240Z, 260Z, 280Z Appearance Exterior, Interior Discussions related to performance suspension, wheels, brakes and chassis.

racing seats and harnesses in my 78 280z?

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Old Oct 10, 2009 | 08:31 PM
  #1  
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racing seats and harnesses in my 78 280z?

i know id probably have to make my own seat brackets. which isnt too bigga deal, unless someone knows of some thatll work with my car. anyways. i have not a clue how safety harnesses are installed. so would they work in my 280, along with the racing seats? i was looking at getting some sparco ones, if my dad can get a deal on them, his friends owns a shop.

but if not i was looking at getting these seats and safety harnesses.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2X-JD...item3ef9011d12

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2X-JD...item439ab2fd59

oh and does anyone have input on those no name safety harnesses? i know its the thing keeping me between life and death. so i want to know the quality of em. haha

edit: sorry if those were some "dumb" quesstions. ive just never delt with racing seats or harnesses.

Last edited by jumpman2334; Oct 10, 2009 at 08:42 PM.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 08:41 PM
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im also kinda likin these tenzo seats.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TENZO...item41490a5f58
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by ASA240z
those seats look ok, but I wouldn't trust those belts. I'd get something more reputable.

Why not try corbeau seats?, those are really nice and the company sells prefabbed brackets for the Z's. Check it out.
understandable by the belts. there whats keeping you from possibly dying. haha. so what are some good harnesses, aside from sparco? and do the brackets on the harnesses bolt onto the seat or onto the floor?

and i went and looked at those corbeau seats, damn. a little pricey! but they look pretty darn good.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:01 PM
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I bought some of these and they work fairly decently. IF you ever rolled your Z you wouldnt be going anywhere.

http://www.gpiperformance.com/index...._912_2835_2839
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:09 PM
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good proven harnesses are crow, g-force, simpson..etc anything with a SFI or FIA tag that is less then 10 years old and is not cut, faded...etc to mount a harness correctly, you need a roll bar, or a harness bar that attaches to the floor and wheel wells. all other mounting points should be considered unsafe and deadly at the least, seats and belts are probably one thing you dont not want to cheap out on, or get just for looks, if you install and aftermarket seat and belts and half *** it, just to have the looks, you are most likely going to die in any serious crash. Also the stock mounting brackets for the seats need to be strengthened or redesigned to accommodate aftermarket seats.

I also would highly recommend staying away from a harness that uses a regular seat belt clip, latch and cam lock only.

Last edited by hoov100; Oct 10, 2009 at 10:16 PM.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by hoov100
you need a roll bar, or a harness bar that attaches to the floor and wheel wells.
I smell custom fab?
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by WanganDevilZ
I bought some of these and they work fairly decently. IF you ever rolled your Z you wouldnt be going anywhere.

http://www.gpiperformance.com/index...._912_2835_2839
those look nice. thanks for the help!
Originally Posted by hoov100
good proven harnesses are crow, g-force, simpson..etc anything with a SFI or FIAA tag that is less then 10 years old and is not cut, faded...etc to mount a harness correctly, you need a roll bar, or a harness bar that attaches to the floor and wheel wells. all other mounting points should be considered un safe and deadly. what seems safe/looks safe usually isnt.
thanks for the input. do you know where i can find a harness bar??

edit: what about these?
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...=MkMdlYrSearch

Last edited by jumpman2334; Oct 10, 2009 at 10:23 PM.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by jumpman2334
those look nice. thanks for the help!

thanks for the input. do you know where i can find a harness bar??

edit: what about these?
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...=MkMdlYrSearch
you can get a roll bar with a harness bar from MSA
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by skib
you can get a roll bar with a harness bar from MSA
these?
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/PIC07

and do you know where they have pictures of them? thanks.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by jumpman2334
these?
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/PIC07

and do you know where they have pictures of them? thanks.
I wouldnt touch one of those with a 10 foot pole, you need a roll bar thats bolted/welded or both. the main hoop should be welded and braced at the floor then have have a bar go from the main hoop to the strut towers, preferably with an x between them, If you go on hybridz their is alot of info about roll bar construction.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by hoov100
I wouldnt touch one of those with a 10 foot pole, you need a roll bar thats bolted/welded or both. the main hoop should be welded and braced at the floor then have have a bar go from the main hoop to the strut towers, preferably with an x between them, If you go on hybridz their is alot of info about roll bar construction.
so your saying the jegs kit would be a better to go with?
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by ASA240z
Whats so bad with regular seat belt clip?
seats in my 280 are thrashed. well the driver one is. so i figured, well what the hell? im already going to be buying new seats. so why not just go with the harnesses too. and theres no airbags in the car anyways.. and im only 17. so i might need the added safety.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by ASA240z
he's pretty much saying "custom" only.
whats wrong with a jegs? i know it needs a little more fab. before you can actually weld it in and such.
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by jumpman2334
so your saying the jegs kit would be a better to go with?
if the hoop mounts to the floor then yes.
Originally Posted by ASA240z
Whats so bad with regular seat belt clip?
plastic latch release, they are weak and are very prone to malfunction and for the racing world just arent safe, also they are a pain to get off when the car is upside down or on fire. (assuming the plastic hasnt melted)
Old Oct 10, 2009 | 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by hoov100
if the hoop mounts to the floor then yes.
1. Floor Plates Determine the location of the reinforcing plates by temporarily positioning the main hoop, the rear braces, and (in the case of an 8 point) the side bars. Sometimes the plates will need bent to conform to the floor. See illustration A. Remove floor caulking, sand off plating, and weld the plates to the floor.
2. Main Hoop This part should be positioned after considering seat location and cross bar type. It is to be welded to the floor plates.


well i read that, from there little online instructions, and im assuming that it is infact welded to the floor. actually the plates are, which are welded to the main hoop.
Old Oct 23, 2009 | 09:30 AM
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I ordered an MSA SCCA roll bar from thezstore a couple, will post pictures of it when its done.

Cant put a price on safety =D

Eventually hope to get my friggin strut bars in...

Anyone else order cusco strut bars and havent received them yet?

Should be getting them by the end of '09 says Jon...
Old Oct 27, 2009 | 01:58 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by hoov100
I wouldnt touch one of those with a 10 foot pole, you need a roll bar thats bolted/welded or both. the main hoop should be welded and braced at the floor then have have a bar go from the main hoop to the strut towers, preferably with an x between them, If you go on hybridz their is alot of info about roll bar construction.
Turns out Hoov predicts the future:
http://jalopnik.com/5390934/mustang-...over-tire-wall
faux roll cage with no mount plates, total failure. Good thing their harness and seat mounts apparently failed, too, allowing the occupants to hunch forward/downward, rather than just get crushed as the roof came down.

Hoov, while you've got the crystal ball out, I could use some stock and sports team picks, if you have a sec.
cheers,
Dave
Old Nov 2, 2009 | 01:41 PM
  #18  
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Jumpman, were you planning on running the car at the track? If not, why spend more money on aftermarket seats, rails, harnesses, and a roll bar that you don't need, than what it would cost to just buy seat skins or an upholstery kit? It would also save you considerable time and you won’t have to worry about safety issues because you’ll be using the stock seat beats (assuming they still function properly).

The original 280Z seats were specially designed for the car. I don’t know if you have ever driven one with aftermarket seats, but I personally feel that they are very uncomfortable for daily driving purposes and just do not feel right. For the track, now that’s a different story.

Check out this upholstery kit at Black Dragon (it comes in your color): http://www.blackdragonauto.com/icata...l.aspx?Page=71
Old Nov 2, 2009 | 04:58 PM
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this isnt going to be a daily driver. its going to be more something thatll see the streets every so often, once or twice a week? and possibly the track. my dily driver is a 2000 vw jetta.

and thanks for all the info about the seat kits, but thats expensive for just that kit. i was planning on getting something like this for seats, and then sparco, or some high-er buck harnesses, (theyd keep me more in place too than the stock seats and belts.) and then making my own harness/roll bar. since as of recently, i guess i have access to a welder and a pipe bender. thanks for the info tho.
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 07:30 PM
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if its going to see the track i would go with takata belts there pricey but when i got in the wreck a few yrs ago, my roll cage, seats from bride and takata seat belts saved my life and that of my wife. my roll cage was very much custom most speed shops can build you a nice roll cage, there pricey but i am dang glad i spent what i did one everything. and as a bonus they look very well. this a very good rule of thumb if its cheap it was built even cheaper. so don't buy it. hope this helps
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 6boltfreak
if its going to see the track i would go with takata belts there pricey but when i got in the wreck a few yrs ago, my roll cage, seats from bride and takata seat belts saved my life and that of my wife. my roll cage was very much custom most speed shops can build you a nice roll cage, there pricey but i am dang glad i spent what i did one everything. and as a bonus they look very well. this a very good rule of thumb if its cheap it was built even cheaper. so don't buy it. hope this helps
Exactly. Also if it doesnt have an SFI or FIAA rating, then dont buy it and expect it to save your life.
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 06:49 PM
  #22  
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makes sence, you get what you pay for. and you shouldnt go cheap on saftey stuff, b/c its whats saving you from life and death. thanks for the advice.
Old Nov 10, 2009 | 09:45 PM
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We used the MSA SCCA roll bar in our 240z. It was easy and quick to install. This item is made by Autopower, one of the leading roll bar manufactures. It passed the tech inspection.

Our 240z is a "track car" only.
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