alternative harness bar??
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From: Big Sandy, TX
Car: 1985 z28, 1994 Sierra
Engine: 350, 350
Transmission: T-5, 4L60E
alternative harness bar??
I don't want to install a whole rollbar so I can run a safety harness but I also don't want to have to install one improperly and have it fail. Could I build a harness bar that connects to the lower seat belt bolts in the back seat, come up close behind the front seat to the right height and brace it to the floor so it would not move up and down?
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From: jackson new jersey
Car: 1991 camaro vert
Engine: ls1 soon
Transmission: t56 soon
Axle/Gears: moser 12bolt 4.10 soon!
Re: alternative harness bar??
i dont see y not.. if u can build one that bolts in i would use the seatbelt bolts and holes.. have it go across the rear seats from one side to the other being braced from the front center seatbelt holes.. ill draw up a pic and see if that would explain better
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From: jackson new jersey
Car: 1991 camaro vert
Engine: ls1 soon
Transmission: t56 soon
Axle/Gears: moser 12bolt 4.10 soon!
Re: alternative harness bar??
thanks for the idea actually.. ive been thinking about doing the same thing.. but i actually wanna weld mine in.. now i think that u can do this with out removing the rear seats but it would probably be best if u did.. if done correctly this could be a simple bolt in 6 point harness bar.. u have support from the front by the sides of the center console and then the support from the rear by the seat latch bolts and the height from the rear seatbelt bolts on the outter side of the seats.. u can pretty much custom make it with almost any measurements that u want keep in mind i threw this together quickly.. so its not the best drawing.. red is just for labels black only is the bar.


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Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Big Sandy, TX
Car: 1985 z28, 1994 Sierra
Engine: 350, 350
Transmission: T-5, 4L60E
Re: alternative harness bar??
Essentially, yeah that's what I was thinking. I was thinking of only 4 points (outer rear seatbelts and inner front seat belt) and putting in a rear seat delete box from a 4th gen if it will fit.
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From: jackson new jersey
Car: 1991 camaro vert
Engine: ls1 soon
Transmission: t56 soon
Axle/Gears: moser 12bolt 4.10 soon!
Re: alternative harness bar??
yea the center console connections could be deleted.. and u could always just build a rear seat delete box out of plywood and cover it in a carpet.. probably be cheaper.. since its the same thing anyway..
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Member
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Big Sandy, TX
Car: 1985 z28, 1994 Sierra
Engine: 350, 350
Transmission: T-5, 4L60E
Re: alternative harness bar??
I don't have the upper rear seatbelt area in my car. I would have to use the center console area. But they make a harness bar for your newer thirdgen that goes in the rear latch area.
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From: Orland Park, IL
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: alternative harness bar??
No I would not trust a bar that is bolted to the rear seat belt locations. If you feel the "need" for a 5 point then toss in a 4 point roll bar setup minimum. There is a substantial amount of force on that bar in an accident at high speed and the cross bar height must be in a specified location to not cause spinal injury.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Big Sandy, TX
Car: 1985 z28, 1994 Sierra
Engine: 350, 350
Transmission: T-5, 4L60E
Re: alternative harness bar??
I understand the cross bar has to be at a certain height. And maybe using all 4 spots in the rear lower seat belt area and then 2 bars to support the cross bar vertically.... you don't think that would be enough support for one person?
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From: Orland Park, IL
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: alternative harness bar??
I think that would be one heck of a harpoon to come through the back of your seat when it breaks off.
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From: Ogden UT
Car: '88 Camaro (Gone...)
Re: alternative harness bar??
That bar is going to be coming right at the back of your head/neck if it ever fails... Just not worth the risk. Not only to yourself, but also to any passenger riding in the car
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From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
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Re: alternative harness bar??
In other words, you are wanting what this other thread was about.....
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/show...referrerid=534
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/show...referrerid=534
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From: Big Sandy, TX
Car: 1985 z28, 1994 Sierra
Engine: 350, 350
Transmission: T-5, 4L60E
Re: alternative harness bar??
Stephen, I'm not trying to be rude in any way but neither of the designs in the thread you just linked me to looked safe to be that safe. I don't know what the one in the fourth gen bolted to but I can't think of anything back there that is stable. The mustang one bolted to the 2 upper bolts for the front seat belts and had tiny supports to keep it in place vertically. I don't see how a bar bolted down in 6 different places could be as unsafe as those.
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From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: alternative harness bar??
Stephen, I'm not trying to be rude in any way but neither of the designs in the thread you just linked me to looked safe to be that safe. I don't know what the one in the fourth gen bolted to but I can't think of anything back there that is stable. The mustang one bolted to the 2 upper bolts for the front seat belts and had tiny supports to keep it in place vertically. I don't see how a bar bolted down in 6 different places could be as unsafe as those.
If the harness bar was bolted to the rear seat belt mounts, like in the later model 3rd gens, it is perfectly safe as just a harness bar. But not as any kind of safety bar from roll over or anything.
The 4th gen one is bolted to the rear seat belt mounts. So if it isn't safe, that must mean that rear seat passengers on 4th gens are screwed & no safe either, by your judgement.
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From: Orland Park, IL
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: alternative harness bar??
maybe he's getting at....do it right the first time or not at all....?
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From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: alternative harness bar??
I agree with that statement 110%, which is why my mods come few & far between. I'd rather save $ and buy a few GOOD things, just just buy lots of cheap stuff.
But by that token.....Buy a 4-pt Roll Bar minimum, with the harness bar.
But by that token.....Buy a 4-pt Roll Bar minimum, with the harness bar.
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From: Orland Park, IL
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: alternative harness bar??
you need to drop the two tank straps and at least let it hang down 8" or so, I wouldn't want to be welding on top of it. But dropping the entire tank only takes 2 or 3 hours, so in the grand scheme, it's not much time or effort if you "need" 5 point harnesses.
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From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
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Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
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Re: alternative harness bar??
you can mount at the front of the rear seat were the seat actually mounts you just need to reinforce it with a big washer and a big nut
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From: Orland Park, IL
Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
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From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: alternative harness bar??

If you look at the proper mounting procedure, it shouldn't be more than a couple inches lower than your shoulders. There is a specific distance, just using "couple of inches' as a generic description.
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