Sharkbar question
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 56
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Sharkbar question
I have Z06 without competition seats. Is it safe to use seatbelt harness with sharkbar, or would I need to swap out seats? I'm doing HPDE or track days only for fun. Or is it better to just use the factory seatbelt since I'm not doing any racing?
Thanks for the advice.
Thanks for the advice.
Sr.Random input generator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,754
Likes: 2,191
From: Sammamish, WA
You can use any seat, no problem! That said, both competition and GT seats are not designed for 5/6 pt. harnesses, and they're best used with 4 point. Such harnesses would cause you to submarine in the event of an accident, though, so you should get a special harness that would prevent such a case, like Schroth Profi II ASM.
Have fun!
Have fun!
Last edited by X25; May 29, 2016 at 02:55 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 209
Likes: 10
From: Lexington SC
I use a six point harness with the GT seats. Vetteworks is where my harness bar and lap mount bar came from. This gives you the six points for the harness attachment. I have the Racequip six point HANS camlock harness. I am assuming this is safer than factory belts, but I can't tell you for sure since I am not an expert.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 696
Likes: 194
From: New Orleans LA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
I have a shark bar and six point harness installed with the standard seats. I just pulled up the seat covering material at the bottom of the rear of the seat back and ran the anti-sub harness section (anchored to the floor behind the seat) between the seat back and lower seat section. That set-up keeps me anchored very solidly.
JV
JV
Last edited by Jet Vet; Jun 9, 2016 at 12:36 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,995
Likes: 9,759
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I have a shark bar and six point harness installed with the standard seats. I just pulled up the seat covering material at the bottom of the rear of the seat back and ran the anti-sub harness section (anchored to the floor behind the seat) between the seat back and lower seat section. That set-up keeps me anchored very solidly.
JV
JV
Check your sub belts were they go through between the seat bottom and the seat back to see if they are damaged. There are sharp edges between the two parts and sometimes the belt can be damaged. Any damage means it is due for immediate replacement. One of the Vetteworks pictures showing how the belts are run also shows a damaged belt that has to be replaced.
The other thing you need to do is to sit in the seat with all your equipment and the belts fastened just like they are when you are on track. Then have another person check the shoulder belts to make sure they aren't not touching any part of the seat where they pass through the seat. If they are then they shouldn't be used until you can determine a seat position setting that lets you sit properly with the belts not touching any part of the pass through. I found on my GT seats I had to tilt the seat back further forward.
Bill
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 696
Likes: 194
From: New Orleans LA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Check your sub belts were they go through between the seat bottom and the seat back to see if they are damaged. There are sharp edges between the two parts and sometimes the belt can be damaged. Any damage means it is due for immediate replacement. One of the Vetteworks pictures showing how the belts are run also shows a damaged belt that has to be replaced.
Bill
Bill
JV
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 896
Likes: 38
From: Camarillo California
Food for thought:
I contemplated doing the same thing, but ultimately concluded that the opening in the back of the GT seats was too low for the height of my shoulders.
My experience with this is limited, but my understanding is that you risk spinal compression injury if the angle of the belts from the peak of your shoulders is greater than 20 degrees from horizontal. Fore me, feeding the harness through the GT seat opening would be too steep of an angle for safety.
I contemplated doing the same thing, but ultimately concluded that the opening in the back of the GT seats was too low for the height of my shoulders.
My experience with this is limited, but my understanding is that you risk spinal compression injury if the angle of the belts from the peak of your shoulders is greater than 20 degrees from horizontal. Fore me, feeding the harness through the GT seat opening would be too steep of an angle for safety.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 254
Likes: 80
From: Livermore CA
It would be great to see people's setups with the competition seats and the various harness bars. I understand it's going to be driver dependent, but knowing if one bar is more accommodating than another could swing my decision towards one versus another.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 608
From: Dallas Georgia
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
C3 of Year Winner (track prepared) 2019
Looking through the seats at the lower BK hoop
To the OPs original question. I used the Schroth 6 point belts with BK mounts, sitting on the sub belts and felt good during my last track day, or as good as belts against the family jewels can feel. I recognize it is not as good as having a dedicated harness hole in the seat but it is a compromise that GM provided and I am stuck working with.
Last edited by fleming23; Jun 15, 2016 at 11:28 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,995
Likes: 9,759
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Food for thought:
I contemplated doing the same thing, but ultimately concluded that the opening in the back of the GT seats was too low for the height of my shoulders.
My experience with this is limited, but my understanding is that you risk spinal compression injury if the angle of the belts from the peak of your shoulders is greater than 20 degrees from horizontal. Fore me, feeding the harness through the GT seat opening would be too steep of an angle for safety.
I contemplated doing the same thing, but ultimately concluded that the opening in the back of the GT seats was too low for the height of my shoulders.
My experience with this is limited, but my understanding is that you risk spinal compression injury if the angle of the belts from the peak of your shoulders is greater than 20 degrees from horizontal. Fore me, feeding the harness through the GT seat opening would be too steep of an angle for safety.
Using the 3 point stock belts in cinch mode will hold you in place just about as well as a 4 or 6 point system since both the comp and gt seats have nice side bolsters to keep the upper body from moving around. When in cinch mode the shoulder belt and lap belt are locked in place and if you do it right they will hold you tightly between the bolsters. If I didn't wear a HANS I probably wouldn't have bothered with a 4 point Schroth ASM belt system and just stayed with the stock setup.
Bill