Gottaviper
Enthusiast
My seat belts extend so far I could be on the hood before they held tight. Is anyone running a 4 or 5 point harness, or have any recommendations what a good safety fix is?
94 RT seat belts are useless, where can I get a 4 or 5 point harness?
- Thread starter Gottaviper
- Start date
got one
Enthusiast
I love my Harness's...a pain in the arss though for just going up the road.
Gottaviper
Enthusiast
Oh I forgot to ask Do you have to drill holes to mount the multi-point harness's? Thanks
Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
Not inexpensive, but bear with me:
My '94 is from Canada, where the seatbelt law says the ends must attach to the floor. So it had the "Gen 2 airbag" over the shoulder seatbelts (that had to be changed to the double-rollup into the door belts to import it.) Well, it's back to the Canadian way because at least it only has one rollup reel. Also, look for a "grabbing" type of latch and put it on the belt. The OEM latch simply lets the belt slide through. With the grabbing style, at least the lap belt portion can be tightened and stay tight. However, finding all the parts (rear bulkhead cover, seatbelts, door skin, etc, can become expensive, I'm sure.
I also have 5-points. You don't have to drill holes, they are all already there. Two lap belts (look from under the car to find the outboard one) and the two shoulder belts are on the shelf under the bulkhead cover. Look in the "illustrated guide" area because there are 5-point installation instructions.
To lessen the 5-point hassle factor, consider using velcro strips to link the left lap and left shoulder together, and the right lap and right shoulder belt together. Then when you get in the car, it's kind of like putting a coat on. It sounds silly, may look silly, but cuts the time way down. If you do it right, the latches are already "looped" together, too.
My '94 is from Canada, where the seatbelt law says the ends must attach to the floor. So it had the "Gen 2 airbag" over the shoulder seatbelts (that had to be changed to the double-rollup into the door belts to import it.) Well, it's back to the Canadian way because at least it only has one rollup reel. Also, look for a "grabbing" type of latch and put it on the belt. The OEM latch simply lets the belt slide through. With the grabbing style, at least the lap belt portion can be tightened and stay tight. However, finding all the parts (rear bulkhead cover, seatbelts, door skin, etc, can become expensive, I'm sure.
I also have 5-points. You don't have to drill holes, they are all already there. Two lap belts (look from under the car to find the outboard one) and the two shoulder belts are on the shelf under the bulkhead cover. Look in the "illustrated guide" area because there are 5-point installation instructions.
To lessen the 5-point hassle factor, consider using velcro strips to link the left lap and left shoulder together, and the right lap and right shoulder belt together. Then when you get in the car, it's kind of like putting a coat on. It sounds silly, may look silly, but cuts the time way down. If you do it right, the latches are already "looped" together, too.
joe117
Enthusiast
"My seat belts extend so far I could be on the hood before they held tight"
Sound's like there's something wrong with your stock belts. I'd think twice before jumping to a 5 point.
That's a real hassle for just driving around and I'm not so sure what it would buy you safety wise without a roll bar and helmet.
Sound's like there's something wrong with your stock belts. I'd think twice before jumping to a 5 point.
That's a real hassle for just driving around and I'm not so sure what it would buy you safety wise without a roll bar and helmet.
Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
I'd vote for 4- or 5-points being a safety benefit in that they hold you in the seat so you aren't propping your leg or elbow against something in a turn and can pay full attention to your defensive or sudden maneuver. You won't be sliding around in the seat. In an impact, the additional and wider belts distribute loads over a greater amount of body surface, lessening damage to internal organs from compression. (We're in a pre-airbag car.)
The down side is they are technically not legal, since they are not self-adjusting, as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The belts can also add to body heat, since they cover more of you.
The extra moment to put them on is on par with the traditional longer cranking time while the PCM finds top dead center to initiate ignition.
The down side is they are technically not legal, since they are not self-adjusting, as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The belts can also add to body heat, since they cover more of you.
The extra moment to put them on is on par with the traditional longer cranking time while the PCM finds top dead center to initiate ignition.
GTS Bruce
Enthusiast
Jon B has them. GTS Bruce
prodiver
VCA Member
5 point belts are not street legal. I have them in my car for track racing but they are a pain in the ass for street use. The mounts for them are already there. Are you sure your belts are not working right? They are designed to give if you pull gently on them but if you make a quick sharp pull they should not give. There is a fulcrum device built into them that is supposed to lock the belt if you hit something. Most seat belts work this way.
Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
Some seat belts have a pendulum that only locks when the car speed changes and not when the belt is suddenly pulled. Don't know which way the OEM belt works.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/seatbelt3.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/seatbelt3.htm
scottgf
Viper Owner
I installed 5 points on mine....Took a few hours but looks good and I really like not having to "hang on" when I do some spirited driving.
That having been said, they are a pain for "everyday" type of driving.....Have you ever got in the car, put your harness on, adjusted everything, then realize you havent shut the door yet....
I have both, I use the harness for "fun" and the regular belt the rest of the time...
Cheers,
That having been said, they are a pain for "everyday" type of driving.....Have you ever got in the car, put your harness on, adjusted everything, then realize you havent shut the door yet....
I have both, I use the harness for "fun" and the regular belt the rest of the time...
Cheers,
Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
OK, you belt whiners. Try this, or some version of it. Instead of having to attach four belts (no, I don't use the bottom belt for normal driving) it will be like attaching two. I used velcro strips, thinking it would be a good temporary, removeable way to experiment. Turned out so well, I left them.
You get in the seat. Turn left to stick your left arm through the paired belts, then turn right for the right side. It's like putting on a loose vest. If you do the left side well, the tongue always stays in the metal shoulder loop. If you position the right sides well, they are always "right where you want them."
You get in the seat. Turn left to stick your left arm through the paired belts, then turn right for the right side. It's like putting on a loose vest. If you do the left side well, the tongue always stays in the metal shoulder loop. If you position the right sides well, they are always "right where you want them."
scottgf
Viper Owner
Tom,
You da man,
How simple an idea, but looks like it would work great....
Ill set mine up that way and stop whining.
Cheers,
You da man,
How simple an idea, but looks like it would work great....
Ill set mine up that way and stop whining.
Cheers,
