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seatbelt school...

38377k5 said:
As I understand it, the shoulder harness mounts should be 0-10 deg below the top of your shoulder as per any of the racing specifications. I'll probably have time to find proof tomorrow if no one beats me to it.
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I stand corrected. I should have said "on a daily driver". If you were racing yes, because you want to be tight. In a daily driver, if it were tight and pulling down, it gets uncomfortable in a hurry. So you loosen them, then they do not work as well.
 
Big Blzn said:
I run my harness in a 4 point setup with it not attached to my cage. For the lap belts I used the stock belt location and for the shoulder harness I used a big azz bolt with ring at the head and drilled through the tub and used proper backing plates to resist pull-through. I will try to take a pic of the set up if you like. However, I am very anxious to get the seats and belts tied to the cage.
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Shoulder belts attached to the floor???

Scary :yikes:
 
I was also looking at the retractable from Corbeau, but their site says none of their belts are DOT approved. Can anyone confirm that?
 
Big Blzn said:
I thought that the seat belt have to just be the same type of function as came in the stock truck. For instance, since I havea 4 point harness and only drive around town in just the lap belt they can't sight me for no shoulder harness since my '72 didn't come stock with shoulder harness. Does Ryokens have factory retractable belts?
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If you install belts with more functions (IE: lap and shoulder) you MUST wear the complete belt at all times. If you're only wearing the lap belt and get pulled over you risk the chance of getting a ticket for improper use of seat belts. I know several people that have gotten a ticket for that in the past. Look at the belt laws, even if your vehicle came factory with lap and shoulder belts as separate systems you must wear both.
 
Check your individual state laws and I would ask for clarification from an officer and get his info and document date and time if he tells you that you don't have to wear all the belts you have available.

I asked this ? to a room full of officers on my 70, which from factory only equipped with lap belts and now I have 5 points. I got several answers.

1. You must wear all belts you have
2. You only have to wear what it was originally designed with
3. It's illegal because the belts have been changed from original design
4. Although your harnesses are approved for NHRA and most other types of racing they are not DOT approved. So illegal period.
 
To add to 70Jimmy's comments, I spoke to a rep at Corbeau and he said their belts are not DOT approved, but are tested to pass SFI standards which are more strict that the DOT.

He did say although the belts are not DOT approved, in cases like mine where there is only a 2 point belt or no belt at all, there haven't been many legal problems since they are tested for SFI safety standards.

He did say some people have had to remove them after a vehicle inspection.

I'd rather take the legal chance and get better belts.
 
My RCI harnesses are SFI approved also but not DOT approved. I have never heard of anyone being cited for having non DOT approved belts in use. I asked the ? to this same room full and no one said they would cite for the harnesses although some stated they would cite for not having all the belts available in use. General consensus was you are as safe or safer in the harness lap belt as you would be in original lap belt, only argument was whether or not you had to wear all parts.

Personally I wear the lap belt and when doing wheeling I tend to wear it as 4 point or 5 depending on toughness of trail.
 
Funny thing is I also asked if I had an old car that had the lap belt and the old optional shoulder harness that you could hook to the lap belt which is stored on the roof above the door window. Would they cite for not wearing the shoulder belt and none said they would cite for that.

Hope I muddied the waters sufficiently Good Luck.
 
70jimmy said:
Funny thing is I also asked if I had an old car that had the lap belt and the old optional shoulder harness that you could hook to the lap belt which is stored on the roof above the door window. Would they cite for not wearing the shoulder belt and none said they would cite for that.

Hope I muddied the waters sufficiently Good Luck.
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Actually all seemed to be great input fellas.:D
 
The fact of the matter is, every ticket issued is revenue for the city so expect to be cited for not wearing ALL the belts that you have installed in your vehicle. If you do get pulled over and aren't wearing ALL the belts and aren't cited then consider it a gift that you weren't cited.
 
If it is a low speed, trail-only truck you would probably be Ok. If you wreck at highway speeds the seat back will probably break and then your shoulder belts with either break you in half or fail to restrain you.
 
Big Blzn said:
Yeah, Why? the only way to do it at this point in my rig.
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The recommend practice is no more than 10 degrees below the shoulder line. If you mount them at more of an angle (i.e. to the floor) then in a frontal collision the force on the shoulder belts is transfered downwards to that angle and compresses the spine.
 
??? I have a 1970 Blazer and found 3 of the 4 seat belt mounting nuts. The passenger side (closest to door) is elusive at best. There is NOTHING there! What's the deal? Where should it be?
 
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