how to construct a harness bar without a cage?

[Mtrhd329]

I have recently started autocross in my truck and would like to stay in the drivers seat during these activities. I was thinking that some 4 point harnesses would be helpfull but there is not a safe way to mount them. I was thinking maybe a pipe wedged in between the outer cab walls from side to side behind the seats and welded to the inner cab wall as it passes through would be strong enough. Anyone have any ideas?

[kalbert]

Probably not, that part of cab is just sheet metal with nothing that will hold you in. I'd check your sanctioning body's rule book. Most have pretty clear guidelines on what is required and what can and can't be done.

[Chevy_mud_truck]

Be careful with 4 point harness without some type of cage/roll bar if something was to happen like a rollover and the top is smashed in it can do some serious injuries to you cause you will strapped up right and you can't get away from it

[Mtrhd329]

Ha! Didnt even think to check the SCCA rules book. Heres what it says. Sounds like i have to have something tied to the frame. Might as well put in a cage.....

Driver restraints as outlined in Section 3.3.1 are allowed. Seats may not
be cut to allow for the installation of alternate seat belts or harness-
es. Passive restraint systems may disabled but may not be removed.
Removeable seat headrests may be repositioned using the original
mounting hardware only if the OE components permit it with no modi-
fications. This includes removing a headrest and reinstalling it back-
wards. A horizontal “harness bar” may be used as part of the instal-
lation hardware for allowed driver restraints provided it has no more
than 2 attachment points to the chassis and is bolted at those locations.
A C-type harness bar may also be used. It may have 4 bolted attachment
points to the chassis (2 primary and 2 supporting connections to resist
rotation). Truss-type harness bars are not allowed.

[andrewmp6]

Yeah when it comes to racing always check the rules,I rather have a 4 point cage then just a harness bar just in case i roll i have something vs nothing lol.

[Mtrhd329]

I REALLY did not want to go through putting a cage in. I just got the truck racing again. But i guess a 4 point wouldnt be that bad.

[SkinnyG]

Set the bar height where you want it, then have tabs that go up to utilize the factory should mount bolts, and tabs that go down to anchor into the factory lap belt mounts. Should be kind of > shaped, with the bar in the vertex.

You likely won't get protested whatever you do - trucks used to end up in Muscle car classes back when I autocrossed more seriously. So like F/Stock, E/SP, E/Mod, etc.. It only becomes a problem if you start winning a lot.

Sounds cool!

[Mtrhd329]

That sounds pretty solid. Both sides bolting into factory reinforced mount points.

The classes changed recently. There is now a CAM class for classic american muscle. I fall into the category of anything Cam made after 1973. So i get grouped in with the mustangs that arenfully prepped with good tires.