I’ve installed a four-point harness
from Andover Restraints on all my drivers (’58 Dodge coupe, sport sedan,
and ’58 Plymouth coupe). Each of them had lap belts installed at some point
in their history. I didn’t want to drill extra holes in the floor
pan, so I designed a bar which I installed on top of the floor pan behind the
driver’s seat directly above where the existing lap belt holes were (I
can send the design by separate e-mail, off-list). The shoulder belts
anchor to the top holes in the bar. Although the seat still pivots forward,
its range of motion is greatly restricted when I am driving and strapped into
the harness. The four-point harness gives me some sense of security (real
or perceived) from crashing into the steering wheel / column. The
disadvantages of the four-point restraint are reduced mobility: it’s easy
to look over my right shoulder when changing lanes, but difficult to look over
my left shoulder (because I can’t lift my right shoulder off the seat);
this is particularly noticeable when there is a right-hand turn with a super
short merge lane. The fender mirrors are too small and inaccessible to be
very effective. In addition, rear passenger foot room is restricted,
particularly in the coupes – but still useable. All-in-all, I think
that the advantages of the harness outweigh the disadvantages and I have been
very satisfied.
BTW – just large steel washers
underneath. Oh, and the cost of the restraint was about $80, the
fabrication of the seatbelt bar was about $50.
-Mike
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