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......................................................-- Seat Belts --
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The previous weekend when Phil was over using the rule book pictures and with me in the car laying on the seat we marked the location for the tabs for the seat belts. The tabs in the picture are for the two shoulder belts. They were notched slightly so set down into these frame members that protects the bottom of the driver and also support part of the seat where the driver's lower back is. The were squared off the side frame rails with the square as shown in the picture. Another piece will be add further down the page.
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The tabs shown by the middle arrow and another on the other side of the car are where the lap belts and the anti-submarine belts will attach. I had a problem in this area as you can only pull a belt so tight before it runs into the stitched webbing and hardware. My waist in this lay-down position is very close to the bottom of the car and the car won't be flat bottomed but rounded close to the lower frame cross-members. To solve the problem pieces of 3/16 inch strap was bent to the same angle as the cross-members and was tacked to the side frame rails and center "X" section (two outer arrows). The tabs were then tacked to these pieces and I put the seat back in and hooked up the belts to make sure the shoulder, lab and anti-submarine belts would all work and adjust down tight.
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After I felt everything was ok I went back and welded in this crossmember for the shoulder belt tabs.
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I also welded in a brace for the seat where the driver's upper back is (top arrow). The lap belt tabs were reinforced with some more strap that makes them into "L" or "angle" pieces (lower arrows). These new pieces are 3/16 by 1 1/2 inch strap that on one end go up under the bottom frame rails and across them to the outsides. The other piece is attached to the "X" member. This is all quite ridge now and I feel very comfortable with it.
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Finally a slot was cut into the front floor piece and another tab was welded to a cross-member there for the crotch strap that is mandatory for a lay-down car like this. If the car were to crash and hit backwards this strap hold the shoulder straps and the rest of the straps down so that the driver would not ride up into the back of the cage.
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Here Pillow-Man is strapped into the car and ready to go racing!!
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