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RE: [Harness mounting???]
Hi all,
As an aside to this, I heard a while back now, that if you have a bad accident with normal factory belts, it is best to replace afterwards as they stretch apparently. Just my o2
Iain
-----Original Message-----
From: JIM GRIFFIN [mailto:qwattro@usa.net]
Sent: 01 October 1999 17:43
To: Daniel Hussey
Cc: AudiFans - Quattro List
Subject: Re: [Harness mounting???]
"Daniel Hussey" <dan_hussey@email.msn.com> wrote:
>My only concern is the mounting point. Most of the ones I saw had them
>mounted to the fram behind the rear seat. The strap for the shoulder
>harnesses comes out from inbetween the back and the seat bottom of the >back
seat.
>
>But, my concern is this.... I have heard a few people tell me that it >is
bad to use a mounting point too low for race harnesses because if you >are in
an impact, it can put to much pressure downward on you and >actually compress
one's spine! This is not good.
Yep... valid concern. In fact, the three-point Schroth harnesses that I put in
my QSW last year are going to come out for just that reason. (I stopped using
them a while ago.) I'll either keep them for use someday in a car that has an
approved seat, or in conjunction with an aftermarket seat, or sell them.
(Anyone interested in buying them? They are black with black pads.)
The Schroth literature specifies which models are listed with "approved" seats
(i.e. the seats just happen to take enough of the load without causing spinal
compression). If you are considering Schroth, look into whether your car/seat
is an approved one. If so, then go ahead and install it accordingly. If not,
IMHO, it's not worth becoming permanently disabled because I wanted harnesses
instead of factory belts. Essentially, they'd do more harm than good.
When I think about it, it kinda' scares me that I actually drove around town
and highway with the harnesses for several months. Yikes... if I were in an
accident, I might not be alive today to type this. (Or need some kind of
special software to e-mail via verbal commands...).
>But, I have seen enough quattros with the belts mounted in that same >place,
so maybe it it ok.
That's what I thought, until I looked into it further. All those others might
also be subjecting themselves to danger, and they aren't aware of it.
>Just not sure if it is high enough.
Nope, it probably isn't, unless it is an approved seat (and even then, IMHO,
you are taking a chance). See the harness manufacturer's literature.
>From what I've been told, it's best at an angle of 90 degrees. Anything less
and you take a chance.
> So, if I get harnesses, where is the best place to mount them in the >type
44? I'm looking for convenience as well. And welding a custom >roll cage is
not an option so don't say that!!!! ;^)
My guess is that there is no good place, without having a harness bar or roll
cage installed. A guy at a place that specializes in race-prepping Porsches
told me that he could build me a special, removable harness bar (in case I
wanted to let folks sit in the back seat) for my QSW. He has custom built
several for many 944s and 911s. He said it would cost me about $400 (or was it
$300? I don't recall...). Sure, for an UR-q or equivalent, it might be worth
it, but not for a QSW (IMHO).
>Looking for any suggestions or BTDTs.
Well, there's the BTDT, and here's my suggestion: Proceed cautiously... and
research it carefully. And stlll then think long and hard about whether taking
the chance is worth it.
My nickel's worth. YMMV etc...
Jim Griffin - qwattro@usa.net - JGriff@pobox.com - http://pobox.com/~jgriff
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