi Max
I see this morning the MOSS EUROPE site and haven'i find the seat belts evidently aren't sell now
the kit was composed by the belts only and bolts an plates was ordered separately on the same order at MOSS UK (there are different tipe of ring and bolts/plates)
I have find some sellers in UK of this belt SECURON 605-NOTE: are EU certified for road use or club race -NOT for FIVA rally or race https://picasaweb.google.com/112770...ATIONAUSTINHEALEY10061958#6259983978934666914
NOTE also the simplified system to coupling/uncoupling to the bolt ring

https://www.minisport.com/sec605-red-securon-3-point-harness-snap-hooks-red.html
https://www.burtonpower.com/securon-3-point-harness-road-black-sec605bk.html
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Securon-..._trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=20
but all sell the belts only but I haven't find the bolt kit
 
Hi All,

When purchasing my BJ8P1 new, I investigated the benefit of purchasing 3-point belts and was initially told they would be safer then the 2-point belts. However, during the process, I was again told that since the Healey did not have high backed seats to protect the neck and upper back from neck snap-back. The statement was that having you 2-point belts would hold you in the seat and allow the full upper body to absorb the snap-back rather then limiting it to the neck and head. And then consider the steering column as a potential spear in a front end collision, given the height and location of the steering box mounting.

A while later, a friend built a Healey and installed a roll bar and removable high backed seats and installed 4-point belts for racing. Since my friends Healey had many racing modifications along with the roll bar and high backed seats, the 4-point belts seemed appropriate. However, the Healey is a typical 1950s/1960s car and will never be as safe as today's vehicles. You can install 3 or 4 point belts but will you be any safer in an accident as having 2 point belts ... or even no belts? Lets face it, how safe do you feel driving your Healey on the inside lane of a Highway (especially around NJ corridor) next to one of the newer large SUVs?

Let's face it, safety is not the objective of our enjoyment and interest in our Healeys.

Just my thoughts,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
I installed a 3 point seat belt for the driver and a standard 2 point lap belt for the passenger.
I'm hoping to keep my face out of the steering wheel in case of an accident.
Sports and Classics has a nice variety of colors and styles.
They even offer Austin Healey logo on the buckles.
 
thanks for all the ideas and suggestions and commentary. i think that i will just go ahead and copy the mounting points in my bj7 which utilizes a three point system. and, yes a healey running 70 to 80 mph among lots of traffic is a bit disconcerting to me....even 55 mph hour in heavy traffic ???? and just for whatever???? how fast can one drive these cars with tight steering and suspension, tube shocks, four piston front brakes, six inch wheels and 205/225 by 15 tires? the car is stable up to 90 bout the fastest i have driven it... on a lonely stretch of interstate in mexico!!!
 
RAC68 said:
... consider the steering column as a potential spear in a front end collision, given the height and location of the steering box mounting. ...
Click to expand...

Given the height and location of the steering box, in any collision with a modern vehicle I think it's more likely the modern vehicle will ride up and over the steering box and shaft. On modern cars--even those with lots of plastic 'go fast planks' on the front and rear fascias--the lower portion of the cars are mostly flimsy plastic, and some 'brodozers' I've seen would probably ride over the whole car (possibly taking the Healey's occupants' heads with it).

Obviously, hitting the steering wheel in a high-impact head-on would ruin your whole day, but I'm not sure if that's worse than the Takata grenade of an airbag (like in my Mustang).
 
maxwedge5281 said:
i am considering installing at least four point or five point safety belts in my two seater 100/6. i am especially interested in the over the shoulder belts and how to affix them in the rear shelf area or floor pan or rear bulkhead. there are probably lots of pros and cons on their usefulness in event of a crash or rollover without a rollbar. i just do not wish to install one but would...i think...like to be a bit more secure in the car. with the solid steering coumn and no fixed top not the safest situation! thanks for any ideas or help! i do not race the car!
Click to expand...
Got to be careful when installing shoulder belts on any car. If the anchor for the shoulder belt is below your shoulders in an accident it will possibly keep you from hitting your head, but you run the risk of breaking your back in the process. The idea with shoulder belts is to hold your back firmly to the seat, but if it is anchored low your back will arch on impact. Seats with the slots for the belts can fix this.

Dan M.
 
DTDuck said:
Got to be careful when installing shoulder belts on any car. If the anchor for the shoulder belt is below your shoulders in an accident it will possibly keep you from hitting your head, but you run the risk of breaking your back in the process. The idea with shoulder belts is to hold your back firmly to the seat, but if it is anchored low your back will arch on impact. Seats with the slots for the belts can fix this.

Dan M.
Click to expand...

I've been looking for an authoritative answer to this - is there such info that positively states that a seat belt is preferable to a below-the-shoulder harness such as the Healey factory setup?
 
steveg said:
I've been looking for an authoritative answer to this - is there such info that positively states that a seat belt is preferable to a below-the-shoulder harness such as the Healey factory setup?
Click to expand...
I don't know if there is an authoritative source for this. Remember that seat belts were optional for most of the Austin Healey run, January 1968 was the first federal law mandating them and I am fairly certain that the factory never installed any shoulder belts. I know lots of people have done so after the fact, but let's face it, safety was never really the thought when these cars were designed. Personally I would probably just stick with lap belts but I think you need to make your own decisions on this.

Cheers,
Dan M.
 
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