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How to mount a racing harness?

SteveSS

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I'm not seeing any diagrams on the net. We bought a 1970 Pontiac Tempest. It's pretty much gutted, has a Chevy 454 & th350. Don't know hardly anything about it. Battery in the back with cut off. Has two racing seat shells. No seat belts no roll cage. It's not fast enough for a roll cage but I would like to install belts. I suspect 3 out of the 5 points mount to the floor but where do the shoulder ones go? Do I have to build something? Is 5 better that 4? I heard somewhere 4 was better. This car will still be street legal barely. They did that lock up thing to the rear gears.
 
Shoulder ones don't go w/o a roll bar. The anchor point ends up at the wrong angle.
Doug
 
not knowing the car or the cage construction or floor etc.

recommended;
shoulder harness should pull you 'back in the seat'
not 'down' so much, as just back 'holding you in place'
the downward pulling/compression if you roll
is really common to cause breakage/severe back problems

you really need a properly placed cross bar
just below your shoulders,
to attach the shoulder harnesses properly
so it doesn't create injuries

5 point harness
1) is a crotch strap
(that keeps you from sliding under the belts in a wreck/rollover)
2) shoulder straps
2) a waist strap/seatbelt/lap-belt

4 point harness
same basic design as above
but has no 'crotch strap' between you legs

some people like & some classes, require, suggest
some sanctioning bodies NHRA/IHRA tech,
require some sort of arm & head restraints too,
neck collar or Hans Device,
a fire jacket at a min at some min et/speed level (not sure what now)
or sfi certified 3 layer fire-suit
(if the trans isn't shielded or inside the car with you, no trans-tunnel etc.)
depending on how fast & sanctioning body rules

lots of variables to consider

a lot;
depends on the floor, understructure & mounting types
some are wrap around the roll-cage style,
some bolt to/thru the floor
with steel floors &/or reinforcement,
back up fender washers & steel plates,
threw bolts & mounting rings/eyelets
chassis reinforcements for belts
(when you have a cage it changes or can change requirements to the rules
of what specific sfi safety equipment, is needed drastically, do your due diligence
)
really depends on the cag style, material in the floor & frame etc.

if it runs 11.49 et or slower a 6pt bar

(IIRC) with a 4pt harness
(only a quality locking lap-belt in most cases)
is within or exceeds the rules
9.99 et or quicker or 149mph & faster,
the rules are far more strict sfi certified every 2 years, sown on patch
far more safety equipment & a comp. license required

get a NHRA rules book or go to their site & rules
it shows belt placement

I hope some of that helps

good luck
 
Last edited:
That lock up thing to the rear gears. Do you mean they welded the spider gears? If so that's a big no-no. Get a spool. Then ya need axles and long wheel studs, open ended lug nuts......
 
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