5 or 6 Point Belts on an ERA?

CobERA · #1 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 12:19 PM

Has anyone installed 5 or 6 point seatbelts on their ERA? If so, where/how did you attach the submarine strap(s)? Any other details of the installation would be appreciated.

Thanks,

tboneheller · #2 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 12:41 PM

I installed 5 point harnesses on mine. I removed the seat cushion & wrapped the submarine belt around the front of the seat frame.

ERA Chas · #3 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 01:57 PM

Five points are fine. Without attaching anything, layout the harness with you in the seat to check the lengths you'll need.

Drill a hole through the floor which is clear of the X-member and under the approximate middle of you seat. Get a grade 8 bolt as big as the hole in the belt mounting tab (usually about 1/2"), and a 4" square, 1/8" thick steel flat gusset plate. Drill same as floor. Use grade 8 nut and washer. Install the bolt with the head 'up'. Install with gusset under floor and space the tab off the floor with a washer. Through bolt the assembly.

Don't attach the belt to the seat frame.

speed220mph · #4 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 02:11 PM

Used a 1/2 in. Grade 8 (5 is OK) bolt down through the floor with a fender type (large OD) washer to spread the load. Installed the seat-belt tab centered between the seat tracks and pointing forward to a rear-most position so the ERA floormat would fit. The floormats go in the trailer for track events.

mr0077 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2009, 05:43 PM

Rick, I did what Charles and Tom did...installed a 5-point with a grade 8 bolt, a HD fender washer under the floor pan (but bolted the submarine belt anchor directly to the floor, no spacer) and a lock washer. I now wish I had installed 6-point belts, but these will do.

CobERA · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2009, 09:21 AM

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I've decided to upgrade/replace my seven year old belts with a new 5-point system. Ordered the 4x4 mounting plates from Jegs and ordered the 5-point harness directly from Crow Enterprises. They make the belts for ERA, so they will be custom sized. I also orderd them without the Crow logos. Because I'm getting lazy, I orderd them with a camlock instead or the duck bill latch. Added a velcro sternum strap and velcro harness pads. John at Crow said they'll ship tomorrow.

Ken - Good to hear from you. If you've been keeping up with the Houston Group, you probably heard about this weekend's incident.