Bucket Seats and Standard Seat Belts
Bucket Seats and Standard Seat Belts
Author
Discussion

benny.c

Original Poster:

3,663 posts

231 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
I'm fitting some bucket seats to my Mustang and was all set to go for a reclining seat - something like the Corbeau Boss below (Corbeau are the only manufacturer who do a subframe for the Mustang). I then got to thinking since this isn't my everyday car a fixed bucket seat may be OK too. But how do these work with a normal seat belt? As most buckets have high sides, I'd have thought the lap part of the seat belt would sit on the seat and not your lap? Or are the sides not that high?

This isn't for trackdays BTW, just after a more supportive seat than the sloppy leather one that's in there at the moment. Cheers for any advice.




Eduardo de Sousa

541 posts

222 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
What do you think of this ones.

Misano seats.

£250 for standards and £500 for leather!

Eduardo.


Eduardo de Sousa

541 posts

222 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
What do you think of this ones.



Misano seats.

£250 for standards and £500 for leather!

Eduardo.


benny.c

Original Poster:

3,663 posts

231 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
Where have you seen them for £250 Eduardo? Just had a quick word with Cobra and it looks like the Cobreau frames I've ordered will fit Cobra seats too smile

Edited by benny.c on Tuesday 16th September 18:00

Eduardo de Sousa

541 posts

222 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all

GreenV8S

30,999 posts

308 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
The recliners should be OK with the seatbelt, but without lateral support for your hips they won't locate you as well as a proper bucket seat. The ideal solution is a bucket seat plus harness, as long as you have got rollover protection.

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
To answer your original question about the belts - fixed buckets have cutouts in the sides and shoulders to feed the belt through so it sits correctly.

Though I must say there does seem to be quite a variety of opinions out there about which way to thread seat belts.

GreenV8S

30,999 posts

308 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
tertius said:
To answer your original question about the belts - fixed buckets have cutouts in the sides and shoulders to feed the belt through so it sits correctly.
Do you have any in mind that would work with a lap+diagonal? The ones I can think of are all designed for a center fastening lap strap from a harness.

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Tuesday 16th September 2008
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
tertius said:
To answer your original question about the belts - fixed buckets have cutouts in the sides and shoulders to feed the belt through so it sits correctly.
Do you have any in mind that would work with a lap+diagonal? The ones I can think of are all designed for a center fastening lap strap from a harness.
Sure look at the pics in this ad: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/455988.htm

You can see the standard 3 point belt feeding through the hole in the side of the seat.

Ditto this one: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/640793.htm (just visible in pic 4)

I can't immediately see why any seat would not work with a standard belt, so ... http://www.gprdirect.com/OnlineShop/Summary.do?c=1...

(BTW I have buckets in my 993 and use both the std belts for road and harneses for track, so I know its fine.)

GreenV8S

30,999 posts

308 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
tertius said:
GreenV8S said:
tertius said:
To answer your original question about the belts - fixed buckets have cutouts in the sides and shoulders to feed the belt through so it sits correctly.
Do you have any in mind that would work with a lap+diagonal? The ones I can think of are all designed for a center fastening lap strap from a harness.
Sure look at the pics in this ad: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/455988.htm

You can see the standard 3 point belt feeding through the hole in the side of the seat.

Ditto this one: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/640793.htm (just visible in pic 4)

I can't immediately see why any seat would not work with a standard belt, so ... http://www.gprdirect.com/OnlineShop/Summary.do?c=1...

(BTW I have buckets in my 993 and use both the std belts for road and harneses for track, so I know its fine.)
As far as I can see from both those adverts, the buckle is on the outside of the seat in both cases. The problem I can see is that you can't put the buckle through the hole in the seat, because that would mean wedging it into the gap between your hip and the inside of the seat. For this to work you'd need care (or a lot of luck) getting the seat belt mounting right relative to the seat position so that the buckle cleared your hip.

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
tertius said:
GreenV8S said:
tertius said:
To answer your original question about the belts - fixed buckets have cutouts in the sides and shoulders to feed the belt through so it sits correctly.
Do you have any in mind that would work with a lap+diagonal? The ones I can think of are all designed for a center fastening lap strap from a harness.
Sure look at the pics in this ad: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/455988.htm

You can see the standard 3 point belt feeding through the hole in the side of the seat.

Ditto this one: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/640793.htm (just visible in pic 4)

I can't immediately see why any seat would not work with a standard belt, so ... http://www.gprdirect.com/OnlineShop/Summary.do?c=1...

(BTW I have buckets in my 993 and use both the std belts for road and harneses for track, so I know its fine.)
As far as I can see from both those adverts, the buckle is on the outside of the seat in both cases. The problem I can see is that you can't put the buckle through the hole in the seat, because that would mean wedging it into the gap between your hip and the inside of the seat. For this to work you'd need care (or a lot of luck) getting the seat belt mounting right relative to the seat position so that the buckle cleared your hip.
Ah, I see what you are getting at - I had seat belt buckle mountings made the right length to come from the anchor point through the seat and above my hip - about £20 each.

chris7676

2,685 posts

244 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
I wouldnt say these (pictured) are proper bucket seats, they wont hold your arse in bends most likely...

benny.c

Original Poster:

3,663 posts

231 months

Wednesday 17th September 2008
quotequote all
Cheers chaps. Threading the belt through the holes in a regular bucket looks like it could be a PITA - I do the occasional wedding with the car (groom & best man) and would have to swap the seats over for this. If I'm having to disconnect the belt too then it all becomes too much hassle.

I think I'll stick with some reclining ones. As I said it's not for trackdays anyway, I just need something more supportive than the sloppy leather seats that are in the car in the moment. My wife has a 325 sport (E90) and something along those lines would be fine in terms of comfort and support.

DiscoColin

3,328 posts

238 months

Friday 19th September 2008
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
As far as I can see from both those adverts, the buckle is on the outside of the seat in both cases. The problem I can see is that you can't put the buckle through the hole in the seat, ...
Porsche 996 GT2/3 has the buckle outside and 997 GT3 has it inside, so logically with the right seat and mounting - either way is viable.