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Old 04-17-2005, 06:22 AM
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Bruce Edwards Bruce Edwards is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Winter Park, Fl
Cobra Make, Engine: Hunter with a 4.6 supercharged
Posts: 690
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It would seem to me that mounting the seat in such a way that it could not move in an accident would be a safety issue as well as just plan smart.
Come on Bob why is it when I ask a simple question you take it as in insult to your cars design?
Let me think back to all of the cars I have restored over the years and see if I can think of just one that bolted the seat to the thin steel floor without some kind of support system under it. No not a one.
Let me think back to all of the kits I have built over the years. No not a one till yours. My Dad's Hunter is bolted to a 1/4 steel plate floor, Dave's Classic is bolted to cross supports made of steel, the home made car I swapped a Chevy out of and installed a 427 and jag rear was bolted to a steel support system , the 2 EM cars I did were both bolted to a steel frame section, the MG kit on a VW frame or the Porsche kit on a VW frame were all bolted to a steel floor with a support system and I could go on.
Yet your car is bolted to one out rigger spar on the front out side edge and the other three holes bolt to a very thin aluminum floor.
I like most of what I have seen on your car Bob and the few things I have found and called you or Doug about have for the most part been minor issues and I do not think we need to open up that area on this forum even if it has lead to your updating some of the things on your web site so as to clarify some weaknesses in your manual. After all it is you in your manual that says to get in touch and you would be happy to help.
You jumped on me about the steering rack before we even started this car and now you jump on me again about a safety issue.
This is not a sudden stop issue. Having built the first Cobra back in the 80's I know what attention it brings on the road and all of the lookers that are watching the car and not their driving. I have a customer to think about that will be driving this car. I wish to be sure that I do everything I can to be sure that in the event of an accident he is a safe as he can be in YOUR car. After spending the large sum of money he did with you and paying me to put the car together with his investment now over $55,000 in the car I feel I owe it to him to do the best job I can to insure his safety. After all I kind of figure we are BOTH libel if the seat breaks loose and sends him or his passenger bouncing out of the car and down some road.
I was only looking for some input from others on this site as to what they may have done nothing more.
I will reinforce the seat mount area with a steel runner to help spread the load over a larger area of the floor so the seat is less likely to break free or cause stress cracks around the seat holes as aluminum likes to do when it is flexed over time.
Bob just so you understand I have enjoyed building this car for the most part and it is well made. Simply because I have a few areas of concern that I pointed out to you by way of emails or phone calls does not mean in any way I am not happy with the general design of your car. It is very well thought out in many areas. It just seems that a bit of extra material welded to the seat mount area to help keep the seat in place would be a good idea.
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Gemini Motorcars Inc.
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