Lotus Elan Central

Can the members who have one fitted post pic`s of the mounting points please and what type they fitted? ie clip in fixing with eye bolts or the stand bolt in.

Advice appricated

I`ve gone for the 4 point Luke Harness from Hanger 111 for the drivers side, this is the wrap around type for the shoulder straps which go round the Roll bar/hoops. The left side lap strap goes to a bolt behinde the rear speaker cover, the right side goes to the original bottom mounting point of the seat belt.

www.hangar111.com/ckshop.php?item=412&ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hangar111.com%2Fckshop.php%3Fpage%3D1%26category%3D20

Monty, see my post on the 'Pinky 11' thread to save a tenner!

dapinky wrote:

Monty wrote:Those harness aren't cheap, but i will get one for the passenger side for Dico for when we go france in May.

I got mine from Peter Lloyd (Rallying) over in Welsh Wales.

They were the cheapest by a few quid to anywhere else. 2 harnesses + the eye-bolt fittings and strengthening plates for just under a couple of hundred quid delivered (2 days) - it was a couple of years ago, but looking on there web site HERE they're up for £105 inc VAT at the moment.

Cheers Dave,

That one is different from mine ie mine`s a bolt in type and can remove the shoulder strap buckles so can use as to wrap around the rollbar. Another thing my lap straps are only 2"

Monty wrote:That one is different from mine ie mine's a bolt in type and can remove the shoulder strap buckles so can use as to wrap around the rollbar. Another thing my lap straps are only 2"

Having now read the thread properly, and looked at the pictures, there are a couple of points I feel worth mentioning (probably a bit late to help you much, but maybe....

Peter lloyd are very helpful, if you give them a ring they'll usually provide the lap belts with either bolt or eye-bolt fixings, and the shoulder straps to wrap round the bars (as you say, they're all seperate straps anyway).

Having looked at your instalation, you may have been better off with an eye-bolt instead of the straight bolt, to give a better angle of tension on the lap belt (they are a straight screw into the existing seat belt thread (7/16" UNF).

Also, with my extremely picky 'MSA Scrutineers' hat on, i would loosen the bolt and swivel the fitting by 90 degrees to reduce lateral torsion on the bolt in case of an impact! (eye-bolts don't have this worry!!!!).

Of course, you could always get the 3" belt from Lloyds, with appropriate fittings, and then put the 2" lap strap one on Dicos' side

I was confused on which style to get and didn`t know if the eye bolts would fit or long enough to be used as a replacement. Good job i went with the bolt in type as the bottom seat belt bolt is a different thread to the others ie finer thread and bigger might be M12. It`s all a learning curve and i always learn the hard way But i do appreciate your comments as u seem to have alot of experience in this area.

Monty, I'm no engineer by training, but to me I wonder about the strength/security of the mount in your third picture at the bottom?? Looks like this could shear off the bolt head and fail in an impact because of the vector of the force?

Doug wrote:Monty, I'm no engineer by training, but to me I wonder about the strength/security of the mount in your third picture at the bottom?? Looks like this could shear off the bolt head and fail in an impact because of the vector of the force?

It looks like the bracket could 'lever' the bolt head off - like a bottle opener? The belt needs to be in-line with its bracket so the bolt is in shear, and from your lap the belt should go down to the anchor point at around 45 degrees [when viewed from the side].

F1 LOTUS wrote:

Doug wrote:Monty, I'm no engineer by training, but to me I wonder about the strength/security of the mount in your third picture at the bottom?? Looks like this could shear off the bolt head and fail in an impact because of the vector of the force?

It looks like the bracket could 'lever' the bolt head off - like a bottle opener? The belt needs to be in-line with its bracket so the bolt is in shear, and from your lap the belt should go down to the anchor point at around 45 degrees [when viewed from the side].

This is what i was alluding to in my earlier rambling .

Whilst not wishing to be a total prophet of doom, and without specific knowledge of the feasibility of the access behind the mounting point, would it be possible to get a spreader plate behind the threaded section so that a 7/16" eyebolt can be used?

By simply drilling out the current thread (if necessary) and placing a spreader plate behind the panel (pop riveted into place from the front) an eyebolt can be screwed in (they come in different lengths).

It can even go somewhere totaly different if it's easier, as long as the angles are good.

It is possible to adapt the bolt-in fittings on the end of your current belts with a suitable karabiner-type fitting to attach to the eyebolt. (or, alternatively, buy another set of harnesses (3") and use the lap straps from that set, selling on the 2" lap straps with the new shoulder straps on flea bay?)

On the downside, they don't half make an anoying rattle when left dangling during normal road use (metal on metal) wheras the ones you have don't. But on the up side, they're easy to just unclip and chuck in the boot/garage/ behind the seat when not needed.

Perhaps were all being just a tad enthusiastic in the critisism (nothing personal!) of your instalation, and I'm purely commenting on what would be acceptable to gain FIA approval, which is not strictly necessary in the case of you useage (albeit that it is THE internationally-approved safety standard for such things - just not necessary unless it's an out-and-out motorsport car).

Without seeing it in the flesh (I can have a look at Donny if you want me to - no charge for LEC members ) I can't say if it is 'safe' 'dangerous' or 'acceptable for intended use'.

I would think it will actually be okay, the head of the bolt is unlikely to shear (on a lap belt - shoulder ones are a different matter) in your circumstances. Anyway, its got to be better than a normal seat belt! The lap straps are only really subject to massive force in the event of a front end lift, backwards-roll situation - in which case I'm sure there would be far more to worry about at that time

If you want me to, I can bring a pair of my lap belts and a couple of spreader plates/eyebolts to see how they might be fitted in an elan?

PS - do you have a copy of the MSA 'blue book' - even an old one can be helpful, as the regulations under the relevant section haven't changed for a while.[/img]

i wouldn't trust my life on that mount.

All your comments are welcome, i`m a novice on track and car upgrades lol.

I see u`r point on that bolt, but don`t forget they are high tensile. Dave like u said in an crash the top shoulder straps will take most of the force.

Option one is to use the seat belt mount on the seat and would mean removing the seat again + depends on the length of lap strap.

Option two would be to bolt it to the center tunnel with a spreader plate but not sure if i could get my hand that far up the tunnel from the hole were the gear stick is

It will have to do for now, no time to change it for Cadwell

Dave, would appreciate u having a look at my set up at Donny.

is there enough strength in the floor next to the seat to drill a hole and put the plate underneath the body - or would this just rip thro in the event of an accident?

I wouldn't trust it. However it might work if you made a plate that extends from the existing seat mounting points but is still under the floor.

Enright wrote:I wouldn't trust it. However it might work if you made a plate that extends from the existing seat mounting points but is still under the floor.

That's an idea I will look into that