Looks like you did a Simpson Install...

Can you post details? How did you attach the shoulder harnesses? The inboard lap belt? Sub strap?



Also, I had resisted buying the GEEZ system due to two limitations (IMHO). 6 minute recording and no real-time display. Sounds like the first one has been resolved... or will be shortly!

 

Actually, Jason was busy cleaning the garage so we could park the car in it and get some work done . So I did the harness install.

The shoulder straps are wrapped around the roll hoop. We used the 48" straps which work out to the right length. Pretty straight-forward.

The lap belt is attached to the rear bolts of the seat rail using bolt-in connectors. The oem bolts were not long enough, so went to the hardware store and got bolts that were 5 mm longer. I don't remember the size, only that it was metric fine thread. Bring the oem bolts and find a nut that fits it and you'll get the size. Also be aware that the bolt goes completely through the car and is exposed to the outside, so try to get stainless steel if possible. If not, just check the bolts periodically.

When not in use, the harness can just be put down behind the seat and doesn't interfere with the oem belt or seat in any way.

There is no substrap since that doesn't really help us for autox. You may be able to mount a v-substrap using the front bolts of the seat rail. If not, you'll have to drill a hole in the floot and mount an eye-bolt.

This may or may not be legal for track use, but for autox it works fine. We are more concerned with not moving around than with safety due to the lower speeds.

We'll try to post pictures of the install when we have a chance.

 

The seats work pretty good for holding me in during an autoX, but I bang my left leg on the door during sudden direction changes. Anyone have a fix for this?

 

Thanks soloiiracer.

Looks like a nice install. I also want the harness mostly to stay in the seat better, but for light track use. Not worried about SCCA legality at this point, as the rollbar/hardtop issue would have to be dealt with first anyway.

Snap some pics of the rear seat frame bolts and harness mounting if you get a chance.

 

RandyP, Kneepads for volleyball work great for knee-banging. The basic cheap ones in XL work great over jeans, or firesuits for that matter, just pull them on and turn them sideways. Plus you get that F1 styling like Mika Hakkinen or David Coulthard.

 

Stay tuned for pics... I'll take 'em tonight, posted no later than tomorrow morning.

-Jason

 

I had been assuming that we couldn't use four point harness for Solo II / Pro Solo. Has there been a rules change or clarification I missed? Solo II rule 3.3.1 (second sentence) says, "Upper body restraints other than the factory system may not be used in open cars without roll bars meeting the full height requirement of Appendix C."

Appendix C height minimum is top of the tallest driver's helmet, and I'm pretty sure SCCA means their definition of Roll Bar as described in Appendix C, not the factory hoops.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by soloiiracer [B]

Actually, Jason was busy cleaning the garage so we could park the car in it and get some work done .

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gregg Lee
[B]I had been assuming that we couldn't use four point harness for Solo II / Pro Solo.

 

Still would love to see the pic's... Especially how the lap belt mounts to the rear seat rails.

Also, any input on Simpson vs. all the other harness manufacturers out there?

 

Sorry about not posting the pics. We'll be putting the shocks and sway bar on Sat so we'll take pictures then.

As for Simpson vs others, brand doesn't really matter too much (just so long as it's good quality). There are several different types of harnesses - cam-lock, latch, and seat-belt.

The cam-lock (I think) is the easiest to use. It uses a central buckle which has spring loaded pins in it. To attach each belt, you just push the connector into the buckle and it "snaps" into place. To release, you either turn the front of the buckle or pull a level. The thing to watch for on brands is where the buckle is permanently attached. It will stay on one of the belts - on the Simpson, it is the right lap belt. On other brands, it is the substrap belt. For me, I didn't fit with the substrap and so I couldn't use the harness. These are the most expensive (~$180)

The latch type is similar except that the buckle is replaced by a latch mechanism. To attach each belt, you have to get all the belts on at once and latch them together at the same time. Not hard, but harder than the cam-lock. Again, check where the latch is attached to be sure you get one that fits. Simpson makes one of these as well. The latch type is cheaper than the cam-lock (~$130)

The third type is made by a company called Shroth, and is more of an autox belt, than a race track one. In fact, i don't think it's legal on race tracks. But it only has two belts which attach to a seat-belt type connector in front of you. The harness has a vertical strap on each side of your chest which connect to the mounting behind the seat. To put it on, you put your arms through the straps, and click the buckle in front of you. Holds you in place pretty well and they are pretty cheap (~$100).

The other thing to check for are pull-up or pull-down tighteners. This is how the belts are adjusted for tightness. The pull-up have the excess coming up from below you and you pull upwards to tighten it. The pull-down have the excess above you and you pull down to tighten. I prefer the pull down, but that's just a personal preference.