And to think I never knew those cars existed, as common as they seem to be. My excuse is that I was never very knowledgeable in everything ‘automobile‘. Yet still makes me feel like I wasn’t noticing a particular make/model since I know of so many others, including a few of the more obscure varieties such as 1940’s Tucker which I had learned of…[Read more]

KentT, your new garage has taken on a good lived-in look.

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For now I will be monitoring the weather intending to go, unless something else changes my plans for at least a 1 day visit.

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billnparts wrote:

The only proper way to do a shoulder strap…Just saying…

Yep. A horizontal harness bar. I’ve talked to a local cage fabricator about making me a single hoop rollbar with a harness bar and two diagonal rear braces down to the frame horns. The harness bar will have to be a horizontal hoop, to clear the back of the seats.I use…[Read more]

The only proper way to do a shoulder strap…Just saying…

Sorry! I edited it to correct it with a direct link to Amazon – then tested it.The earlier link had gone through Google search so Summit Racing. These are available from a variety of places, including eBay.

Kent – that link did not resolve properly. Would you check it?.

I decided to just stay with the lap belts. I’ll bolt the belt to the original chassis/pan locations. Besides, my lap belts have the MG logo on the buckle.

newkitman2016-02-10 15:52:06

While on the subject of belts, these are the type of mounting reinforcements recommended, instead of the commonly provided big fender washers, if you are bolting belts to sheet metal, like the bottom of a VW floorplan. These spread the force over a large enough area that they won’t pull through the sheet metal.If you are bolting into the thicker…[Read more]

Not trying to be morbid, just realistic.

With the forces involved in a real world accident, that “narrow slot” in the fiberglass is going to act like a knife, weakening (and potentially cutting through) the seatbelt web.

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I installed a set of three point belts from a vw van I picked up at a vw swap meet. I was able to mount the retractor inside the top of the wheelwell and bolt it directly to a frame member. The belt then goes up into the rear cockpit through a narrow slot and passes through a metal retainer bolted to the upper outside corner of the seat back.…[Read more]

I rode bikes in FL and MO for many years, and IMHO anyone who would ride a motorcycle without a helmet should have his head examined. I can’t think of any motorcycle accident in which I would prefer my head to be unprotected. If you’re in a motorcycle accident, by definition you are down, and if you are down, at some point your head will strike…[Read more]

Thanks for everyone’s input.I too, have been thinking of ways to add shoulder straps. Never could come up with a workable solution.But after reading through all this, I’ve changed my mind. I’m keeping the lap belts like they are.To be morbidly honest, I’m not sure if shoulder straps would be of any added safety in event of a wreck. Sort of like…[Read more]

Anyone going to thus year’s Bug-a-Paliza besides me?

Allen…You wrote that you’d be bolting the shoulder belt “… inside of pillar just above the door hinge….”If that means you’d be attaching it to fiberglass, you’d probably be wasting your time. In the event of an accident, the forces would rip that bolt right out of the fiberglass, even with a giant fender washer behind it.I’ve read that even…[Read more]

According to the GA Dept of Transportation, Moneypenny doesn’t need shoulder restraints. Just was thinking of using them in case but it doesn’t sound like it’d be such a hot idea. I’ll stick with my lap belts. Thanks for the input.

Allen,Without something that holds the shoulder belt up higher than the level of your shoulder when seated, I would not recommend it. You risk breaking a collar bone or that shoulder belt pushing you down and out under the lap belt (aka submarining) in a hard collision. Additionally, you need something that keeps that shoulder belt correctly…[Read more]

I am installing no retractable shoulder belts in my car. I am bolting them to the tunnel behind the seat, the tunnel at the side of the seat, and the frame at the side — the shoulder portions are in the center and the buckles will be at the sides of the car. The sides are held in place with plastic sleeves. This keeps the belts out of the…[Read more]

Suspect shoulder belt may be uncomfortable unless your left shoulder is below level of bench back seat. In most modern vehicles the shoulder connection is adjustable in vertical plane to accommodate height of drivers. Maybe a 5 point harness with straps going over both shoulders parallel to one another will provide the additional safety you are looking for