16 replies to this topic

[Teapot]

In this thread I hope (not finished yet) to show how these reclining seats from a Ford Orion



were replaced in Huey by these Corbeau Targas with 3pt Luke harnesses



bearing mind that there is no room behind the seats in a pickup to run the harness
for any distance at a legally acceptable angle (recalling diagram posted on tmf previously many times).
The team in charge of this operation ...



... comprises, l-r, Mike (vital because he's also the MoT tester and Huey's is due in a few days),
Sam (who has headed up most of the work so far, rewiring, welding, fitting the seats and now designing
the harness kit) and James the apprentice.

Edited by Teapot, 02 July 2008 - 05:01 AM.

[Teapot]

First, Sam located the driver's seat so the steering wheel and pedals were straight in front of it to give the correct driving position.
This meant the passenger seat would have to be offset a bit towards, but not quite touching, the nearside door.
First hurdle cleared



Second, the gearlever had to have its backward kink taken out (it's straight now) to avoid fouling the driver's seat squab in reverse. Not a problem.
Third, we had to ensure we could reach all the rocker switches, choke & radio while strapped in. Thumbs up.

Corbeau's universal mounting frames (slide but no tilt) "sort of fit", says Sam.
They are attached by two bolts in the front face of the crossmember and at the back by two bolts in the floor.
A knowledge of Meccano is an advantage, perhaps





They work better without the top crossbar ...



We needed recliners so the seat backs will fold forwards to give access to the floor behind, under the load bay.
There's quite a good discreet storage area there and on the driver's side is the battery.
My driving position (seat fully back) will dictate how we locate and secure the battery. They have found some
redundant terminal protectors and a battery strap from a Peugeot.

Edited by Teapot, 01 July 2008 - 04:01 PM.

[Teapot]

While that's going on, Sam is working on the harness mounting. It begins like this ...



and then you do this ...



and then you .... but more anon! I haven't checked up on today's progress yet.
When I left them they were doing this ...

[Teapot]

The plan is to use this cavity

like this ....

the bar extends into the cavity. The whole shebang can be removed if necessary
and conventional inertia reel belts substituted.




Here's the rear bolt in the bulkhead with a spreader plate of angle iron on the other side



Ta-daaaa! The strap from shoulder to bar is practically level
The tube has a breaking strain of five tons and the brackets two tons each.
The rear retaining lug? Dunno. Enough.
NB: Maybe I should have ordered the harness for a Caterham instead of the saloon version.
The one I got is a bit long and there's lots of surplus webbing to be tucked away.



Tonight: remove tube and prime. Tomorrow: paint it.
Huey should be back on the road this week!

Edited by Teapot, 01 July 2008 - 04:07 PM.

[malletts mallett]

Hurrah!

Now all you need are some half cut slicks to take advantage of your new lack of lateral body movement round Morrisons carpark!

[Teapot]

Hurrah! Now all you need are some half cut slicks to take advantage of your new lack of lateral body movement round Morrisons carpark!

I would never do such a thing


I'm a member of the Co-op

[Tom Booth]

Wish I bloody was! I work there so should be entitled to the big pay-out, but alas, my managers a fool!

Looking good thou! Looks like Hueys going to be back on top form!

[Teapot]

I had one of those uneasy feelings in the middle of the night about that rear eye bolt. Maybe it's the wrong fitting for the direction of tension. Oi, Sam......!

[GraemeC]

Could you not wrap the harnesses round the bar rather than having a rear eye? That's how the SD harness bar is designed to be used.
See bottom of this page:
http://www.securon.c...nessfitting.htm

[Teapot]

Yes, thanks for that. Is that the requirement for a race harness or road harness as well?

This is the bit I ought perhaps to concentrate on ...

Straps should run directly from the ... centre of shoulder to their anchorage point with no obstruction or deviation.

NB I see Securon does a retractable harness too. Didn't that come up somewhere recently?

Edited by Teapot, 02 July 2008 - 08:13 PM.

[minimadjonesy]

now that's a very good solution to the problem, Looking good Teapot! Can't wait to see Huey back in all his glory!

[GraemeC]

It should happily work, and be acceptable, for either road or race. The only thing I would advise is that somehthing was added to the bar to keep the wrapped around loops in palce laterally - I think SD use a small metal 'bridge' or hoop welded to the bar.

[Teapot]

Mmm shiny blue bar mounting bits



Sorry to go on but I do like the new seats
Going to keep the rear eye bolts for the time being
otherwise I'll never get to drive the thing this summer





The high level brake light is in but wouldn't it be nice if it said "Huey"?
Don't you think, Jupitus?

[Jupitus]

Love the seats my man... and yes, a high level brake light saying 'HUEY' would be spondicious!!



*slopes off to research plastic forming in more detail*

[GraemeC]

Shouldn't be too difficult, measure the brake light and get a local friendly sign writer to cut the letters out of his thickest black vinyl.
Alternatively get stick on letters and use them to mask off the light and then give it a good few coats of paint.