• fifty
  • Paddock Rat
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  • From: Little Rock, AR
  • Registered: 2010-03-14
  • Posts: 24

Topic: Mounting a harness using angle iron?

We've just purchased a Safequip 5 point harness ($59.95 + $10 shipping from www.tracksidetim.com ), it came with tabs that accept a 1/2" bolt.

http://www.tracksidetim.com/images/400_safequip_5_point_latch.jpg

Now, I'm concerned that the "tabs", when mounted directly to the floor will act as a lever in an accident and rip themselves free. So, we're thinking about mounting them to angle iron, to get the angle of pull correct.

My question is: is this legal, and if we do this what size and thickness of angle iron should we use (eg. 4" x 4", 1/8" thickness) ?

fifty's Website

2 Reply by Bender/StickFigureRacing (edited by Bender/StickFigureRacing 2010-04-08 01:37 PM)

  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 526

Re: Mounting a harness using angle iron?

You will want to use metal that is equivalent to the thickness of the tabs or thicker.
Most teams use grade #8 Eye bolts washers and grade #8 nuts/bolts to anchor their seats to the floor.
We used the original anchor plates for the lap belts and welded a 3x3 plate to the floor with a anchor for the Sub belt.

Here are a few links to give you an idea.
http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.ne … l#hardware
http://simpsonraceproducts.com/safety-r … positions/
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/70015/10002/-1

Team: V-Ram/Altamont Team: Knights of the Round Track/Reno/Buttonwillow/Thunderhill Team: Death Mobile/Sears 2010/Thunderhill/ChumpCar  Spokane/ MSR Houston/Buttonwillow/Sears. MRolla Project /Reno
http://stickfigureracing.blogspot.com/

3 Reply by fifty (edited by fifty 2010-04-08 04:17 PM)

  • fifty
  • Paddock Rat
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  • From: Little Rock, AR
  • Registered: 2010-03-14
  • Posts: 24

Re: Mounting a harness using angle iron?

Bender/StickFigureRacing wrote:

You will want to use metal that is equivalent to the thickness of the tabs or thicker.

Thanks! I should add that I already have eyebolts and snaphooks on my "regular race car" to mount the harness.I'm pretty familiar with this method.

If we go with mounting the harnesses with 1/2 inch x20 TPI grade 8 bolts, angle iron and 4" x 4" x 1/8" backing plates we come out ahead by $25.

I know that safety equipment isn't part of the $500 budget, but we are trying to be cheap. Safe, but cheap smile

fifty's Website

4 Reply by Mulry (edited by Mulry 2010-04-08 04:19 PM)

  • Mulry
  • Mulry
  • Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rollah
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  • From: Dallas, TX
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 4,607

Re: Mounting a harness using angle iron?

If you're going to mount the harness so that the lap belt is attached to eyebolts that go through the floor, then you'll probably want to swap out the bolt-down tabs on the lap belt for snap-ring style tabs, that would eliminate your concern about the tabs serving as levers in an impact. Here's a good example:

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/m … ry_Code=MH

Don't forget that you'll need that 3x3 plate (or some other very large load washer) that Paul referred to in order to pass tech:

3.5.1: Harness Mounting: Grade 8 or better hardware and 3-inch or larger load washers are required when mounting to sheetmetal. Shoulder harnesses should be within 15 degrees of horizontal from load point to seat entry.

Good luck!

[edit: looks like you were responding to Paul as I was writing this and you're already down with the program. I'll leave this up for when some newb uses the search tool sometime down the road smile]

Pat Mulry, TARP Racing #67

Mandatory disclaimer: all opinions expressed are mine alone & not those of 24HOL, its mgmt, sponsors, etc.