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MG TD TF 1500 - retractable seatbelt over shoulder

1954 mgtf. I want to install retractable over the shoulder seatbelts. Does anyone have a reccomendation of a source to purchase same? Are they difficult to install?
Ed Eastman

Ed,

In order for a shoulder belt to be effective, it must be anchored above the shoulder. Any lower and the likely result in a collision is a broken collar bone or much worse. Therefore the only safe location for a shoulder belt, retracting or not is a roll bar.

good luck,
dave
Dave Braun

I guess I'll stick with the lap belt only and let the side and front airbags take care of the rest.
Ed Eastman

For a side or front airbag do you have to carry a senator or congressman?
Sandy Sanders

Hey Sandy,

Don't you think you should stick with MP or Député? or have you converted?

gac

Gordon A. Clark

David Braun wrote:
"In order for a shoulder belt to be effective, it must be anchored above the shoulder. Any lower and the likely result in a collision is a broken collar bone or much worse."


David,

In most cases I'd agree with you but I'm not so sure in an T-series. The cockpit is so small that any front or rearend collision is going to put you or your passenger into the dash/windshield unless you're really braced. How do I know? Been there and done that.

I'd opt for the shoulder belt...a broken collar bone is better than a broken/disfigured face. Thankfully we were in stop and go traffic when we got rear ended and my wife only suffered cuts to her brow and nose but it could have been so much worse.

In the TC I've just built I did install a roll bar and we're both getting 5-point harnesses and when I rebuild the TC that got wrecked we'll have some type of bar/harness arrangement in it too.

Gene

Gene Gillam

All of the comments to date are some what accurate. The traditional three point harness in today's passenger cars are designed to be approximately 6-8 inches above the shoulder as dissipate the blunt forces associated with the kinematics of a motor vehicle collision, but any devises are better than none and more points of restraint better than less(especially with the non forgiving and rather close wheel & dash of our TDs ). With TDs from my experience 39 years in emergency medical services and rescue both full time practice and instruction, a three point restraint( lap belt and strap over each shoulder connecting on same side not crossing over chest to the waist belt) would probably be the safest configuration. Belts of like design were used for single seat pilots and still are used in ambulance litter restraints I not sure about their availability as retractable though. But any competent shoe repair canvas worker or auto top shop could configure, three single belt devices into such a system if you are so inclined.
Jon Levine

gene, sorry to hear about your acident. how did getting hit from behind launch you into the dash? regards, tom
tom peterson

was it when you then hit the car in front or just rebound effect of some sort? regards, tom
tom peterson

Gordon; WHEN IN ROME!
No I am still one of the GOOD GUYS.
mais certainement.
Sandy
Sandy Sanders

Tom,

Yep, we were hit from behind and slammed into the car in front of us. I heard what was happening, looked in the rear view mirror and braced...my wife didn't and bounced off the windshield...ouch!

Gene
Gene Gillam

Gene,

I agree with the close quarters in a T-Series and all, but if the shoulder harness is looped down behind the seat and then fastened, there is almost twice the slack in the system (by examination, if it is providing some slack in the front, it must provide an equal amount in the rear) and the result is a shoulder belt with too much give. In fact, with this arrangement, the body going forward travels down also. The shoulder rides the loop until the face contacts the dash or wheel, at which point the shoulder breaks as well.

Jon, the system you describe "a three point restraint( lap belt and strap over each shoulder connecting on same side not crossing over chest to the waist belt)" is actually a four point restraint (a point on each hip and a point on each shoulder) and would not completly prevent someone from sliding down in an accident, but it would work better. The best would be a five point harness (with a common center point between the legs). Both the four and five point harness is meant for snug fit and most of us would not enjoy a day of traveling in our T-Series with one on. I used to design mechanical systems for aircraft, including restraint systems for aerobatic and military trainers.

warm regards,
dave
Dave Braun

Dave,

I've seen the shoulder harness portion attached to the top of the inner wheel well...I'm also pretty sure that's where mine was attached in the MGB-GT I had back in the 80's.

In fact, the current online Moss Motors catalog (http://tinyurl.com/2hgwem) says "These belt sets can be retrofitted to earlier MGBs by installing the later mounting boss on the rear inner wheel well. This is best done during restoration, or at least carpet replacement as welding is required."

If that was good enough for the factory and good enough for Moss (in view of product liability issues)I'm going to say it's good enough for me also.

Again, I respect your view...just mine is different.

Best,
Gene

Gene Gillam

Has anyone attempted what Gene Gillam suggests: attaching the sholder harness portion to a place other than the frame through the floorboards? I am struggling with just what is strong enough to attach it to in a MGTF.
Ed Eastman

The only thing strong enough would be the frame....really need a roll bar type thing. Attaching to anything else back there that isn't supported would be a pretty false sense of security....(unless it went back over to the bumper)!!!
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667

This thread was discussed between 02/03/2008 and 03/03/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

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