IIa and seatbelt question

[LRMAN]

I have not taken delivery of my Bugeye yet and I am trying to figure out a good way to install seatbelts. I could just go with lap belts until I install a roll bar. I was looking at the soft top frame last night on a website and wondered if there was any way to attach a 3 point belt loop to it. Not sturdy enough? What do you think?

[scott]

not sturdy enough. i've soft top & lap belts. in the avent of a roll over this will be sufficeint to prevent most of the blood splatter from messing up the trail.

[Andrew IIA]

Give this forum a search for seat belts and you'll turn up a bunch of useful threads. Here's one:

http://www.roversnorth.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4811&highlight=seat+belt

Regards, Andrew
'63 SIIA 88" SW

[LRMAN]

Thanks Andrew, I had already searched the site for this info but most, if not all, pertains to either mounting the seatbelt low on the bulkhead or to a hard top.

[Andrew IIA]

I only have a hard top, but from what I've read you would need a 'roll bar' in order to mount the shoulder-belt-type seat belt in the soft top. The soft top hardware is strong enough for secure mounting.

Regards, Andrew

[Tim Smith]

This is by no means DOT approved but maybe it will give you some ideas.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Mw8MF8Gu0DU/SpVC684-alI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/cK56Zmmk4Dg/s144/DSC00823.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ht-Gabn_KjqxMC-oYMLgxg?authkey=Gv1sRgCIz8ko_HmPbX4AE&feat=embedwebsite)

The shots aren't too wonderful but you can see a couple more angles here (http://picasaweb.google.com/smithco1/BumbaSSeatbelts?authkey=Gv1sRgCIz8ko_HmPbX4AE&feat=directlink). I think my current setup should be called the broken collar bone setup. If you could mount a plate some how, to lift it up above your shoulder level it would be a bit safer in an impact.

[ivarra]

I had the same dilemma for my soft top. Didnt want lap belts.

So installed a tub mounted roll cage just for the purpose of having seat belts. Each end connected on the tub seat and also connected by brackets underneath the tub. This way I could attach the shoulder points to the cage. The soft top frame is not strong enough.

The roll cage is solid, but not frame attached. It may prevent blood on a trail, but probably wont prevent blood on a 50 mph roll over.

Ivar

[jac04]

Ivar-
I'd love to see some shots of the entire cage from farther away.

[ivarra]

Sure ... here are some shots of the roll cage. And one with the golfers that the cage is protecting.

The base of the two downposts on each side are connected to a single steel bracket that runs underneath the tub seat for the length of the tub seat, thus in effect making each side of posts one unit. They do slighltly impose on space, but I feel its worth it.

Ivar

[scott]

[QUOTE=ivarra;3795

The roll cage is solid, but not frame attached. It may prevent blood on a trail, but probably wont prevent blood on a 50 mph roll over.

Ivar[/QUOTE]

I thought about a roll bar mounted like that but then i'd add a support under th tub to the frame