How to mount a 4 point Harness in a stock MK1?

[Peter Jones]

Hi,

I am not an engineer but have studied engineering and work in engineering and have done so since my trade days (fitter and turner)

I would certainly NOT use any child restraint anchor points as they may look ok but will only be load rated for probably a child weighing no more the 12kg (thats the usual rating anyway)

I would also be very careful mounting / remounting seats.

I unfortunately witnessed a fatal accident at Willowbank Raceway (QLD) where the driver of a drag car was killed when his seat came away from the car. He was firmly strapped into the seat but the entire assembly was torn from the floor.

You also need to be very careful with the angles of harnesses when they go over the shoulders, the wrong angle and in an accident you could do damage to your spine if the belts are at the wrong angle. The existing mounting points for seat belts for road cars are again engineered for the belts to pull at certain angles. If you change the angles that the load is applied in an accident, the mounting point may become next to useless.

Just a word of warning, you can never be too careful. As the other guys have said, pay the extra for an engineer to design and certify any changes to seat and belts.

Yep, that's sort of what I expected, I've got no problems with getting the say so from an engineer. Once I've put a bit more thought into the matter I'll give Bill M. from VWCV a call and get some direction from him before I get in too deep. Bill's an auto engineer and golf racer so I'm confident I'll get the job done right. For now I'm still working out what questions I need to ask him and everyone's input here is helping with that.


Pete

[Peter Jones]

you may be able to install a bar behind the rear seat, just above the shock towers on either side. a horizontal bar in this position will gove you an anchor in line withthe shoulder height from the front seats. i have seen a bar of this kind in mollin's mk1 2 door project car.

i'm not positive, but i think the shoulder straps need to be +-30deg from the horizontal...

I think I've seen a bar in the past that bolted between the shoulder seatbelt mounts and tri-angulated back to the child restraints but again it looks like a job for an engineers superpowers!

Pete

[Peter Jones]

Found some more info on the CAMS website - here.

http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/gen...ule_I_Q108.pdf

[Blue Flog]

Peter,
The CAMS manual on the web site will give you the recommendations for harness angles. JR at Tayell (95795529) built my car and cage and I think that you will be able to put a cross bar behind the rear seats and drop the seats when you need the harness
Darcy