Not another roll-bar, harness and seat thread!!

[hpde30]

I have searched, and researched, but I am still torn which direction to go with my e30 and seat/harness mounting/roll-bar setup.

I am decided on seats and harnesses already. I have a set of race tech R1000 fixed back seats and I will be ordering a pair of schroth 6-point hybrid III harnesses and a roll bar (undecided on which bar ATM) to tie it all together. The car will be a SpecE30 car at some point, so I am sticking with a bolt-in bar to make the transition from a roll-bar to full cage much easier.

I drive the car to and from the track and on the street a few times a month.

I am looking for an inexpensive mounting solution for the seats/harness that will hopefully allow me to still use the OEM 3-points for street use. I would also like a little input on the best bolt-in rollbar to purchase (Kirk, VSR, Autopower,???)

The car will be driven by two people, myself and a student, so the drivers seat will need to be adjustable with sliders. The pass seat can be fixed. As mentioned above, I would like to retain use of the OEM 3-point harnessed for both driver and passenger. I would like the roll bar to have a back support brace, since the seats I have are not FIA approved.

I was looking at VAC since they're very close to me, but the parts I need to order for just the seat mounting solution adds up to over $700! Not including the roll-bar I have yet to purchase. I am hoping there is a more cost effective solution out there... what say R3V?

[jlevie]

I'm not familiar with that seat so I don't know if there is anything odd with respect to mounting it. If it is a side mount seat, you can build a base that mounts using the existing seat mount points for a few dollars in materials (some 3/4" square steel tubing and some 1-1/2"x1/8" strap) and a bit of welding. It wouldn't be much more work to add an attach point for the seat belt latch. A set of OMP double locking sliders is about $70.00. If you only street drive the car to/from the track and a few times a month. I'd say to just use the harnesses on the street.

Since my cages have all been built by Kirk, I'm probably a bit biased and would go with a Kirk roll bar.

[cosm3os]

I applaud you for installing an entire safety "system".

[robgoesvroom]

I am looking for an inexpensive mounting solution for the seats/harness that will hopefully allow me to still use the OEM 3-points for street use. I would also like a little input on the best bolt-in rollbar to purchase (Kirk, VSR, Autopower,???)

Make your own floor mounts/adapters similar to the VAC design or pay the pricetag! I made my own adapters so my sidemounts can bolt up up to them, the only downside is I don't have as many adjustment positions as the VAC piece — I'm guessing that won't be a problem for you since you require sliders for your drivers. My seat is "directly" bolted to the floor like this: custom adapters > sparco sidemounts > OMP seat

If you've really done your research, you'll find photos of the VSR bar have the "best" fit among the other bolt-in rollbars currently available. Only downside is that the VSR bar is the most expensive. The VSR bar will cost me about $800 shipped to Southern California, but I'm sure not as much for you over in the PA.

Goodluck and I'm glad to see another E30 being tracked

[RotnE30]

Wedge engineering makes custom seat brackets for e30 that run 150 to 200$ and sparco has a bolt on harness bar,it's not a roll bar but has harness points for I think 400$.hope that helps.

[SUICIDE109]

I need to get a cage.... If ppl get in the back, it scrapes :(

[Dave]

Wedge engineering makes custom seat brackets for e30 that run 150 to 200$ and sparco has a bolt on harness bar,it's not a roll bar but has harness points for I think 400$.hope that helps.

a harness bar is a bad idea - compared to a bolt in roll bar. A lot of track organizations will not allow it, and lets face it - it isn't particularly safe for track use. Auto-x, maybe.

[cosm3os]

a harness bar is a bad idea - compared to a bolt in roll bar. A lot of track organizations will not allow it, and lets face it - it isn't particularly safe for track use. Auto-x, maybe.

+1 million. But I thought he said he was doing a roll bar.

[hpde30]

I'm not familiar with that seat so I don't know if there is anything odd with respect to mounting it. If it is a side mount seat, you can build a base that mounts using the existing seat mount points for a few dollars in materials (some 3/4" square steel tubing and some 1-1/2"x1/8" strap) and a bit of welding. It wouldn't be much more work to add an attach point for the seat belt latch. A set of OMP double locking sliders is about $70.00. If you only street drive the car to/from the track and a few times a month. I'd say to just use the harnesses on the street.

Since my cages have all been built by Kirk, I'm probably a bit biased and would go with a Kirk roll bar.

I don't weld and would rather just buy something for my needs that try and construct something.

I contacted Kirk yesterday and mark just got back to me this morning. Their prices are pretty good, compared to what I've seen, but getting info and pics from them is frustrating.

I applaud you for installing an entire safety "system".

TY

Make your own floor mounts/adapters similar to the VAC design or pay the pricetag! I made my own adapters so my sidemounts can bolt up up to them, the only downside is I don't have as many adjustment positions as the VAC piece — I'm guessing that won't be a problem for you since you require sliders for your drivers. My seat is "directly" bolted to the floor like this: custom adapters > sparco sidemounts > OMP seat

If you've really done your research, you'll find photos of the VSR bar have the "best" fit among the other bolt-in rollbars currently available. Only downside is that the VSR bar is the most expensive. The VSR bar will cost me about $800 shipped to Southern California, but I'm sure not as much for you over in the PA.

Goodluck and I'm glad to see another E30 being tracked

It seems everyone has a different opinion on the subject of roll bar. Some say the autopower fits the best, others say VSR and other still the Kirk. My experience has been that autopower is junk (not saying it is, just that is my own personal experience with them). I am not thrilled with Kirks site and response so far... Its looking like VSR will get my business, unless Kirk can get me actual pics of the bar he is trying to sell me rather than just saying "it looks like an e36 bar".

Wedge engineering makes custom seat brackets for e30 that run 150 to 200$ and sparco has a bolt on harness bar,it's not a roll bar but has harness points for I think 400$.hope that helps.

A harness bar is not even a consideration. I came across the wedge site. Also saw 'planted' brand mounts which seem to have some nice features such as a provision for mounting the OEM belt receiver.

Right now its looking like the Planted brackets from Safe racer for $126 w/SCCA discount. I will need to get a set of side mounts and one slider. Then its just a matter of deciding on the bar...

[NigelStu]

I picked up one of these for our Chump Car - ~$110

http://www.ogracing.com/sparco-seatbase-adapter-e30-82-94-driver

Mounts to stock bolt holes, has various holes to fit just about any side-mount plate for race seats and includes an inboard mounting hole for the stock seat belt receiver.

You've got a good plan going, kudos to you and your research.

[hpde30]

Ben,

Thanks for that. what seat did you mount in your chump car and do you have any pics of how the stock belt receiver attached to the seat base?

Looks like the 'sparco' one you linked and the Wedge engineering bracket on that site are the same pic.

[djjerme]

Ran a harness bar for Auto-X in a different car, and it is not at all a safety "improvement", but it does position the seat belts correctly.

I have experience with a bolt-in Autopower cage (we ran one at the 25 @ Thunderhill last fall) and they are a decent piece, and you can always have a welder in your area modify the cage to better suit your needs (ours had NASCAR bars installed, and some extra reinforcement on rear down tubes.

If I was building my PRO3 car all over again, I would buy one of the Autopower or Kirk kits. There will be haters who say the bolt-in/weld-in kits are dangerous, but if they were dangerous, both companies would have been sued out of existence long ago, for lower power/mildly modified cars like most spec/none tube frame classes they are safe.

This of course is just my opinion based on my own experiences - do what you feel safest doing. You should never doubt the safety of your setup, and if the cage kit idea doesn't make you feel safe, then don't do it. Perception is reality..

[kts]

I went the VAC route for my seat mounts. It was expensive but worked nicely. I wish I had the know how and the equipment to fab up my own since it really is insane what they charge for the mounts. I didn't use sliders, I'll be the only one driving the car, and I needed all the head room I could get since I have a sunroof and still a full interior. VAC does have the option of retaining the stock belts too but I just decided I'll use the 6 pt harnesses all the time.

I went Kirk roll bar. Fitment was very nice and easy. I picked up mine used so I don't know if/what options there are, etc.

If you'd like to see what it looks like:



Installed


The previous owner welded on some tabs on the harness bar part to keep the harnesses from spreading, otherwise it's all how it came from Kirk. The removable backstays make it nice and easy to install. Not sure if that's how all Kirk bars do it or if it's an option.

I can probably dig up some more photos if you want or you're more than welcome to make the drive down to my place to see it in person if you want. (I'm near BWI airport, not sure how far away that is for you.) I'll also be doing a number of track events @ Summit this year but probably not until April.

[Lof8]

I'm using the Massive seat mounting brackets that attach to the stock e30 sliders for a little over $100 each. They function perfectly and allow for a lot of height adjustment too. I'm using Sparco fixed backs and still have the factory 3-point belts in place for driving to and from the track.

I also just installed a VSR roll-bar. Very nice quality. My only complaint is the rear mounting feet are flat and are intended to bolt to the very curved wheel well. It seems they could make it countour and fit a lot better.

Only photo I've got right now:

[MaksV]

A friend and I are currently working on a harness bar that would allow you to run both stock seatbelts and a harness at the same time. Currently WIP.