Sieg, you're doing a great job with this. The backing plate idea on the side panel makes a lot of sense too. I'm assuming the two concerns there are folding up or tearing as the vertical force is applied. I think you solved both issues as long as the panel doesn't want to fold above the reinforced area under load. Your backing plate and location is well thought out.
Back to the rocker mount location, it seems as though something along the lines of what Carl suggested would have to be done. I'm concerned about a bracket top welded tearing off right around the weld. Carls idea of placing a wide plate with bottom side welded nut below the rocker mimics what the factory did by spreading the load out and forcing a larger area to have to be torn through. Granted this force would be pulling straight up rather than more of a shear force like the factory front seat belt locations.
Again, Great Job! Looking forward to seeing this develop.
Thanks, we'll see where this exercise takes us. As for folding, the belt will exit the top of the retractor and angle inward to the roof mount around 10* so applied force should create some inward pull along with the vertical pull. The retractor mounting hole is near the bottom of the unit so how it's positioned on the plate will change the leverage to a degree. I don't have the units yet, probably by Wednesday and then I can put the scientific seat-of-the-pants eyeball on it and figure out the angles and preferred anchor point and weld placement.
I also want to research and analyze the strength of the upper mount and fasteners more thoroughly. If it's stouter than I think I'll add the strap to the rocker also.
Belts arrived from Seatbelt Planet while we were Spring Breaking it at the coast for a couple days. Vertical alignment of the belt is good with F-B at 90* +/- 2* and L-R 10* or less, finished fitting the plates, drilling the side panels, welded the backing nuts on the plates, cleaned the weld locations, and performed a couple test welds. All that's left is prepping the interior panels inside and out around the weld points.
If you see anything that causes concern I'd appreciate your input.
Superficial look at the upper belt mount and mounting plate, wasn't in the mood to pull the headliner.......
If anyone has a picture or could take one of the metal support structure I'd appreciate it!
Welded the plates in today..........I'm slightly spent after two days of climbing in and out of the back of that car.
I also primed the welded areaa, located the bolt position, punched the panels, adjusted the quarter windows, and refinished the rock chipped exterior louvers. Day over!
Finally got it all buttoned up. After checking the rigidity of the panel with the backing plate welded in I opted to not install the secondary strap to the rocker. It may be gambling but I don't think so. My guess is an impact hard enough to tear this new mount lose would be fatal. I it starts haunting me it will happen.
All in all I'm pretty confident and satisfied with the results.
Looks like the same seat belts I used in my car. Always hated them....
I like my 3" Simpson lap belts a lot (had them since 1990) but no shoulder belt started haunting me without the collapsible steering wheel hub and column for that matter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GregWeld
What the hell.... you have a tube notcher... might as well built a cage and used some real belts.
Giving you crap of course.
Those belts match up great with those 2 MPH bumpers the car came with.
Of course.........carry on.
However my notcher needs to mate with a good bender.
And.........those aren't bumpers they are ornaments.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
Looking forward to seeing this develop.
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