How I modified my seats for 5 points

[norvalwilhelm]

With the roll cage I wanted 5 points for both the driver and the passenger.
This is how I did mine.
My 75 had metal inserts in the seat at the shoulder height. They look like all they need is cutting the slot from the factory for shoulder seat belts. I removed these inserts and milled a 3 inch slot in each side. While it looks like the slot runs crocked it is straight, it is the shape of the insert that makes it look crooked.

I also remove the covering and the foam from the frame and cut out the slots in the frame by drilling a hole in either end and using a grinder and cutting blade.

I also cut the seat cover. I did a poor job of it here and will take it to an upholstery shop for leather to be sewn around the edge to reinforce it.

While I am at it I also like to narrow the seat, I change the width from 19 ½ to 18 ½ by cutting and straightening the hinge. The stock hinge is curved to clear the sides of the seat by a lot, I want it 1 inch narrower so I do this modification. I want it narrower to give more seat to center counsel clearance and more clearance on the door side for the roll cage bar that runs low just above the sill from the trailing arm pocket to the front down tube and through the firewall

This is the finished drivers seat with the 3 inch belts passing through the back of the seats.
I don’t actually run a 5 point, I run 4 points, the boys vetoed the 5th belt.

 

[maxrevs85]

How will you or did you, protect the webbing of your beltls from the edges of the metal it passes thru. If any portion of the belt comes in contact with the metal, especially on an impact, it will eventually chaf or cut the belts ....not safe.

 

[norvalwilhelm]

How will you or did you, protect the webbing of your beltls from the edges of the metal it passes thru. If any portion of the belt comes in contact with the metal, especially on an impact, it will eventually chaf or cut the belts ....not safe.

The metal insert is made from some soft material, i just mill the slot out, smooth the edges very carefully, the frame slot is also polished and larger then the insert slot.

The finished seat you see with that seat belt has been used for 4 or 5 years, I always had a 5 point on the drivers side and the stock seat belt on the passengers side. With the new cage I wanted my wife to have a seat belt similiar to mine.
There is absolutley no sign of wear on my used belt so smoothing the edge must have worked.

 

[maxrevs85]

Good deal. I'm sure you have done whats neccessary to prevent any problems with the belts . I get alittle paranoid about belt instalation since I am invovled in racing and go to great lengths to make sure our belts are free from abrasion.

I do like the the mods to the stock seats, looks good.
Dave

 

[heider85]

I have a 79 vette. I wanted to do what you did but I didnt know who to or where to get the stuff at. Where did you get the hardware and seats and how much is it going to set me back. The seats in my car are a little different so I might have to make some changes also.

 

[norvalwilhelm]

I have a 79 vette. I wanted to do what you did but I didnt know who to or where to get the stuff at. Where did you get the hardware and seats and how much is it going to set me back. The seats in my car are a little different so I might have to make some changes also.

Get what stuff. Mine are the stock seats for the car. I just took the backs apart and cut the slots. Other then the 5 points I didn't buy anything. I do have the back of the seats sewn with leather to prevent future ripping.
I don't know how you will do your seats, this is just one method I used to install shoulder harnesses.

 

[heider85]

Where did you get the belts at and how much were they?

 

[norvalwilhelm]

Where did you get the belts at and how much were they?

Any speed shop or race shop sells 5 point harnesses, Summit racing sells them and they are about $100 per set or for one seat.