Another seat belt question. 67-8 Shelby retractable style

[RyanG85]

On my 65 Restomod Coupe, I've added a 4 pt roll bar. I was planning on welding a tab to the side for the 3 pt seat belts to keep the mounting point lower. After some thought, I'm thinking of welding a tab up top like the 67-8 shelby roll bars had. Anyone try this? Any recommendations on seat belts that will work with this idea? Would something like this work?

This is not being built as a race car. Just a fun street car that I want to feel safe in. The roll bar looks like this. I plan on using late model GT seats up front.

 

[daveSanborn]

This is not being built as a race car. Just a fun street car that I want to feel safe in. The roll bar looks like this.

Okay, this is how it is, but you're probably not going to like it. With the pictured roll bar you've pretty much created a death trap for any rear seat passenger(s). While it may make you "feel" safer, what you really should be doing is stuffing blank liability release waiver forms in your glovebox to be signed by a responsible adult prior to letting anyone sit in the rear seat as a passenger.

You may say to yourself "I'll never let anyone sit back there", but the reality of the matter is that eventually a situation will arise where someone will sit back there. Any kind of vehicle impact will likely result in a rear seat passenger caving their skull in on either the main hoop or rear support leg.... while your 3/4/5 point belt will keep you safe in order to stand trial/sit behind bars.

My advice is to remove the rear seats and install a flimsy FG shelf that can't support the weight of a rear seat passenger.

Okay, getting off of my high horse now....

To answer your question, yes, you'd be better off mounting the 3rd/4th point up higher on the main hoop than lower on one side of the hoop for a 3pt design. Technically the upper mounting point should be 2-6" higher than your shoulders when seated. This is to reduce spinal compression in event of an accident/impact.

I use a very similar belt in my '66 (I have the camlock design instead of the hook and latch) that has the shoulder straps mounted to a main hoop crossbar installed at just above seated shoulder level.... and my rear seat is removed.


Roll bars are for "real race cars" and really have no place in a passenger vehicle.