Hey people.

Thinking of running bucket seats & 4 point harnesses in the mk3.

Been thinking of the rear seatbelt mounting points and I'm not keen on the angle the belts would sit.

I have seen various versions of harness bars, some simply between the rear upper seatbelt points.

So I have seen people run harnesses off a rear strut brace in the past - well a turret brace maybe; one mounted on the body not the damper rod tops.

Obviously these braces are not designed for this, and I wouldn't do that.

However, I was thinking of making a brace similar, but stronger.

So would be steel for a start.

Have a plate either end. Welded onto the cross tube around 50mm OD.

Plates would be bolted to turrets. Around 4-6mm thick, and a plate inside the arch/turret too instead of just washers.

Be affixed with two m10 bolts either side.

Now I know people use "eye bolts" through the floor for lower mounts, typically these are m10 thread, and have a spreader plate on the nut beneath of around 2" square diagonally.

So my brace would be around the same thickness bar as a roll cage tube.

Have 4x 10mm fixings

Be thick and have a plate inside and out - with area greater than that of usual eyebolt spreader plates.

So obviously these eyebolts go through your floor. I'd imagine this is thicker than the rear turrets?

What other drawbacks? Potentially the turrets folding in a rear impact resulting in slack harnesses as opposed to the floor not creasing so bad?

Just after some advice, IMO the brace/harness bar design would be up to it - just if the turrets would be I guess?

Any advice?

are you saying to use 50mm o/d tube if so thats very big generally roll cages are 38mm most braces and 44mm for main hoop for extra strength they are generally 1.6mm wall thickness at the minimum but alot of what I've used is 3mm wall thickness for extra strength

tbh for this brace i would go with 38mm o/d tube Nick are the harnesses just going to be wrapped around the bar or do you plan on bolting them to it

I've been looking at buckets, using the original fabric, seen some subtle ones the three point belt would cover but I'm also looking at deep ones.

But I'd just feed the three point through it, with transmission tunnel mounted buckles behind the handbrake to sort that side.

I lean forward at times, stuff having no inertia that'd wind me right up, unless you can put the inertia in the back and hook the harness to it..

Was a guesstimation about the size, knew was about 40-50ish lol.

Harness would wrap around the bar not hook on - and have plates to prevent the sideway movement of the straps on the bar - much like a roll cage would.

Guess my concern is the body strength there for mounting such a bar? It's okay having a bar up to the job but if the thing you're bolting it to isn't - it's a bit pointless hey?

You can buy harness inertia buckles.... Only designed for 3 point harnesses mind. I don't think that's the question nick is asking though.

Nope - I made a thread about the inertia jobbies not too long ago actually for the point Mikey makes!

I'm running 3 point harnesses and i have a rollcage, the bar at the rear of the cage is 38mm OD and has the harness mounting parts on the bar, so that would suffice - remember the original seat belt mounting points use M12 fine thread and are on a section of the chassis reinforced by a plate roughly 3" sq shall we say - so as long as you do this to hold the bar in or exceed it then they should be fine!

Ah M12 bolts are they standard, M10 was a guess lol.

I'm sure the actual bar id be fabricating would be adequate, was more concerned about the metal thickness and the strength of the turrets themselves.

I do like the idea of the inertia type harnesses - I like to get a good look around when pulling out of junctions and such. Be nice to be able to reach to turn the radio up too!

Kiz may drop you a text sometime regarding your seats and how you've mounted to the standard bases, or will be mounting or whatever.

Thanks guys

could be M10 - M12 was a guess.

You need to look for something like "securon sh700" seatbelts like mine, perfect for what you want.

i wouldnt say the turrets are very strong at all - the metal is quite thin, if using it i would be tempted to plate on bolt sides and bolt through it so it has to tear out a large section of steel before it comes off!

I had Audi TT seats in my pool and i fabricated the floor to accept the seats and have now used audi TT runners on my Recaros. you need to decide if you want to use the existing runners (which are easy to make new - Not made from existing seat ones) and mount the bucket seats to the flat base they give (old seat runners would be to high) or you make flat sections on the floor to mount your seats (see yoofs build thread) however returning to standard seats at a later date wont be easy if you choose this route! if you want to come over one day over Xmas with your seat and some metal i can help you make a seat runner

Will have a look mate - are they inertia ones?

Yeah would be plated either side, probably 3.5-4mm steel, around7x3.5" plate either side.

I just wanted something that will slot into standard runners, with height adjustment so I can see where I'm going but others can drive my car if needs be haha!

May do mate yeah, only got a few odd days left at work now until the new year so!

The mounting bolts are imperial thread!!! 7/16" - 20 UNF

N 98910301 fitted bolt / also use: 7/16"-20UNFX 34,5

Nickoo i have some cobra (i think) harnesses i wont be using as I'm lazy if you are interested?

I did reply again after Kiz but its not there :)

Think I'm gonna get retractable ones Eric, but cheers!

No worries dude lemme know if not as i doubt ill be using them

Think I'm pretty much decided on this harness bar lark now anyway, coincidently iv found lots of old bits of roll cage with the proper belt collars around them etc so may be able to adapt them.

Just deciding on fixed 4 points or retractable 3 points.

And I want some light seats, but that's another game all together!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AA-202A-OMP-ROLL...=item4abdfe3137

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Securon-Harness-...=item3f1de4a3bd

Will probably go for the Corbeau retracables if I do.

Seats wise I didn't wanna spend more than £500 on a new pair and ideally wanted light, but they're fairly expensive, some off the shelf sparco ones are around 8.5kg, they may have to do

got to remember that you get what you pay for - some of these cheap bucket seats are awful to sit in and very uncomfortable! id try a few out before you buy any!

+ some are cheap shite, and the seatbelt paths are like they are designed to wear out quickly - and the nasty cheap stuff looks awful.

i spent £350 a seat on mine and although at first it was a gut wrencher to pay for them - I've not regretted my decision as they hold you in tight and are comfortable unlike the bucket seats i had in my old ford which were back breaking

Will defo be trying some out before buying, sticking to reputable brands too, but yeah I have read that the difference between some is amazing. Maybe I could stretch to £600 for a pair, not sure!