DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

What do people do to fit the shoulder straps? I assume the lap belts go to the lower two seat belt fittings?
Graham

Either a harness bar, or bolted to the firewall.

Or am I misunderstanding the question?

I've got a harness bar in mine. And yes the lap belts go in the lower fittings.

The other option is putting them through the firewall. Bit that can get messy of you have the back pad still in place

Thanks all, yes James, that is indeed the question.

Prefer the idea of a harness bar to bolting through the firewall (feels like it might bend under any hard stops!)

Where do I look for a harness bar?

Graham

A quick Google shows various options. Weltmeister looks popular.

Yes, that's exactly where I am, but struggling to find one to buy. Pelican is out of stock. Can't seem to find it on their euro disti - Cargraphic.

Any known UK suppliers?

GRaham

Weltmeister harness bar has been NLA in Europe for a few years now.

I spoke to both cargraphic and weltmeister direct, and no dice.

Come up from time to time on 914world, I've had a wtb up there for >6mnths.

Or you could always just have one made...

The racers do not use harness bar.
They all do the bolt thru firewall option, typically with a plates on the engine side, to spread the load

Looks like it'll be through the bulkhead then James.

If the harness bar is at the height of the top seatbelt fittings, it'll be very high anyway.

Graham

The harness bar hangs below the upper seat belt fixings. I can take a picture of mine if you like. The big issue with the harness bar is that it pivots around the seat belt fixings. I was 'told off' by a scruntineer at one event because it could rotate. I've been toying with going through the firewall too. Need to be careful there to and ensure they aren't at such an angle that they can cause spine compression in a crash

If one were to go the HANS route with Schroth belts, the fitting instructions are on their website. ISTR a downwards angle of 20% is right.
Graham

I think Mike Smith on here sells the fittings for upper harness mounts.
JW

What events are you thinking of doing Graham?

The angle of the belts is supposed to be between 0 and 45 degrees I think. Are you removing the back pad?

I'm not really thinking of events yet, but do want to fit some race seats that are sitting in the loft. I don't think the normal seat belts will work with race seats hence fitting harnesses.

The schroth instructions say the top belts should be between horizontal and 20 degrees down. I was just using it as a guide.

I certainly don't like the idea of a bar that would have a twisting moment on it in case of load! I will get the seat out of the loft and see where things come to.

Graham

I've been thinking of welding a stop in to stop the bar rotating. But am not sure if one would do the job adequately enough so that's why I have been thinking about going through the firewall. I haven't got a back pad installed, though am contemplating putting it in and going back to a more original interior. All my seats and back pad need fully restoring though so at the moment is just an idea