MNTony, Your Maverick looks nice and the interior look pretty stock. I know what you mean about rolling out the garage, I just can't wait for the 2010 drag season to start. I have been asked to join a small group of racers for "match racing" here in Redding. So it looks like it will be Ford against Chevy next year. I guess I'm going to have to remove the throttle stop as this group is running in the low to high 9's. http://www.welike2race.com/news.html http://www.welike2race.com/ourrides.html
On a car with just a roll bar is the drivers side seat brace needed? And what is the ruling on how 5 point harness is connected to bar?
Hey Olerodder, My original plan for the car was to keep it completely stock looking and create a sleeper. That was why I started with the turbo in the first place (the stealth effect). But as Don can tell you, one year turned into two and the build got hairier and hairier. I got a deal on a liberty shifted toploader and then I decided to go 347, then the better block was needed, and a bigger turbo...anyway, it's year four on jackstands now and even I'm beginning to think that this thing may never be done. I'm really just a set of headers, driveshaft and a ton of assembly from getting it running. Anyway, I'm coming up on year four and I've got the bug something terrible. Such is the life of a car builder I guess. Hi yellow75, Are you talking about the brace that supports the back of the seat? For it to be NHRA legal (and I'm not an expert by any means, I just go from what I hear and interpret from the rulebook) any aftermarket seat needs the seat back brace. This is probably a good idea as many of the seats that I've seen could use the extra support. I'm not positive that it would be required on a stock style seat, but that depends on the ET you are expecting. From my personal standpoint, I would like to have it there required or not. If this runs the ET's and MPH's that I'm hoping I need the cage certified and my interpretation is that it is required. As for the belts you can have the wrap around style or the bolt on style. I prefer the wrap around myself as you can see. One less thing to vibrate loose I guess. You cannot see it in the pictures but I have a small metal strap on the rear side to keep them in place and not let them slide side to side. My sub belt is set up the same way. I hope this helps!
MNTony, OK, now it makes sense. Wish I lived closer or I'd come over and help you with the headers and assembly, I really love making headers. Here is a picture of the set I made for my Model A Coupe. So, what kind of times are you hoping to turn? Although I haven't picked up an NHRA rule book in some time I am a licensed Tec Inspector for the SCCA and bolt in shoulder straps are not allowed for many reasons. One thing I have noticed on many drag cars that differs from SCCA GT classes is that when you wrap the shoulder straps around the back brace of the cage, you should wrap them more than once. This effectively increases the strength of the shoulder straps. Although this is not manditory it is something we encourage when the car goes through Tech and lessens the chance of the shoulder straps stretching during a bad crash. And talking about the brace coming off the cross bar for the seat..................at least for the SCCA it is manditory and really needs to be there.....................IMHO
I forgot to include the picture of the headers of the Model A and in place. I love to build headers, although these are not very complicated!
Mike, this is from the NHRA rulebook. All rollbars must have in there construction a crossbar for seat bracing and as the shoulder harness attaching point. Crossbar must be installed no more than 4" below. and not above, the drivers shoulder or to side bar. Also,you don't need a bar unless you run faster than 11.49, at least in a Maverick. Also NHRA requires the restraint system to be upgrade at 2 year intervals. Out here in division 7 they have changed that to if you run 11.50 or slower it doesn't need to be upgraded. It made no sense that a car capable of running 11.50 but with the stock seats and belts, and no roll bar could use a 40 year old seat belt and be legal, when a car running the same speed and et with a bar and 5 point harness had to be replaced every 2 years. At least that's the way it is in the Sportsman class here.
MNTony and Don, thanks for the replies. I have read the rule book quite a bit and knew that you are supposed to have the seat brace but also have seen several cars that do not have it, in my particular case (racing seat) is against the bar and really no room to install the brace, also what if you want to move the seat forward? I guess you are stuck with it in one place unless you make it so it can be pinned in different locations. Guess we will let the tech guys tell me what they would like to see, doubtful that I will run under 11.50 but would like to be compliant anyways
