Drilling Roll Bar

[nicksfj-40]

I have a 73 with an aftermarket rollbar. I dont know when it was installed but it has the front hoops and thick angle on the back where it bolts to the wheel wells (It runs the length of the rear wheel wells). I bought the CCOT 3 point belts since I currently just have lap belts that are GM and are bolted to the seat. So if I wreck I will fly out of the window with a seat strapped to my ass.

My question is : Since I dont have the factory roll bar with a mounting point for the upper part of the shoulder belt should I drill a hole throught the roll bar and use a grade 8 bolt and secure the top piece, or should I weld a plate on with a hole for mounting. Along those same lines is a flux core wire feed welding stong enough for securing this plate?

Also on the latch side I am going to sandwich some steel above and underneth the tub in order to drill through and mount the clip section of the seatbelts. Does this sound ok? Anything can be better than what is currently installed but I want to feel safe when I put the seatbelts on.

Pics of rollbar.

 

[mooker82]

I have seen bolts weld on and used as a mounting point. I have seen holes drilled straight through with the bolts going through the cage. I have a hole drilled through mine and then a sleeve welded in and then bolted through which I think is the best option.

 

[Poser]

My question is : should I weld a plate on with a hole for mounting. Along those same lines is a flux core wire feed welding stong enough for securing this plate?

Yes and yes.

Also on the latch side I am going to sandwich some steel above and underneth the tub in order to drill through and mount the clip section of the seatbelts. Does this sound ok?

Yes this is a good idea as well.

 

[nicksfj-40]

Hell yeah. If poser says its good..then its gots to be good.

 

[Thornton]

Weld the brackets. My son had this done to his aftermarket rollbar about 9 yrs ago. The guy who did it matched the stock location

 

[Degnol]

Here's how I did mine....before the MT cage

Drilled a hole in the hoop and welded a nut, bolted latch portion through the tub with a plate underneath.


Ed

 

[rchandler]

I bought stock bent rollbar cheap... Used the stock brackets for my home made rollbar

View attachment 217565

 

[MD11Fr8Dog]

Custom rollcage with tabs

 

[calixto]

So NicksFJ, how did you finally end up mounting them? Pics? I have the exact same year/problem. From the looks of your pics I think I have a very similar cage. I just ordered the CCOT belts. I have a welded tab close to the floor for the retractor portion but I am thinking about drilling all the way through the bar for the top mount.

 

[HawkDriver]

My original cage came with the nut welded on like Ed showed. It worked. If I were to do it myself I would weld a tab on like on the green truck. Prolly out of 1/4" or 3/8" steel though.

Now both of my other points are welded right to my seat frame which in my opinion is very strong and it is mounted securely to the body with large plating beneath it for that "sandwiched" effect you mentioned.

 

[calixto]

Welding a matching tab to the one I already have is definitely the best solution but I was just trying to avoid welding. I don't have a welder & my top is still on. Haven't met a decent/cheap fabricator yet and I would also have to repaint the work on the bar.

Has anyone bought the OEM bar connector where the seat belts attach to the roll bar on the later model 40's from SOR? These look like they might be an easy but more expensive solution...and make the rig a little more stock.

 

[nicksfj-40]

So NicksFJ, how did you finally end up mounting them? Pics? I have the exact same year/problem. From the looks of your pics I think I have a very similar cage. I just ordered the CCOT belts. I have a welded tab close to the floor for the retractor portion but I am thinking about drilling all the way through the bar for the top mount.

I made a couple of sketches. My pictures were not coming out well. All hardware was grade 8.

 

[nicksfj-40]

Welding a matching tab to the one I already have is definitely the best solution but I was just trying to avoid welding. I don't have a welder & my top is still on. Haven't met a decent/cheap fabricator yet and I would also have to repaint the work on the bar.

Has anyone bought the OEM bar connector where the seat belts attach to the roll bar on the later model 40's from SOR? These look like they might be an easy but more expensive solution...and make the rig a little more stock.

My top was still on when I welded. I put wet towels all around where I was welding.

 

[MD11Fr8Dog]

I made a couple of sketches. My pictures were not coming out well. All hardware was grade 8.

231-4278, is that your girlfriend's number? Can we call?

 

[HawkDriver]

Dude, any welder could put tabs on there for super cheap, prolly like $20-$40 I'd guess. That'd be a cheaper alternative to the SOR parts.

I like the wet towels idea, I'll have to start using it.

 

[calixto]

Thanks guys. NicksFJ nice drawings....don't see that too often on here.

 

[nicksfj-40]

fgkj

231-4278, is that your girlfriend's number? Can we call?

Its a number I wrote down at work. If you needs the builders supply field guy to do some work for you give him a call. He can re prep a hollow metal door frame for your commercial building if you need it

 

[Brian in Oregon]

My rear seat belts are on tab plates that use the bolts that secure the long roll bar base to the floor.

Note that I do not have shoulder belts in the rear.

 

[MD11Fr8Dog]

Its a number I wrote down at work. If you needs the builders supply field guy to do some work for you give him a call. He can re prep a hollow metal door frame for your commercial building if you need it

Hmmm, can he put a cat door in the door to the tackroom in my barn tomorrow? It'll give me a couple of more hours to either fish or work on my 40! :

 

[calixto]

Ended up getting someone to weld some nuts into the cage for about $40. Just be sure if you get these belts from CCOT you get the top mount high enough otherwise you will end up with some sag in your belts. In my opinion the belts need a little more recoil. We fit the belts beforehand for comfort and placement but didn't even think there would be a problem with them not recoiling enough when undone. Sucks if you are topless, these things flap in the wind unless they are buckled in. It seems to me if I go back now and move the nut mount up the belt portion that comes across your chest will be a little high. Also there is really no other area (like the floor) to attach the base to take up the slack since the gas tank is in the way on the passenger side as well as the gas tank filler cover. Belts seem pretty legit otherwise. I feel a little safer now knowing I probably won't lose both my kidneys if I get into a wreck.