Fitting Harnesses

[NikB]

I'm looking to fit a cage and harnesses to my Mini. I already have the seats - Cobra Monaco, but haven't brought the cage or harnesses yet.

I know that the lap belts can be fitted to the existing mount points, but how do I mount the shoulder straps. I am aware that you have to be careful with the angle that the straps go, so I assume that the mounts will need to be somewhere on the rear bulkhead, and the rear seat will have to be binned. How much reinforcment will these areas need? Will it be better to get a harness bar for the cage?

[R4NDY]

I have a 6 point roll cage, cobra monaco s seats and a pair of 4 point willans harness's. The front lap strap mounts as you mentioned and the shoulder straps mount to the rear seat belt mounts in the base of the rear seat. If no rear seat belts fitted Demon Tweeks sell the plates to mount to.
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDeta...

[NikB]

There's no rear seat belt mounts so where should the mounting plates go? I assume that they need welding in?

[guru_1071]

although you can mount the rear harness belts to the captive mounts that already exist for rear belts in the later cars its not a particually good idea.

it makes the angle of the rear belts too steep, and in the event of a crash you run the risk of either the belts cutting slots in the seat, or breaking the back of the seat. neither of the above is good for the spine!

you can mount them to the parcel shelf, but it really isnt strong enough to take the loads of a good impact, the parcel shelf will rip out easy, which allows the driver to whack the steering wheel with their head.

by far the best way is to mount the harness correctly using the harness bar - this holds the belts at the correct angle.

[NikB]

guru_1071 said:

by far the best way is to mount the harness correctly using the harness bar - this holds the belts at the correct angle.

Any recommendations as to the best make of cage with harness bar?

[guru_1071]

safety devices sell the bar (which is a 't' shape), this works with either the s/d cage (for which it was designed) or the cheaper roll centre one.

the only time it is a swine to fit (imo)is when you are fitting it to a cage the was fitted without the bar - the rear legs set the height of the bar and the location of the main cage sets the fore/aft of the brace leg.

if you are setting the whole thing at once its easy top juggle the various bits so it fits great.

i couldnt comment on cheaper non branded cages, its not a area i get involved in!

[love machine]

Come on here and ask for careful instructions of how to fit a rear cage without breaking your switches, scratching your paintwork and giving yourself a hernia.

Needless to say, I made all the mistakes.

Anyone got a photo of a harness bar?

I've got a SD 6 point cage and am looking at fitting good harnesses soon.

[NikB]

I had heard they were tricky to fit

Just been looking on Mini Sport:

http://www.minisport.com/classic-mini-shop/product...

[guru_1071]

photos show fitment my racer, before we moved all the pipes and what not.

on a later car its important to line the bar on the floor up with the captive belt nuts, this then sets the angle of the cross part, which in turn must set the 'spread' of the rear legs on the arch, get these to far apart or near and the cross brace will not fit.

these pics are 'free issue' so feel free to save or use them

[NikB]

Excellent photos, thanks guru

Could you still fit passenger harnesses with that setup?

[guru_1071]

yep, you would just need to add a pair of the little belt holder tags to the l/h side - without them the belt would slide around.

[love machine]

Nice. Without going down to the garage, is the rear diagonal in the way, passenger side at all?

[guru_1071]

no, it just looks like that

its going from above the drivers head to the lh rear wheel arch so its well out the way.

the bar to the handbrake doesnt get in the way either