Price And Method For Install Of Seatbelts In My Fox Body ?

[VirginMuscleMan]

So my '89 GT has totally non-functional front seatbelts, which need replacing badly. I would like to replace them myself, and ideally I would like to put in four- or five-point racing harnesses.

What kind of price point am I looking at, for either regular 3-point belts or racing harnesses ? How difficult are these to install ? Can I realistically do it myself while maintaining the seatbelts' safety ? Does anybody have experience with a bolt-in bar in the back to attach a harness to ? I do not want to put a full roll cage in, ideally I'd like to get everything in for $ 300 - 400 ; 500 if I need to.

Thanks, really looking for someone who has had experience with this sort of install.

 

[84Ttop]

Anything other than the factory seat belts are not going to be deemed safe for highway use. We all know that a properly installed 5 point belt is safer than the stock one but that is not the opinion of the NTSB. Change the belts from the factory at your own risk. Factory replacements are easy to swap and can be found at Late Model Resto.

 

[VirginMuscleMan]

Fortunately I do not have to worry about that - my car is registered historic, and could not pass a safety or emissions inspection to save its life anyway. So I am going to see what I can do to get a harness in there, but a bit concerned about price.

 

[84Ttop]

Do you have a roll bar installed in the car currently?

 

[VirginMuscleMan]

Also, what is the difference between SFI-approved and not SFI-approved ? What does SFI stand for ? As far as I can tell it simply stands for "SFI Foundation Incorporated", which means it really just stands for "S Foundation Incorporated".

 

[VirginMuscleMan]

No. Can I get one to bolt in ? How much does that run ?

 

[25thmustang]

If you do go with a non SFI set up, be aware you will not pass tech if you do ever go to a race track. You could get a bolt in roll bar and non SFI harnesses, but that seems like a headache for what sounds like only being done for looks?

 

[2000xp8]

Just put stock seatbelts in.
Not very hard, little time consuming, that's it.
I think you need a tough torx t50.
Should be pretty cheap seatblet original replacements on ebay.

5 point harness is a headache on a street car.

 

[madspeed]

^^ x2, stock belts baby

 

[Mustang5L5]

There are companies that can rebuilt your stock belts. I do not know who however, but my seatbelts are also non functioning and I've been told quite frequently that there are places that can rebuild them to working condition.

You can also buy replacements.

 

[revhead347]

There are a few options. There are 4 point seatbelts that clip into the seat belts in the back so that they don't need a crossbar. 4 points are very uncomfortable. There is nothing to counteract the up tension of the shoulder straps, so it's constantly riding up into your stomach. You have to set the lap straps so tight to counteract the tension that they cut into you. You can't run 5 points with stock seats, because there is no hole in the seat for the 5th point. The reason harnesses are not DOT approved has to do with the release mechanism. It has to be a standard release mechanism so that anyone can come up to a crashed car and get the seat belt off an occupant to pull them out. My recommendation is to either put race seats in so that you can run a 5 point, or just rebuild your stock ones. We sent some off to this place recently. I think it was $69, and the fixed everything on the belt, and they put in a new strap.

http://www.safetyrestore.com/

Kurt

 

[VirginMuscleMan]

Cool, thanks. Could I race with the stock belts, or would I need a harness for that ?

 

[Mustang5L5]

Cool, thanks. Could I race with the stock belts, or would I need a harness for that ?

How fast is your car?

1/4 mile, or are you talking about autocrossing?

 

[VirginMuscleMan]

I do not know, which is one of the reasons I want to get it onto a track. I mean, it is no ten-second car, not even close I am sure, but I really do not know where it falls. I just keep looking around at other cars and thinking "I wonder if I am faster than YOU . . ."

Ideally I would like to be able to do any of it - quarter mile, auto cross, and if I get the chance, actual track days. What would I need to be able to do all that ? Would a bolt-in bar and SFI-approved harness be enough ? I like the idea of putting racing seats in, what are the chances I could get some used, maybe at a junkyard or something ? Definitely open to replacing the three-points belts, but really interested in something more, if I could work it out.

 

[tamadrummer88]

I do not know, which is one of the reasons I want to get it onto a track. I mean, it is no ten-second car, not even close I am sure, but I really do not know where it falls. I just keep looking around at other cars and thinking "I wonder if I am faster than YOU . . ."

Ideally I would like to be able to do any of it - quarter mile, auto cross, and if I get the chance, actual track days. What would I need to be able to do all that ? Would a bolt-in bar and SFI-approved harness be enough ? I like the idea of putting racing seats in, what are the chances I could get some used, maybe at a junkyard or something ? Definitely open to replacing the three-points belts, but really interested in something more, if I could work it out.

There is a lot of street cars running 10's using stock seatbelts. If you get into the 9 second and faster range then i think that would be a point where you would need harnesses.

 

[91TwighlightGT]

If you don't have any roof crush protection then you should run the stock belts. A racing style harness will hold you in place too tightly and your neck and spine will be crushed in the event of a rollover. The important thing to remember is that safety devices are designed to work as part of a system, but they don't always work well by themselves.

 

[revhead347]

+1. Amen. Everything needs to work together. I.E. A halo is a detriment if you don't have a helmet. When it comes to safety, don't bother taking our advice. Read the official IHRA and NHRA rules to see what you need.

Kurt

 

[25thmustang]

I paid $145 for brand new black front belts. They look good and function awesome!

 

[madspeed]

Was that from a vendor?

 

[KDestroyer]

I used LMR fronts as my stockers were not retracting very well. Scarlet red in color with door grommets for the hole that be there after removal. I'll take some completed pics. The new ones seem to work great.