5 point belts or 6 points????

[SoCal Rebell]

Just got back from Viperdays at Willow Springs, 3 days of road racing and instructions, what a blast. Thanks to Courtney and the girls (don't go ot at night with them), Henry Cone for instruction and a special thanks to Paul Mumford who took time out of his day to drive my snake around the track with me as a passanger to show me how fast the car can really go.

Anyway as I am rubbing the bengay on it is painfully obvious I need more restraint to hold me in. Now I have a 00' RT/10 with stock seats and I wanna keep my 3 points for street driving. Which belt is better 5 or 6 points? I was told that with stock seats a 5 point may not secure me enough, I'd like to hear from people who have gone through this, thanks.

 

[Jay Lopez]

I had the 5 point TeamTechs and really liked them. However, I had them updated to 6 point recently. The 6 point system holds you in much tighter with the stock seats. The 5 point works well, but the crotch belt has to wrap around the front of the seat and can't hold you in as tight as would be possible with the 6 point. I have some pictures of the old 5 point system at

http://www.lopeznet.com/viperboypublic/harnesses.htm

Either way, they will hold you in much tighter than the stock belts.

 

[Tom Shapiro]

Ron, either 5 or 6 points will be much better than the stock belts you have. I had MOMO 6 point, currently have Simpson 6 point. If you are still using your stock seat, as I am, what ever belts you put in will have a tendency to loosen up the longer your out in your run group. This is because the foam rubber in the stock seat does compress. Most systems I have seen the anti-submarine belt(5 pt=1 anchor, 6 pt= 2 anchors) comes up from the floor, wraps over the front of the seat, and snaps into the cam lock. I was on the phone with Team Tech today. The Team Tech 6 point system is different. Their anti-sub belts hook into the same eyelets as your lap belts. You lay the anti-sub belt over the seat cushion and sit down on top of them. Pull up the cam lock and belt assembly between your legs and snap the lap and shoulder belts into the cam lock. Your anti-sub belt is now anchored behind you. Seems to me to be a better system. I'll probably switch this spring.

 

[jrkermode]

I would recommend the 5 point, with the crotch strap running through a hole in the seat. I know that's a pain, and makes it more expensive to install, but that's where the strap needs to go to do its job properly. That is, keep the lap belt down on your hip bones as the shoulder belts try and lift it into your belly.

Six point systems were developed for cars with a lay-down driving position and are there to literally keep you from sliding out from under the lap belt. They really aren't intended for use in cars where you're sitting upright, as the lifting action of the shoulder belts simply rotates your hips and compresses your thighs.

In general, its a bad idea to rely solely on belts to keep you from slipping around in the seat. If that's the case, you really should consider restuffung your factory seat or a properly fitted, FIA approved seat.

 

[luc]

With a stock Viper seat,neither a 5pts or 6 pts harness will work good.

Except if you are willing to cut a slit in the bottom of the seat,a 5pts (single anti-submarine belt with a center mounted attaching point) or a 6 pts (dual anti-submarine belts using the lap belts mounting points),still have to go around the front of the seat.

It is why the ACR harness is a joke for racing,

Tom,

ALL dual anti-submarine belts use the lap belts mounting points,not Team Tech only.

The idea of sitting on top of the anti-submarine belts,doesn't make any sense and will fail you at any serious Tech Inspection.

To serve it's purpose,an anti submarine belt need to be TIGHT and still not compress your "private parts".

So with your sytem of seating on the anti-submarine belts,in case of negatif G's (braking/accident),those "private parts" will not be private anymore and WILL make a very painfull contact with the anti-submarine belts.

Luc.00GTS.
69 race Mustang (650 hp)
65 race Shelby GT 350
Roush Mustang Trans Am chassis #021

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

I agree with the 5 point idea. I am just completing my modification to the Team Tech 5 point system that will have the fifth belt going down through the center of the front cushion. I had the hole done by a professional upholstery shop here in Denver and it looks very good. The strap then goes through a guide bar on the bottom of the seat then hooks to the floor eye bolt in the normal place. I'll post pictures as soon as I have it totally done which should be very soon. I am putting it all back together now. This in my opinion is the only way to do it right.
Jerry Scott[CO]

 

[jimandela]

I like my snakeoly 5 pts.
they tuck away for the run to get milk no problem.
And work just fine for street/hwy use. I would recommend the
shoulder pads or you have a very red neck seeing that the opening in the headrest is small.

These are not"the best" teamtech are. but these will due for my non-track car. And score big points for easy of use and convenience.

again don't forget the pads for the redneck issue...

JIM

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

My understanding was that the submarine belt was primarily for holding the rest of the harness down in place and not so much to keep the body from moving forward.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I'm on my second set of Simpson 5 points.

 

[ACR Joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chuck 98 RT/10:
My understanding was that the submarine belt was primarily for holding the rest of the harness down in place and not so much to keep the body from moving forward.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree totally. The 5th point (anti-sub) is otherwise a waste. Even if the seat is cut to locate the belt in a more effective position, the anchor position would likewise need to be changed to render the set-up effective in terms of restraining capability. If I were buying belts (came in my ACR), I'd go for the 6-points.

 

[ntmatter]

I recently installed the TeamTech 6-point belts (PartsRack carries them at a very reasonable price), for both driver and passenger. I was very happy with them at Willow Springs, and would recommend them over the Simpson 5-points I had in there before. The 6-points are a bit less convenient for day-to-day driving, but if you get snap-ins then this can be minimized. I'd get the 5-points if you are only on the track once or twice a year - more than that and I'd **** it up and put in 6-points.

A