Harness Bar for Camaro

Hello, All:

I've been restoring my 2000 Camaro SS T-top after a heavy accident.  The accident highlighted the poor support of the OEM leather bucket seat and lap/shoulder belt.  Inspired by the article on "Street Car, Track Car, Part II," I’ve installed Corbeau CR1 seats in my repaired car, and I’ve bought a Corbeau five-point safety harness for the driver’s side. I’d like to mount the safety harness on a harness bar, but haven’t been able to locate one to fit my Camaro. A local speed shop is willing to fabricate the bar, but needs more information. Can anyone provide any pointers or advice on installing a harness bar on my F-body? I’m particularly interested in where and how the bar attaches to the floor pan and any details of hardware needed to mount a harness bar. Any photos or drawings would be priceless! Thanks in advance!
 
- Chris Malany  

i would think if i was going to fab one..... i would attach it to the shoulder belt points and down bars to the rear seat belt mounting bolts... since you wont be able to use you back seats...  and it will all unbolt if you want to return it to stock...

if you really think about it..  you might even look at using the lap belt outers and make a 4 point  roll cage for it... that bolts in...  

Hello, Wayne:

Thanks for the suggestions - this is helpful.

- Chris Malany  

I would recommend either the CG-Lock or a four-point roll bar. Harness bars are bad news if you get in another accident, especially a roll-over. I went through this with my road racer. A harness bar could very well snap or come unbolted in a serious crash leaving you with no restraint system what-so-ever, or it can give a disadvantageous angle of support to your shoulders causing your spine to compress. This is why the SFI as well as the SCCA, NASA, etc has very specific guidelines for roll cages when it comes to the middle support bar to which your harnesses attach.  

Hi, Scott:

Thanks!  This is roughly the same advice I'd gotten from Livermore Performance.  The only downside for me is that I'd like to retain access to the back seat as much as possible - my job sometimes requires me to cart around 2 or 3 banker's boxes of legal files, and I'm concerned that even a four-point roll bar will prevent me from doing this.

- Chris Malany  

Any good chassis shop should be able to put together a well-fitting roll bar with a removable middle bar to allow access to the rear seat. Its fairly common, though not quite as common as removable or swing-out door bars. Otherwise I'd recommend the CG-Lock.