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Seat belts in BN6

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BN6_2197

BN6_2197

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Gents,

I am thinking of fitting seat belts in my BN6. Is there anybody out there whi did this and can give me some advice. I would like them to be removeable since I want to use them time by time only, in cases my 9-yer-old daughter wants to join my for a ride ;-)

Volker
 
Volker,
Not sure about the European suppliers, but British Car Specialists of Stockton, CA, USA sell both the bolt-on and eyebolt types with all the fittings.

Do an eBay search for "vintage racing seat belts".
 
i have them in my bn6....i bought them from moss i believe. i located them like the later cars with the over the shoulder three point mount. they can be very aggravating as they do not rollup and always seems to be hung up on something when putting them on!
 
British Car Specialists sell three-point belts that retract. They mount in the "factory" locations as shown in the Bentley manual for later cars. After what happened to a couple of our club members, three-point belts are way better than just lap belts.
 
John Turney said:
British Car Specialists sell three-point belts that retract. They mount in the "factory" locations as shown in the Bentley manual for later cars. After what happened to a couple of our club members, three-point belts are way better than just lap belts.
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John - could you elaborate on the accident above and how the three-pointers were better than lap belts. I have three-pointers but am concerned about the spinal compression issue with the shoulder belt being mounted so low.
 
Steve--

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of your installation. I could be wrong but unless the third point is higher than one's shoulder the belt that runs diagonally across your chest cannot provide proper restraint.
 
Michael Oritt said:
Steve--

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of your installation. I could be wrong but unless the third point is higher than one's shoulder the belt that runs diagonally across your chest cannot provide proper restraint.
Click to expand...

Michael,

Take a look at this page: https://www.speedhunters.com/2014/06/takata-ask-the-expert-answers/ From this, it seems if the shoulder belt is mounted to the rear seat area, it can be mounted at an angle less than 45 degrees. I haven't checked the shoulder belt mounting points in the rear of the Healey, but they may be ok. I'm not a seat belt expert, so no one should take my word for this. I suspect however, a correctly installed shoulder belt is going to keep the torso from bending at the waist and impacting the dash, windshield and steering column as would happen with just a two point belt.
 
Michael Oritt said:
Steve--

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of your installation. I could be wrong but unless the third point is higher than one's shoulder the belt that runs diagonally across your chest cannot provide proper restraint.
Click to expand...

I've heard that, too. The specified mounting point is lower than the shoulder.

screenshot.1293.jpg
 
steveg said:
I've heard that, too. The specified mounting point is lower than the shoulder.

View attachment 53583
Click to expand...
Steve--

Yes, the installation shown in this picture is one that seem very questionable to me. Envision the seat belt as two segments of a line as it passes over the shoulder with the shoulder as the apex of an angle: As this angle gets further from 180 degrees and closer to 90 degrees it seems to me that one's/shoulder torso can easily move forward. The setup requirements for HANS systems recommend that the anchor for one's shoulder harness be at or above the plane of the shoulder for the same reason.
 
Yeah, but the question is: is it safer overall to use lap belts, or is it better to take one's chances with a three-point belt using the stock mounting points?

In the picture, the bolt is as high as I could get it before the fender well curves outward.
 
Steve--

I think we all know that our cars are inherently unsafe with a steering column that wants to impale us and doors that offer no side protection, etc. Nevertheless we are talking about making our driving a bit safer experience and unquestionably simple lap belts (that is what I have and I would like more) leave a lot to be desired. But a three point set up with a shoulder belt that isn't set up properly to restrain one's torso, etc. etc. provides no more safety than the lap belts and there might be a risk of injury to one's neck by a diagonal belt that winds up in contact with one's neck.

Again, I'm not eschewing three-point belts--I simply suspect that the 3rd point of attachment must be higher than the one you picture. I am not inclined towards the ultimate of a five-point system with proper shoulder straps and an anti-submarine belt as I have in the race cars but I would certainly be interested in a setup for a street Healey where the anchor for the shoulder strap is as high or higher than my shoulder. I don't think that would require a roll bar but it would probably involve the addition of something that would provide a strong and properly located anchoring point.
 
steveg said:
John - could you elaborate on the accident above and how the three-pointers were better than lap belts. I have three-pointers but am concerned about the spinal compression issue with the shoulder belt being mounted so low.
Click to expand...
Steve,

I can't elaborate too much, but they ran into a tree in their 100 and suffered severe facial injuries because their upper torsos were unrestrained. Dave Nock was there if you would like more info.
 
Rick--

The setup pictured is probably used with a conventional pair of shoulder harnesses with the straps wrapped around the bar. For a three point system I think one could get by with something a bit less obtrusive, but yes that would certainly serve.
 
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