Mounting Race Harness?

[HazzaHSV]

I did a bit of a search and didn't find much about mounting race harnesses into a standard commodore. For all you guys out there with road/race cars how are you mounting your race harnesses. For me it will be for track days and the occasional regularity/hillclimb/club event. I was first thinking of getting a 3 point 2" to start off with and mounting it to the alternative child restraint (directly behind the drivers seat) in the parcel shelf. After checking this mount it seems very very flimsy and has no reinforcing plates etc. Neither does the primary child restraint in the middle of the rear parcel shelf. Am I right in thinking a substantial impact would rip through the shelf? Or are they designed to cope somehow? Also I measured from my waist, over my shoulder and back to that mount and it was 1.8 - 1.9 metres so do harnesses even have straps that long?

Next idea was to use a 4 point 3" harness and mount it between the rear passenger seat where the factory lap sash mounts for the passenger directly behind the driver. This means less slack, mount points that are designed for adults but is quite an angle downwards from the drivers seat.

Thanks.

Hazza.

[HazzaHSV]

Forgot to mention its for a VY.

[BLACK1]

Do a search on "RACE SEAT AND HARNESS MOUNTING"

HOPE THIS HELPS

[HazzaHSV]

Yeah thanks. I already did a search on the forums, didn't come up with anything. Google search is very broad. I know there are at least 10 members that have race experience with fairly standard Commodore's so just wondering where they mount their harnesses.

Cheers.

[Justice R8]

Romove the rear seat and the bolts for the seat belts OS rear passenger, Replace with eye bolts and your harness will clip into them when you need to. Do the same with your inertia reel belt in the front and your harness will clip there. The only one that is a pain is your left side strap which goes over your left leg to the floor you need to get and eye bolt and the plate for it, drill a hole for the bolt and tack the plate on from underneath the car. This is for a 4 point harness. I use 6 point with crutch strap but only with my race seat. I would never use a 3 point. You still have to drill it anyway on the left for your front mounting point and you would have to drill the rear in the centre if using 3 point.

[ProVK]

Seen bars made up that run across the width of the parcel shelf that mount to the shelf (probaly by the child seat mounts) than the bar had attachment points for the harness. Looked very neat and would be easy to remove. I think it was made by Starr Performance.

[HazzaHSV]

Thanks for the info Darren.

Yeah I wasn't real impressed with the 3 point ones but don't want to hack up the car so thought it might be an option. The other reason was that the standard seat doesn't have much width at the top between the headrest so I am thinking the shoulder straps might slip off the side of the seat during racing. A 3 point would solve this because it combines the shoulder straps just behind the headrest keeping them tight to the headrest. But I think I will go 4 point and see how it goes. With the left waist strap is it not possible to mount it to where the OEM lap sash buckle is bolted in?


Romove the rear seat and the bolts for the seat belts OS rear passenger, Replace with eye bolts and your harness will clip into them when you need to. Do the same with your inertia reel belt in the front and your harness will clip there. The only one that is a pain is your left side strap which goes over your left leg to the floor you need to get and eye bolt and the plate for it, drill a hole for the bolt and tack the plate on from underneath the car. This is for a 4 point harness. I use 6 point with crutch strap but only with my race seat. I would never use a 3 point. You still have to drill it anyway on the left for your front mounting point and you would have to drill the rear in the centre if using 3 point.

[BOBGEN111]

I am fitting one this week to my commo so I will see how it goes but i think I will do what justice said.
If you want a good harness, Revolution Racegear down here sell 5 point, 3" webbing rpm harness for 159 and that is fully approved for racing.

[seldo]

I seem to recall (it's been a long time since I looked at a CAMS manual) but they do specify that the rear mount cannot be any greater than something like 30deg lower than the top of the driver's seat so that there isn't a downwarding crushing moment in an impact. Might be good to check.

[BLACK1]

FINALLY FOUND THE ORIGINAL POST
Dont know why the search didnt work but Here is what I have done..
4 POINT HARNESS

Rear belts connect to a harness bar which runs the full length of the rear parcel shelf. Drill out the 3 child restraint bolts to take 19mm HT bolts and nuts and put 75mmx50mm reinforcing plates under the shelf at the 3 bolts.

Front belts bolt to original belt point on the pillar and the other to a new eye bolt on the console side of the front seat again to original mounting point.
The harness bar can also take passenger belts if you need them.
Harness bar available from Starrs or elsewhere.

Beware of the angle you create by using the rear seat belt points at the floor as the upwards angle of the belt may not be within CAMS specs. Also when tight the belts will be pulling down on your shoulders.

[Justice R8]

I seem to recall (it's been a long time since I looked at a CAMS manual) but they do specify that the rear mount cannot be any greater than something like 30deg lower than the top of the driver's seat so that there isn't a downwarding crushing moment in an impact. Might be good to check.

Cams check and approve each rally. the angle is within the limits

[vy clubbie]

Hello
I have mounted mine the way Justice has said earlier, the only difference I drilled and tapped the left seat belt anchor point to the same size as the harness eye bolt and leave it in there, the cover fitted back over the top so you can hardly see it, I agree with the others and not fit a 3 point. You'll find that once you are strapped in tight it will not move off your shoulders.
The other option is the rear parcel shelf bar sold by Starr performance for about $700.00 that has extra plates etc under the parcell shelf

Mark

[HazzaHSV]

Wow! Is that price current? If so I will have to try and get them to price match as they wanted 350 odd here. Let me know how your install goes Bob.

Thanks for all the info guys.


I am fitting one this week to my commo so I will see how it goes but i think I will do what justice said.
If you want a good harness, Revolution Racegear down here sell 5 point, 3" webbing rpm harness for 159 and that is fully approved for racing.

[team illucid]

I have seen another setup where there was a half bar that went behind the front seats and had the harnesses bolted to that. Only a couple of hundred for the bar + engineers certificate apparently.

[BOBGEN111]

Wow! Is that price current? If so I will have to try and get them to price match as they wanted 350 odd here. Let me know how your install goes Bob.

Thanks for all the info guys.


The price is current as I bought mine last week.

[HazzaHSV]

Ok I sussed out the $159 harness. There is a 15% off sale this weekend at Revolution Racegear stores and this harness has been reduced from $179 to $159 in anticipation of the sale.

It is a 5 point 3" like BOBGENIII said. It is CAMS approved, but for 2 years not 5 years like the others. It uses a latch lock style buckle not the preferred rotary clasp. It is also not ADR approved so can't use it on the road. Also it is a bolt in type not a clip in type so eye bolts can't be used.

But the corresponding RPM harness with all the bells and whistles is some $400 bucks so it's still really good value for a very safe harness. And since I am only ever going to be at weekend hacker level it'll probably be the one I go for too.

Thanks for the info BOBGENIII.

[HazzaHSV]

Just an update for anyone following this thread.

The $159 harness can be changed from a bolt in type to a snap-in type very easily by purchasing snap-in replacement buckles for 8 bucks each (http://www.vpw.com.au/productgroup.asp?CatID=11&SubCatID=891&priorCatID=891&PrdGrpID=3214). So an extra 32 bucks to make it into a 4 point snap-in.

[555]

I'd just like to resurrect this old but very helpful thread.

Given that I wouldn't trust myself to drill the transmission for the 4 point harness mount, is there anyone in sydney that could install the mounts for me and supply the harness itself, too?

[scotty]

I am also interested.

do people have some pics of their install?

I am not keen drilling through the car, can you use a seat mounding point?

[HazzaHSV]

Hey guys.

Yeah any of the sponsor's in Sydney could do the hole for you. Sam's would have done plenty including JusticeR8's cars, and Sonny with NickS car etc.

For the harness and the eye bolts and the reinforcing plate for the trans tunnel hole, Revolution Racegear have all the stuff. The three other mounts are easy as, as you just unbolt the OEM bolt and replace with eye bolts. One of the eye bolts needs to be extra long though.

Here are picture's of the mounts and eye bolts (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=700917&postcount=6).

I have heard you could do it without the trans tunnel hole by tapping the OEM thread in the seat base for the required eye bolt thread size but was just as easy doing it in the tunnel.

[555]

Well that is the issue I have I don't want to drill the transmission to mount the left leg strap in a 4 point harness, but from what I read the options are either that or by the STARR harness bar, and I don't want to do that either, hence I'd rather get a professional to install it and I can just clip it on and off for track days. Looking for a reliable shop in Sydney...

<edit>

Thanks Hazza you just answered my question mate good timing :-)

If I just tell revolution I need the bolts for a commodore install will they know the gear to supply?

[markone2]

I am also interested.

do people have some pics of their install?

I am not keen drilling through the car, can you use a seat mounding point?

My 4 point harness is strapped into the original seat belt mount itself....an no not by me ,but professional installer :confused:...however I have never yet used it once whilst racing.. preferring the original lap belt

note .....longer bolt is required

[HazzaHSV]

The 3 eye bolts are just the standard run of the mill eye bolts (often when you purchase a harness it will come with 4 of them anyway). The 4th you will need is just a normal eye bolt with more thread. And the reinforcing plate is the standard one they sell which has a nut welded onto it.

In terms of the harness, they sell bolt in or snap in types, also rotary vs latch style. The snap in is better as much easier to snap in and out, and the rotary buckle is better too, but prices go up. You can convert the bolt in type to a snap in type, but you can't change the latch style buckle to a rotary buckle. Also 3 inch wide straps are much better than the 2 inch wide ones.


Thanks Hazza you just answered my question mate good timing :-)

If I just tell revolution I need the bolts for a commodore install will they know the gear to supply?

[HSV Listy]

I have a couple of picks of my install. Rear parcel shelf mount type as per the instructions. It was from Revolution race gear. RPM with williams sholder pads. Works a treat and approved for the track only. It must be removed on the street and you use your normal seatbelt. Be wary with the length of the straps. I have my seat as far back as possible because of my size (virtually in the back seat) and the straps just make it. I think if you have a racing seat the straps can go downwards instread of like this. The instructions come with the kit so read them. The set cost $189 and $20 for the pads. Install and certification cost $300.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/Newharness020.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/Newharness015.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/Newharness014.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/Newharness012.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/Newharness010.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/Newharness018.jpg

[HazzaHSV]

Nice. Is there a reason the rear belts cross? Or just stops them from sliding away when loosened?

The instructions also say a down angle of up to 45(?) degrees is fully compliant, hence why using the OEM rear seat mounts is compliant, and gets around the problem of harnesses with shorter straps.

What is involved with certification for that price? My understanding was if it's passed by a CAMS scrutineer at a race meeting that's all that is needed.


I have a couple of picks of my install. Rear parcel shelf mount type as per the instructions. It was from Revolution race gear. RPM with williams sholder pads. Works a treat and approved for the track only. It must be removed on the street and you use your normal seatbelt. Be wary with the length of the straps. I have my seat as far back as possible because of my size (virtually in the back seat) and the straps just make it. I think if you have a racing seat the straps can go downwards instread of like this. The instructions come with the kit so read them. The set cost $189 and $20 for the pads. Install and certification cost $300.[/IMG]

[HSV Listy]

Mine was passed at the track by the CAMS scruiteneer for the class i am in (streetcar shootout). I gave them a copy of the receipt from the installation, the purchase receipt and a copy of the mechanics seatbelt installation ticket (he does all the buses in town).

They cross to stop them sliding out the sides of the seat and make sure they stay over the shoulders on each side of the neck.

My install is as per the instructions given with the harness. As said earlier if you have a racing seat the angle can change. Standard seats the angle allowed is different so just read the instructions and stick to that. Mine is a standard seat.