Replica build - seat belts

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:04 pm

A relation is building a Morgan replica, each step of the build requiring certification. He has been told he needs to have seat belts exceeding the lap/diagonals he has already bought - I think the name of the new ones are "web grabbers" or something like that. They are obviously designed for competition racing.

His Morgan will have a certified roll - bar, not style bars as on my MX5. The car is being built for the road, not for the track, and will be registered as such.

I find it strange that MX5's (as one example) with no safety bars, can be registered to drive on the road with ordinary seat belts, whereas his will need this seemingly excessive standard.

Has anyone had experience of this type of rebuild, and the red tape that applies to the belts....?

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:49 pm

I'm not up with the law but if he isn't using the car for competition then I believe a normal 3 point belt would do. As long as the mounting points are up to specification then I can't see what the issue is.

Growler.

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:56 pm

Logically that would be my feeling as well...

The only difference here, is that the car is being built totally from scratch, chassis, body, guards and all. As such it requires supervision by officialdom right from the first nut and bolt. I know there are members out there who have "track" cars that may have been down this road before.

My "rellie" is a retired guy who isn't into the net, and lives in a rural area so I am trying to sort this out for him.

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:15 pm

I may be wrong but I think the term web-grabber applies to the retractor/locking mechanism used on new belts. If my Subaru is any example, the new mechanisms are designed to lock much quicker in the event of an accident. The Subaru apparently has a small explosive charge to fire the locking. I only know this because I had to replace a damaged belt a couple of years ago and the cost was horrendous, being "justified" by the cost of the mechanism. And yes. if you have a shunt that causes the belt to lock, ka-ching, new belts please.

Cheers
Euen

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:27 pm

Growler wrote:I'm not up with the law but if he isn't using the car for competition then I believe a normal 3 point belt would do. As long as the mounting points are up to specification then I can't see what the issue is.

Growler.

This is the place to go for assistance:-

http://www.binary.co.nz/sccnz.html#constructors

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:02 am

Thanks Trevor, that looks useful.

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:17 am

Greetings Bazza,

Only too pleased to assist. There are certified inspectors appointed to cover various areas of the country. Most are enthusiasts who are sympathetic to the cause. However their hands are tied by specific regulations and they go by the book.

It is a long time since I built a car, so that I am not fully up with the play. However I do know that moving down the correct channels is now an absolute must. The SCCNZ is the place for the amateur constructor and has members who have been there and done it all.

Cheers, Trevor.

Euen · Post by **Euen** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:40 pm

Hi Bazza

Also check out the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association site. http://www.lvvta.org.nz/. I am just in the final stages of cetification of my car. I did not have any progress checks during the construction but have been through the final inspection with only a couple of minor comments. I didn't have the seatbelt issue as I am using harnesses.

Cheers
Euen

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:08 pm

Thanks for the help guys, gives me something to research

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:14 pm

web grabber belts arent anything special or competition oriented. they are just a new type of belt that is better than the old inertia reel belt system. The old inertia reel system requires the belt to travel a certain distance before it Locks up...where as the design of the web grabber belts means the lock INSTANTLY meaning you travel forward less..These belts have been required for all replacement belts in the front seats since 2005.

Replica build - seat belts

Replica build - seat belts

Who is online