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belting a BJ8
- Thread starter WALTER
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Why would anyone want to be belted into one of these rolling "death traps"?
D
D
bighly
Jedi Knight
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I wonder which is worse, being thrown or staying with the ship? I have lap belts to keep me from being bounced around too much or thrown from side to side. Somehow makes me feel more secure. Visions of the B&W photo of James Dean's 550 Spider stick in my head when I see an oncoming Turnipseed (my nickname for unattentive drivers of SUVs).
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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I'm a dedicated seat belt user, but I'm not crazy about the combination of soft top cars and three-point belts. If your car has a roll bar, then I think three-points would be OK (when I bought a new Miata a few years ago, I drove it home and parked it until I had installed the roll bar).
On the other hand, I agree with bighly: regular two-point lap belts seem like a good idea. I'm looking at this from the view of "before a potential crash".
The lap belts will keep you planted in the driver's seat, where you belong, even in fairly violent maneuvers. This way, you may have a shot at controlling the car (and possibly getting things back under control). All of this assumes that the driver does not panic, slam on the brakes, and close his eyes (but we know that AH drivers would *never* do that!).
As far as post-crash results, I realize that there are many people who are ejected from a crashed car and have lived. Despite some of these cases, it's my opinion that you're generally safer not to be ejected.
Odinary lap belts are cheap and easy to install. Here's some:
https://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=4286&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&storeId=10101
As an aside, I've heard that some older cars entered in concourse events have had points deducted when seat belts were installed where none were originally fitted (and we may have even discussed this topic here once before). If it's true, it's a bad idea in my opinion.
On the other hand, I agree with bighly: regular two-point lap belts seem like a good idea. I'm looking at this from the view of "before a potential crash".
The lap belts will keep you planted in the driver's seat, where you belong, even in fairly violent maneuvers. This way, you may have a shot at controlling the car (and possibly getting things back under control). All of this assumes that the driver does not panic, slam on the brakes, and close his eyes (but we know that AH drivers would *never* do that!).
As far as post-crash results, I realize that there are many people who are ejected from a crashed car and have lived. Despite some of these cases, it's my opinion that you're generally safer not to be ejected.
Odinary lap belts are cheap and easy to install. Here's some:
https://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=4286&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&storeId=10101
As an aside, I've heard that some older cars entered in concourse events have had points deducted when seat belts were installed where none were originally fitted (and we may have even discussed this topic here once before). If it's true, it's a bad idea in my opinion.
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"As an aside, I've heard that some older cars entered in concourse events have had points deducted when seat belts were installed where none were originally fitted (and we may have even discussed this topic here once before). If it's true, it's a bad idea in my opinion."
I don't have my AHCA Concours standards available but I am certain that there is a specific statement to the effect that no deduction will be made for seatbelts. Now you'll notice I said "Concours" and what various (non-AHCA) "Concourse" events do is a different matter
I don't have my AHCA Concours standards available but I am certain that there is a specific statement to the effect that no deduction will be made for seatbelts. Now you'll notice I said "Concours" and what various (non-AHCA) "Concourse" events do is a different matter
Frank C.
Jedi Hopeful
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I'll jump in on the side of the lap belts only. When I bought my BJ8 I had these installed just to meet the Pennsylvania inspection laws and to hold me in the seat when going over the local hills ... at the posted speed limits of course. I've been in Healeys with 3-point harnesses but I just find them too confining.
hi each makes a valid point but I am afraid you are only considering the worst case scenario and not a relatively mild to moderate event; in which case the torque exerted on the spine, cranial nerves and internal organs should you not be wearing at 3 point belt could be castastrophic. The "I'd be better off thrown from the car" was proven empirically false twenty years ago.
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With an old Healey, staying in or being thrown out in a crash, is a moot point. You don't stand much of a chance either way. The ultimate in defensive driving, & some luck are the only things that will save you.
A front end impact will put the steering column right into your upper chest or head with a three point belt & into your gut with a lap belt. The far end of the steering shaft is only inches behind the very flimsy front bumper & sheetmetal.
A rear impact will dump fuel all over everything & incinerate you. Shades of Pinto.
A drivers side impact will cave the door in & mash you between the door & transmission tunnel.
A rollover will flatten the windshield & the whole upper half of your body will get mashed or scraped off.
I do use a lap belt to keep me in the seat under violent antics so that I can hopefully maintain control. It's hard to drive when sitting on the transmission tunnel.
None of these encounters need to be at very high speed to get you. I have had a 1/2 mph front impact bend the front shroud & fenders slightly. Since crash energy is a squared function of speed things get worse very quickly.
At least we can nervously joke about it.
D
A front end impact will put the steering column right into your upper chest or head with a three point belt & into your gut with a lap belt. The far end of the steering shaft is only inches behind the very flimsy front bumper & sheetmetal.
A rear impact will dump fuel all over everything & incinerate you. Shades of Pinto.
A drivers side impact will cave the door in & mash you between the door & transmission tunnel.
A rollover will flatten the windshield & the whole upper half of your body will get mashed or scraped off.
I do use a lap belt to keep me in the seat under violent antics so that I can hopefully maintain control. It's hard to drive when sitting on the transmission tunnel.
None of these encounters need to be at very high speed to get you. I have had a 1/2 mph front impact bend the front shroud & fenders slightly. Since crash energy is a squared function of speed things get worse very quickly.
At least we can nervously joke about it.
D
tahoe healey
Yoda
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Thanks, Dave. Now I'm depressed. Or should I just buy a trailer and tow the thing? One guy out here wears a helmet on our runs.
Wow! I never thought this one through! I never realized Healeys were so unsafe! This is really interesting because I spent three weeks of my seventeenth year in the hospital due to injuries recieved in a "head-on" accident in a Triumph Spitfire. Heaven help me if my wife reads this thread - especially Dave's comments! She'd have a "valid" reason to never ride with me in the Healey again, not to mention never let me drive the beast again! (However, there is not tooo much chance of her reading this forum so I think I am safe - from her "safety mindedness" anyway. Suzi is one of those that thinks we need to have an Expedition or some such behemoth to be safe. Geeze....maybe I should sell her? I mean the Healey, but if I got a good bid....... Regards! sTever
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tahoe healey:
Thanks, Dave. Now I'm depressed. Or should I just buy a trailer and tow the thing? One guy out here wears a helmet on our runs.<hr></blockquote>
The cars are just as safe now as they were in 1960. Few people worried about it then. I doubt if very many people were seriously injured or killed in Healeys as compared to the other cars.
Only our perspective has changed. We've been brainwashed into being afraid of everything. We're used to expecting - even demanding - cradle to grave protection from all danger or unpleasantness.
A quote from "The Rose"
"And the soul, afraid of dying, that never learns to live"
Which are you? - meaning you collectively.
D
Thanks, Dave. Now I'm depressed. Or should I just buy a trailer and tow the thing? One guy out here wears a helmet on our runs.<hr></blockquote>
The cars are just as safe now as they were in 1960. Few people worried about it then. I doubt if very many people were seriously injured or killed in Healeys as compared to the other cars.
Only our perspective has changed. We've been brainwashed into being afraid of everything. We're used to expecting - even demanding - cradle to grave protection from all danger or unpleasantness.
A quote from "The Rose"
"And the soul, afraid of dying, that never learns to live"
Which are you? - meaning you collectively.
D
tahoe healey
Yoda
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Actually we drive these cars slower than we did when new and we take better care and maintainance. Most of us look for the road less traveled (and more fun) instead of the freeways. That's why insurance is less on them. Far less risk.
roofinwilly
Senior Member
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"The only difference having seatbelts makes in an Austin Healey is whether you have an open or closed casket!! "
Good one!
Us older guys remember before belts
Drove like idiots, plastered, 2 & 3 passengers, etc etc.
Are we trained or what?
too much
Good one!
Us older guys remember before belts
Drove like idiots, plastered, 2 & 3 passengers, etc etc.
Are we trained or what?
mbrooks
Senior Member
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I agree we didn't use to care. I too am old enough to remember the seatbelt law coming in. All it meant to me at the time was that I had to spend money I didn't have fitting belts to a car not designed for them.
Her indoors is insisting I fit them to the new toy now though. So, going back to the original question, any tips on the best place to fit the mounting points?
56 BN-2
Her indoors is insisting I fit them to the new toy now though. So, going back to the original question, any tips on the best place to fit the mounting points?
56 BN-2
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My wife and I drove in last summer's "Rallye Des Alpes" in a 3000 that we borrowed. It was equipped with competition-style 4-point belts and they greatly contributed to our ability to stay in our seats. I'd put them in my car in a minute but as Dave observes 100's just don't seem to be set up to easily receive them.
IMHO anything that increases my survivabilty in an accident is worth pursuing and I wouldn't drive without lapbelts.
IMHO anything that increases my survivabilty in an accident is worth pursuing and I wouldn't drive without lapbelts.
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
....I don't have any idea where you would put a third point for a shoulder belt.
<hr></blockquote>
A roll bar is a *perfect* place to mount a shoulder belt/shoulder harness....plus they look cool.
....I don't have any idea where you would put a third point for a shoulder belt.
<hr></blockquote>
A roll bar is a *perfect* place to mount a shoulder belt/shoulder harness....plus they look cool.
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Shure