I've searched and I've read all the rollbar threads that I can stand to read, but I'm left with a couple more questions.

Lets assume I'm installing an equivalent of an Autopower 4pt rollbar in my car. (Will weld up as opposed to bolt in) Also possibly incorporating bracing into the trunk to cross at the strut towers for more chassis rigidity.

This is a street car, The idea of installing the bar is to increase safety on track days with a heltmet, and on the street without a helmet. I understand is that I completely lose my backseat as it would be very negligent to let anyone ride in back with a roll bar.

-One thing I wonder about is the amount of room a person can move around in the car with a stock 3 pt belt. I understand this room allows their torso to get closer to the floor of the car incase of a rollover that collapses the roof. Will this amount of room allow someone wearing a stock seatbelt has allow them to come into contact with the rollbar? If so, does this mean that harnesses are necessary?

Lets say it does call for harnesses, now you are so snug in the seat, what if someone flies through an intersection and T-bones you with a side impact crash? The rollbar is only in the back of the car, so since you have no room to move, the car would likely smash into your body?.

So lets say thats the case, now you have to have a roll-cage with bars coming to the front of the car for side impact protection. And now that you have bars in the front side of the vehicles interior you have to wear a helmet. Now you have a street evo, in which you must walk through a maze to enter, have to wear a helmet and a 5pt harness and you can't talk to your only possible passenger in a 4 door car.

The last part was a joke, but you can see how it keeps leading on and on which is what I am worried about. I want to keep my car a street car, I drive it every single day.

Shed some light on me. Thanks

 

It's really difficult to drive on the street with a harness on (because you can't look over your shoulder to back up, check mirror blind spots, etc.), so I think that you are going to have to stick with stock belts on the street. That takes care of your side impact worries. If you take your car on the track with any frequency, I think the added safety of harness and roll bar on the track outweighs the increased (but probably remote) chance of getting hurt with a 4-pt bar on the street using stock belts. If the car is mostly a street car and you aren't pushing the limits on the track, then I'd just skip the roll bar altogether.

 

I keep hearing this myth of a 3pt factory belt is better in case of a roll over.

This is BS. There is no evidence that being less secure in the car is safer than being more secure. Of all of the serious head injuries and fatalities I have seen, not one has been from crush intrusion into the top of the car.

I would also defy anyone to show me how you can consciously avoid hitting the roof in a roll over. The forces involved in a roll over preclude one from making such a choice.

In short all forms of restraint have limitations and none are ideal. Make your choice of how you will equip your car as your life depends on it. Please make these decisions based on reality and not old wives tales.

 

if the question was:

If I get a roll bar, do I have to get a harness? The answer is no, you don't have to.

Highly doubtful any track organization or your local constable is going to tell you otherwise.

But.

Is it a good idea? Yes.

One of the big reasons to get a rollbar is that in case of a rollover, the roof doesn't cave in, too much. This lets you install a real race seat and proper 5/6pt belts. These make a huge difference on track, both for your driving pleasure and your safety. On a final note, be sure to get the 5/6 pt harness and race seat together, and 4pts don't work as well, try to stay away from those if you can.

 

got the 4 pt. bar in my car, got the 5 point harness, got the seat, use the stock shoulder belt.

make sure you get your shoulder belt reinstalled, its much nicer driving than the harness. unless you are yoda and can drive without seeing(in reverse)
driving I can seeing i can't

 

So would the general reccomendation be to install the rollbar and harnesses for track use but use the normal 3pt belt on the street?


So it is safe to run a roll bar and only use a 3 pt seatbelt (stock)?

 

People may be cofusing the arguments - there is a valid argument to wear a 3pt belt if you are not equipped with a collar or HANS device, and not use a 4 or 5pt setup. Slam on your brakes and it'll make sense. As far as rollover, I agree with your post.

 

Yes and No. I do it because i have a full time daily driver and track *****. So I'd comp between safty and confort. Get the roll BAR and the harness/seat. You can disconnect the shoulder harness's and use the stock 3 point during daily commutes, then just re-attach the sholder belts on track days. The lap belts can tuck under the seat and stay in the car. This will provide peace of mind by having 'some' rollover protection - good enough for HPDE's and light wheel-to-wheel racing.

 

wheel to wheel ALWAYS requires a full cage, and rightfully so.

Any group that allows you to run without it, I wouldn't be running with them, imho.

 

If you are going to run a factory seatbelt with a race seat, be sure that the stock belts work properly with the seat, particularly if you are thin. I've found that my stock seatbelt in my Camaro was compromised when used with my Sparco Pro2000 race seat. If I get a seat for my Evo, I plan to watch out for that issue. Also, do NOT use a harness with a sub belt unless you can run that sub belt down through the seat (not around the front of the seat bottom). If you go with a 5- or 6-point harness, you need to either cut the factory seat or get a race seat.

 

Autopower Rollbar is not as close to the drivers seat as you may think.

Stock seatbelt,and stock recaro seat, or bucket seat are enough to keep you from flying to the rear of the car, head first into the warm surface of the rollbar.

Full cage with bars going across the drivers door are another thing.

 

I agree, but i ain't got a work truck yet