My opinion and observations:
1) Lap belts by themselves in any car can cause a lot of
physical trauma. It is known that people have suffered severe
internal injuries, broken pelvis, ruptured spleens, etc. by using
only the
lap belt IN ANY CAR. Years ago Road and Track did several
articles on this
and came to the conclusion, that it was a toss up between no belt
and just a lap belt. If a lap belt alone is used, it should be
the wider competition type. The lap belt must be used low on the
body so it passes over the pelvic bone. Then, as has been
pointed out, there is the steering column problem. Notice that
the steering rack is ahead of the front cross member making it
more likely to be shoved back.
2) Horst's installation of the chest strap is not the best.
It's mounting point is too low. The anchor point for the
shoulder strap should be as high on the car's body as possible.
The top of the wheel arch using reinforcment inside the wheel
well would be better. Better yet would be in the corner above
the side curtain compartment or higher above the wheel housing.
It would be possible to reinforce this area especially if the
skin of the tub is off.
3) The seat back probably should be reinforced internally to
keep it from
compressing due to the shoulder belt passing over the top. It
would be better if the seat back were higher with a strap guide
so the belt comes over the seat back and then down over the
chest.
Check modern convertibles and notice how the shoulder belt is
installed.
4) The seat should be set as far back as possible and the
steering wheel as far forward as possible.
5) The seat belt should be worn snugly and the shoulder strap
tight enough so your fist will just slide between the strap and
your chest. You need to keep as much room as possible between
you
and the steering shaft.
6) You are very susceptible to injuries in a side impact. Maybe
even more so if you're belted in as the body can not slide
towards the center of the car. If you've rebuilt a TD, you know
that the car's frame passes between your legs, and the sill under
the door is nothing more than a 2 inch square piece of
timber plus a little 1/8 inch thick angle iron and the running
board. Most modern car bumpers, and all SUV bumpers would
probably pass over the sill and the running board. So all you've
got left between you and the intruders bumper is a thin wood
framed door hinged and latched to to some more wood.
Makes me shudder just to think about it!
Blake
P.S. Anybody ever consider filling the inside of the door or or
other parts with aerosol foam?
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