Roll cage question - strip & open track

[PaxtonShelby]

Just an FYI, 5 point harness is not legal for the street, not dot approved. Will not pass state inspection either.

Thanks vert - fortunately I have antique plates on my '66. No inspection!

[Martin0660]

Some crossbars between the main hoop can bolt-in/out like the MM 6-point Bob and my brother have (this has to be welded to be NHRA legal).

Yep, mine is welded.

[TYR FRYR]

Here's what my back seat looks like. The crossbar is right at face-height, so I didn't let anyone ride the back.

[ame]http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t196/LKS613/IMG_1514.jpg[/ame]

[PaxtonShelby]

Hi again folks. Well, the Procar Seats are patiently sitting in their boxes in the back seat of the '66. They're really cool looking - I can't wait to find the time to install them.

I was re-reading all the help you guys have offered in this thread, and totally appreciate all of it and agree that the hoop crossbar would be very dangerous to passengers in the rear seat in the event of an accident. That's a great point. I doubt the lap belts in the back seat would hold passengers back from contacting the crossbar with the face/head. So I'm thinking that getting some 5-point harnesses for the back seat might make things much safer for the rare occasions when folks are in the back seat. A crossbar welded in behind the rear seat would be a good place to mount the harnesses. Hmmm...

Besides this, the next thing to research is upgrading the 28 spline 9" rear currently in the car. Coincidentally, that also is the cheapest upgrade on the list...compared to a tranny upgrade, blowproof bell, stroker motor...

Dang...I need a raise...

[Mark Aubele]

Just an FYI, 5 point harness is not legal for the street, not dot approved. Will not pass state inspection either.

I always just left the factory belts in the car too. I hate harnesses on the street anyway.

Hi again folks. Well, the Procar Seats are patiently sitting in their boxes in the back seat of the '66. They're really cool looking - I can't wait to find the time to install them.

You may want to reconsider those seats (if they are the ones in the photos you posted). I can't see a hole to properly mount the sub belt. If you are going to track the car (road course), you need to have that properly mounted. The sub belt is extremely important, it needs to pull the lap belt straight down. Those harnesses can kill you if not properly installed.

[PaxtonShelby]

Thanks for that info. I was considering not using the sub belt, basically making them 4-point belts. Would that be a problem at the strip?

[Mark Aubele]

Thanks for that info. I was considering not using the sub belt, basically making them 4-point belts. Would that be a problem at the strip?

IMO, I would never wear a harness without a sub belt. It is there for a very important reason, and it isn't to keep you from going under the belts necessarily; it is more to keep the lap belt from coming up and crushing your chest. The belts just cannot be effective without it. Another option for you would be to run a six point belt; they attach to the same point the lap belts do, you actually sit on them, and they keep the belt from coming up on you in an accident. This is what I did when I was hillclimbing my M3 when it still had the stock seats. You may actually find this option a bit more comfortable even, and the price difference is negligible.

[PaxtonShelby]

Hey Mark - thanks again for the info. I think that 6-point option sounds good. I really love the look of the Procar seats in an early Mustang - the upholstery looks like it belongs in there. So I will definitely look into the 6-point option. I do want the car to be safe, even though it isn't ever going to be crazy-fast like lots of the cars here on SCS.

The belts will be one of the last things I buy, since they're only good for what - 2 years? at the drag strip? My 2-point 3" Shelby-style lap belts will have to do for the time being until I'm ready to do the cage / belts.

Thanks again - I really appreciate your help and input!