VettesRule

Been a while since I autoX'd with a stock seat. I am thin (32 waist) so it is hard to stay in the seat. Any advice?

SunnydayDILYSI

Angel pads.

strano@stranoparts.com

$185 gets you a easy and clean bolt in lap belt mount that accepts a clip in 3" belt AND said belt.

I do a lot of them for folks.

jwh172

If you are sliding around in the seat, i was given the advice to put some of that rubber toolbox liner on your seat. This is a cheap and easy for keeping your butt in place. It worked for me before I finally spent the money on a seat. However your arms will still get tired from holding your upper body in place.

Some people recommend against it, but i have also seen a few guys who run harnesses with their stock seat. The should straps wrap around the upper portion of the stock seat instead of through it. This is against every manufacturers suggestion though.

Nothing beats a seat and harness though.

Bill Dearborn

The tool box liner might work but the cheapest thing you can do is use the Cinch Feature on the stock 3 point belt. First move the seat all the way to the rear, then sit in the seat and pull the lap belt all the way out until it hits the stop, this puts the belt into Cinch Mode. Then fasten the lap belt and let it ratchet back into the retractor. Once the belt stops retracting take your hands and use them to force any slack into the retractor. If you are in Cinch Mode the belt you will not be able to pull the belt out of the retractor. Once you have that done them move the seat forward into your normal driving position.

This should pull the lap belt tight as hell and make if feel like it is going to cut your body in two. Your butt will be pulled down into the seat bottom and will anchor it into the seat. It will not hold your legs or upper body in position they will still swing back and forth pivoting around your butt. The only way to keep your legs and upper body from moving sideways is to have a good race seat with shoulder, side and leg bolsters. Even a 6 point racing harness won't hold you in place using stock seat due to the seat's total lack of lateral support.

With a C5 belt tightened using Cinch Mode the way I described as soon as you launch the car the stock shoulder belt will lock as well and the shoulder belt will be tight across your chest. I found I would be out of breath after a 115 second autocross run and would have to release the seat belt so I could breathe after the run.

Cinch Mode isn't some secret thing. All Corvettes since the 1984 model have had this feature and I think most of the Owner's Manuals describe how to use it.

Bill

VettesRule

Thanks gang! What are angel pads?

jaredtxrx

Also a CG lock will help keep your hips in line.

SunnydayDILYSI

http://angelwingstech.com/featured-product-3/

"Angel Pads are designed for automotive enthusiasts who enjoy track days, autocrossing and other speed events, but who don’t wish to spend hundreds of dollars on a racing seat and all of the necessary brackets."

"Angel Pads take up the spaces between the door, the console and you. They give you the lateral support you need without the fatigue you can get from a hard surface."

VettesRule

Thanks again!

Bill Dearborn

I don't believe CG Lock does anything more than Cinch Mode does except cost you money for the device. It works well on non Corvettes that don't have Cinch Mode if used the same way as I described but all it really does is lock the belt which is what Cinch Mode does.

Bill

mattastick

Plant your left foot on the dead pedal. Hard... I tried with and without a lap belt in my car before changing the seat to a Sparco, and I couldn't notice any difference in my performance. Now I just use the stock belt with an actual seat. The other advantage this provides is that you're constantly loading the seat back in one direction, which keeps it planted and won't allow it to drop back on you mid run (it happens when you remove load from the seat back, say under braking, then reapply it, like when you go to throttle coming out of a corner).

VettesRule

Thanks again all. I tried the Cinch feature and it works. Not a perfect solution but a good one for AS. I can't use the dead pedal in most situations because I left foot brake.

froggy47

froggy47

I do not like my upper body pulled back by the 3 point stock. 2 point clip in is my choice.

twistedwankel

My C5 seat bushings are worn and if you'll notice the factory seat belt mounts directly to the sort of flimsy seat track and not the floor it will always flex and move. Sam's system is perfect for my convertible where I can't use anything other than a lap belt. It mounts to the floor bolts and not the seat. Solid. The 3" belt grabs your hips holding both you and the seat stationary. Takes all the load off those bushings and the seat travel is controlled. Also note that Sam's prices are the best around and includes all the hardware to install.

cagotzmann

This has worked for me with all the C6 - C7 Cars. Really great using a C7 with competition seats.

jaredtxrx

I have a CG lock I used on my previous car. I was not aware of the Vette's cinch mode. When I do get out on the track I will certainly give this a shot.

mattastick

I used Cinch mode for the first time this past weekend (Spring Nationals autocross), and it was pretty impressive. There's no need for a lap belt if you use this feature, IMO. I used it in both stock seats (friends C5Z) and a Sparco Pro 2000 (my car), and it worked great in both cars.

VettesRule

I agree with Matta but to be fair, I haven't tried the lap belt.

strano@stranoparts.com

I agree.