Second Wind: the 200mph Merkur

[Hot Rod Lincoln]

Project is looking good.   

[4-barrel Mike]

Thanks, Jon.  It may be a very interesting & entertaining August.

Mike

[Hot Rod Lincoln]

just maybe .....    8-)

we have a few things to accomplish on the car  yet

[tauruck]

You're there by the look of it and hey, how can you go wrong with all the guys on the biggest race team in the world?.

[4-barrel Mike]

Recently came upon this awesome modern video of '70s rock & roll:

Led Zeppelin vs The Beatles: Whole Lotta Helter Skelter

Mike

[4-barrel Mike]

I cut off the old left-side lap-belt mount (pictured on prev page) and fabbed up some new ones for better belt entry into the existing hole in the seat:



Plated the side of the transmission tunnel and modded the original right-side lap-belt previously mounted on a tube and tacked it into place:



The original shoulder harness mounts are not usable for then modern Simpson harness (0-10* recommended):



I need the shorten the top of the seat back approximately 3/4" so that it is slightly lower than my shoulders.  Then I need to figure out a mount that allows the correct angle.

Mike

[Stainless1]

Recently came upon this awesome modern video of '70s rock & roll:

Led Zeppelin vs The Beatles: Whole Lotta Helter Skelter

Mike

Mike, are you visiting One Run too much?  That seemed like a present day Washington state song.... 

Oh, the car seems to be coming along too 

[4-barrel Mike]

Actually, Bob, I never liked either piece of music and don't really like the new one, but the skillful way the two were melded makes me smile.  Anyhooo...

I talked a little about this with Kiwi Paul Friday at an estate sale (R.I.P. Dave), so I'm not totally winging this by myself, assuming, of course, that I heard him correctly and remember what I heard correctly.   

Added a new cross bar and fabbed up some tabs, the seat back has been cut 3/4" and probably could use another 1/2":



Currently angled 5* up from the base where the harness tab mounts.  The car is currently nose up and will be lowered for racing:



View from the rear, the mounting:



With belts:



The new crossbar is just snugged in and can be moved up or down.  The belt mounting holes are 9" apart.  The mounts are just tacked on.  Everything can be moved. I intend to put a gusset under each mount once the location is finalized.

Anyone have any suggestions on improving this?

Mike

[Sumner]

....Anyone have any suggestions on improving this?

Nice work and what follows is probably nick-picking.  The welds on the tabs are probably stronger than you would be in a crash but since you asked  

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee171/4-BarrelMike/Bonneville%20Merkur/Harness07_zpsc867d911.jpg

I'd probably triangulate the back of that belt tab down to the lower bar.  It could be with a bracket that goes from the mounting bolt down to a tab on the lower bar.  As I mentioned the pull on the tab, trying to pull it over would probably break you before it bent on over but an angled bracket would still make me feel better or weld verticals under the sides of the tabs to the bar they are welded to, that would also work.

How far will your shoulders be above the seat top that we can see?

Sum

[4-barrel Mike]

Sum:

Your wording is better than mine, I said gusset, you said triangulation, but, yes, that's what I meant.

My shoulders, when sitting very upright, are 1/4"-1/2" above the seat top, slightly above the overhanging piece in the second picture.  I think that when someone pulls the harness really tight, I'll be sitting lower in the seat, which is why I plan on trimming it another 1/2".

Mike

[Sumner]

Sum:

Your wording is better than mine, I said gusset, you said triangulation, but, yes, that's what I meant.

My shoulders, when sitting very upright, are 1/4"-1/2" above the seat top, slightly above the overhanging piece in the second picture.  I think that when someone pulls the harness really tight, I'll be sitting lower in the seat, which is why I plan on trimming it another 1/2".

Mike

You wording was fine it is my eyes that need improvement  , I didn't see the 'gusset remark'.  Sorry that will do it  , and yes I'd trim the seat some more as per your thoughts,

Sum

[4-barrel Mike]

Thanks, Sum.   

Mike

[Glen]

How about the Hans device, does it interfer at any point at the shoulder level and the seat top? Just wondering., Best to do final fit with fire suit and helmet on.

[4-barrel Mike]

Hmmmm, good question, Glen.  I know what I'll be doing after dinner.



Mike

[4-barrel Mike]

With a Hybrid Pro, the shoulder harness seems to go over the restraint system, especially considering the following from their installation manual: "The shoulder belts should be mount as close to the occupant as possible, separated by 2-3 inches at the mount."

Not the 9" I have.  Mod #1 coming up.

Mike