Autopower "Race" Roll Bar Question

[DipStick]

I am thinking about getting some better seats, 5 point harnesses and a roll bar for my HPDE / lapping day car (still sees frequent but not daily street action). Can someone with an Autopower "Race" roll bar confirm on whether or not its harness bar is appropriately located for attaching a 5 pt harness without any excessive angles on the shoulder straps? (ie the way they are 'supposed' to be installed)

The specific combo that I am considering is the Autopower "Race" rollbar, Corbeau TRS reclining seats (driver and passenger), and a typical 5 pt camlock harness (driver and passenger).

Any input on this configuration would be helpful and appreciated.

Paul

[jlevie]

I believe the harness bar will wind up being at appropriate height. I would recommend that you pass on the recliners and go straight to fixed back race seats as they are much safer.

[DipStick]

Refining my Question...

I'd really like to go fixed back, as the roll bar makes the rear seat area useless anyway, but I am up against a few challenges here. I need to find safe, inexpensive seats that multiple body types will be comfortable driving in. For example, I am going to surprise my dad this summer and fly him up for a HPDE and I know his 44+ inch waist is not going to fit into just any fixed back seat. I also need the seats, with sliders, to sit lower than stock sport seats, I am 6'2" and when I wear a helmet it's continually bumping the roof. I am an OK beginner welder, and have a nice MIG, so while I prefer a bolt-in solution for the seats, I can manage customizing if need be.

Basically I want to budget $1500 for 2 seats, sliders / brackets, and 5 pt. harnesses. Is there anything that anyone can recommend?

[BimmerScreamer]

I have an autopower roll bar, I have not yet gotten it in the car but the harness bar looks to be just the right height.

[etxxz]

kirk or autopower cage and carbeau seats will give you plenty of room within that budget for all the other hardware and components. MFG your own seat bracket.

i did this for my last (or two bimmers ago) bimmer using the stock sliders and welding the brackets to the side of it with lateral and a diagonal reinforcer. 5parts total.. the seat mounted to the laterals. worked awesome. I welded plates with multiple mounting points for the seat such that i could adjust the height, tilt etc.

[jlevie]

There's nothing that says both seats have to be the same. I have Sparco EVO for the driver and an EVO II in the passenger position. The EVO II accommodates larger passengers. Those seats are probably a bit outside of your price range, but cheaper alternatives in fixed back seats exist. The lowest mount for seats will be something that you build or have built and if correctly designed, you can swap the passenger and driver's seats.

[BimmerScreamer]

I am going to mount my passenger seat pretty much straight to the floor, so what if they look like little kids from outside. My driver seat might get a some spacers but we'll see

[z31maniac]

Massive's side mounts + a few pieces of angle aluminum is what I'd do for mounting the seats.

[Hallen]

I went with the Sparco Sprint 5 seats because they are good seats, and inexpensive.http://www.sparcousa.com/pseats_comp.asp?id=622

I wouldn't reccomend them for daily or commuter use though. I also got sliders and mounts from Speedware motorsports. Grand total for the two seats and all the mounting stuff was $1200. I am 6'2" and I have about an inch of headroom to spare with the helmet on.

You can get the Sprint 5 in the wider sizes too. Or, don't get sliders for the passenger side, and use the Sprint 5 there, and get a slightly nicer seat for the driver's side.

I have the Autopower "race" roll bar, but haven't installed it yet. The bar should be designed to provide the correct height for the shoulder straps.

[DipStick]

Well I went to Speedware today and sat in a bunch of Sparco seats, including the Sprint. I brought my father-in-law with me, (very big guy- similar to my dad) and didn't find much of anything in the price range that would comfortably fit the both of us (very different body types). We then went to the local Corbeau dealer and sat in several. Surpisingly, my dad-in-law was able to wiggle into a Corbeau Forza. It was a bit too snug for him, but the wide version will probably be just fine. Better yet, the harness holes in the seatback are at just about the right level to my shoulders, which I had been having touble with on many seats. The best part- It seems Soloracer.com can sell 2 Forza Wide seats in Black Cloth, with two Corbeau 5-point camlock harnesses, and two bolt-on double-locking sliders for $1037.98 FREE SHIPPING! I think I'll call them in the morning to confirm this price.

This just might be the ticket!