NHRA Stock seat and belt setup

jrod2sc · 04-14-2011, 09:37 PM

I am building C/S '69 Camaro and would like recommendations on seat and safety belt setup.

Safety is my number one priority, so I want to put in the 5-point belt. Any recommendations on how do do it, so it is NHRA legal. Are people cutting holes in their stock seats to accommodate the belts?

Buying a racing seat seems like the best and cheapest route but not legal according to the NHRA rule book.

Chad E532 · 04-14-2011, 11:09 PM

I ran into a similar issue with my 77 Camaro with the high back bucket seats. I ended up marking the fabric on my seat and then took the seat apart and brought the cover to the upholstery shop and they cut the ovals out about 3/4" tall by 3" wide and then sewing in a piece of heavy fabric to create a sleeve that goes through the seat. Then I cut matching holes in the steel, foam, and plastic parts of the seat and put the seat back together using edge trim to cover up the sharp edges made when cutting the slots in the steel inner seat. It worked out really nice the outlets on the back of the seat line up with perfectly with the roll bar cross bar. The main trick was coming up with the sleeve of fabric to protect the belts as they pass through the seat.

I can take some pictures if you would like.

Chad

Joe Martens · 04-15-2011, 12:30 AM

I cut a slit about 3 in. to pass the crotch strap through, and had an upholstery shop sew a sleeve into it. You can tuck the shoulder straps underneath the headrests. Good luck with the project!

gmonde · 04-15-2011, 10:09 PM

i ran the belts thru the back of my seats ,made a slice and backed it with a aluminum oval cut out ,stitched the seat material in back of the seat cover ,looks great ,gmonde

Kegracing · 04-16-2011, 08:40 AM

On my 67 Firebird, I have the tab on back of the roll bar that the sholder straps bolt to, and belts just lay over the top of the seat at headrest area. The lap belts are bolted into the original seat belt locations, and for crotch strap,I welded a piece of 1/4" steel plate to the riser below the front of the seat, about 2" x 3" long, and drilled and tapped it for the seat belt bolt. Used a extra seat belt bolt from pass side. Works well, no cutting of seats, crotch belt does look bad, and all work well, and fit well.

Good luck,

Ken

cad · 04-16-2011, 09:09 AM

I dont think you can run a true racing seat In stock.

JP · 04-17-2011, 03:34 AM

If you want the 5-point belts to work as they are designed to work is it important to have the 5-point routed directly downwards or at a maximum of 20 degrees forward. Only way to do that with a stock seat is to make a hole in the seat.
If not done properly will you submarine when having a frontal crash.
Using Stock seats in a race car is nothing but stupid, but the rules are as they are...

Run to Rund · 04-17-2011, 12:55 PM

Cutting the seat is best for the crotch strap but NHRA allows you to run it around the front of a stock seat instead, if you want. You can use stock mount bolts for the lap belts. You can wrap the shoulder belts around the cross tube if it is within 4" of your shoulder height (take a right angle from the seat back and measure down; a lot of seats have your back tilted back not vertical, so the measurement might be over 4" on the vertical.) NHRA tech will want to see that the belts can't slide sideways out of position if you wrap them around the tube. I put 6" between the vertical tubes for the headrest to retain the belts sideways. BTW, if you use stock seat belt bolts in the driveshaft tunnel, check for clearance to the driveshaft. A 4" shaft will get close; I cut the bolts shorter to end up just over flush with the floor reinforcement nut.

jrod2sc · 04-17-2011, 07:37 PM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. They are really helpful.

04-14-2011, 09:37 PM	#1
jrod2sc Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	NHRA Stock seat and belt setup I am building C/S '69 Camaro and would like recommendations on seat and safety belt setup. Safety is my number one priority, so I want to put in the 5-point belt. Any recommendations on how do do it, so it is NHRA legal. Are people cutting holes in their stock seats to accommodate the belts? Buying a racing seat seems like the best and cheapest route but not legal according to the NHRA rule book.

04-14-2011, 11:09 PM	#2
Chad E532 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lindstrom MN Posts: 156 Likes: 7 Liked 54 Times in 7 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup I ran into a similar issue with my 77 Camaro with the high back bucket seats. I ended up marking the fabric on my seat and then took the seat apart and brought the cover to the upholstery shop and they cut the ovals out about 3/4" tall by 3" wide and then sewing in a piece of heavy fabric to create a sleeve that goes through the seat. Then I cut matching holes in the steel, foam, and plastic parts of the seat and put the seat back together using edge trim to cover up the sharp edges made when cutting the slots in the steel inner seat. It worked out really nice the outlets on the back of the seat line up with perfectly with the roll bar cross bar. The main trick was coming up with the sleeve of fabric to protect the belts as they pass through the seat. I can take some pictures if you would like. Chad

04-15-2011, 12:30 AM	#3
Joe Martens Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North Olmsted, Ohio Posts: 787 Likes: 622 Liked 196 Times in 69 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup I cut a slit about 3 in. to pass the crotch strap through, and had an upholstery shop sew a sleeve into it. You can tuck the shoulder straps underneath the headrests. Good luck with the project! __________________ Joe Martens AA/Stock 3969

04-15-2011, 10:09 PM	#4
gmonde Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 615 Likes: 56 Liked 165 Times in 59 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup i ran the belts thru the back of my seats ,made a slice and backed it with a aluminum oval cut out ,stitched the seat material in back of the seat cover ,looks great ,gmonde

04-16-2011, 08:40 AM	#5
Kegracing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Red Oak, TX Posts: 441 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup On my 67 Firebird, I have the tab on back of the roll bar that the sholder straps bolt to, and belts just lay over the top of the seat at headrest area. The lap belts are bolted into the original seat belt locations, and for crotch strap,I welded a piece of 1/4" steel plate to the riser below the front of the seat, about 2" x 3" long, and drilled and tapped it for the seat belt bolt. Used a extra seat belt bolt from pass side. Works well, no cutting of seats, crotch belt does look bad, and all work well, and fit well. Good luck, Ken

04-16-2011, 09:09 AM	#6
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 696 Likes: 198 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup I dont think you can run a true racing seat In stock.

04-17-2011, 03:34 AM	#7
JP Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 125 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup If you want the 5-point belts to work as they are designed to work is it important to have the 5-point routed directly downwards or at a maximum of 20 degrees forward. Only way to do that with a stock seat is to make a hole in the seat. If not done properly will you submarine when having a frontal crash. Using Stock seats in a race car is nothing but stupid, but the rules are as they are... __________________ Facebook: Dodged Viper SS/D Facebook: Swedish Stock & Super Stock Association

04-17-2011, 12:55 PM	#8
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup Cutting the seat is best for the crotch strap but NHRA allows you to run it around the front of a stock seat instead, if you want. You can use stock mount bolts for the lap belts. You can wrap the shoulder belts around the cross tube if it is within 4" of your shoulder height (take a right angle from the seat back and measure down; a lot of seats have your back tilted back not vertical, so the measurement might be over 4" on the vertical.) NHRA tech will want to see that the belts can't slide sideways out of position if you wrap them around the tube. I put 6" between the vertical tubes for the headrest to retain the belts sideways. BTW, if you use stock seat belt bolts in the driveshaft tunnel, check for clearance to the driveshaft. A 4" shaft will get close; I cut the bolts shorter to end up just over flush with the floor reinforcement nut.

04-17-2011, 07:37 PM	#9
jrod2sc Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 6 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: NHRA Stock seat and belt setup Thanks everyone for the suggestions. They are really helpful.