Hi all,
I have got a question for folks. I am planning on mounting the lap belt of my 5 pt harness in the factory bolt locations. I want to retain the existing seatbelt as well because my car is still street legal(ish). I have heard that this is a bad idea as putting both belts on the bolt would create additional leverage since the bolt doesn't go in quite as far. There seems to be two flaws with this logic:
1) If you take some of the washers that allow rotational flexibility of the factory belt off the bolt, the bolt actually goes in farther that in the original set-up.

2) If you pull up the carpeting, you will see that the bolt near the door sticks out a full inch from the metal where it bolts in - this is because there is a little metal spacer-cylinder that is designed to bring the bolt out flush with the carpet.

So here's the question - has anyone actually seen a bolt mounted like this break or pull out or is just one of those things that people think "could" happen?
-Phillip

 

I used to have both mounted in my car when I first started too. I used the 'snap-in' ends on the harness. I replaced the doorsill bolt with the eyebolt (designed for belts-available from a race store or internet). I used the another eyebolt with a back-up plate (under the car) & a washer (inside the car) bolted thru the tran. tunnel. I used locktite on the sill bolt. On the tran. tunnel bolt, I used a aircraft type nut. I used to clip (camlock) the harness together when I was driving on the street. I didn't want the ends flying around if something were to happen. BTW, I have not seen a properly secured bolt break or body work pull out/fail. I am a fireman & go on vehical accidents all the time.

 

This will all work, BUT.....

Any change you make to the stock seat belts or mounts might cause you some legal problems. I'm not a lawyer (nor do I play one on TV), but messing with the DOT approved stuff is not a good idea.

 

Factory bolts are plenty long enough for harness ends and the regular seatbelt hardware.

 

I'm doing the same thing, the eyebolts Racer wholesale sent me are pretty short (3/4 inch shank) so i got some longer eyebolts from http://www.ompusa.com/sabelt.htm , they're the longer gold type, will have pics of install hopefully next week. I think ITR#231 is doing the exact same thing, he may have pics already.

 

Here in VA you can have a new restraint system setup installed in your car then approved by VDOT specifically for your use, a lot of cops will not ticket you solely for a better safety system then they even have

 

No problems in NC with that ish. I know ppl that run their harnesses all the time....