MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - seat belt installation

I just replaced the lap seat belts on my 1952 TD and wanted to get your collective wisdom on whether or not my installation will actually provide a level of safety or is it merely decorative. I searched through the archives and people recommend following the installation approach that Horst Schach detailed in his book. But because I am not removing the tub from the frame, I decided not to go down the path of welding brackets to the chassis. Instead I essentially followed the approach that the PO used. For my installation, the mounting bolts insert through the plywood floorboard and then through the the rail that support the drive shaft (see image) on the interior side. For the outside, the bolts insert through the plywood and then through the tub body frame steelwork.

While neither bolt is attached to the chassis via a welded bracket, I figure that the rail and tub body frame, while not as thick as the chasis metal, do offer some support to prevent the bolt from pulling through on impact.

So my question to all of you is: Do you think that the seat belts will at least hold me in the car in the event of a collision at speeds less than 45 mph (I don't drive on highways)? We can debate whether I want to stay in the car as well.

At the risk of making this message too long, I thought you may like a related story. A friend of mine was looking at my car as I was replacing the seat belts. He suggested that I should install head rests on the back of the seats. I said it was unnecessary. "But you will avoid serious whiplash", he said. No I don't need them. "But since those seats are so low, if you are rear-ended, you will surely get major whiplash injuries...just look, if you're hit fom behind." He then stood behind the car to emphasize his point. It won't happen I said. He looked at me like I was crazy. I then said, "If I am rear-ended, it will rupture my gas tank and I will burn to death and whiplash will be the least of my worries. On that note.



Mike Iandolo

Hi Mike,

I have done exactly what you have described in fitting seatbelts. Because my car has never been registered in New Zealand before (I imported it from Australia) we have a very rigorous certification system for all such cars before they are allowed on the road again. My seatbelts (lap only) were inspected and passed by the authority here but only after I upgraded the bolts to 10mm dia and high tensile strength. I also had to use larger washers to spread the load better other wise no problem.

Regards,
Bill
TF9901
Bill Tutty

I guess the moral of the story is, add a decent set of rear view mirrors and use them! And don't think about it too much!

:)Tom
Tom Balutis

Mike, I'm sure you will get a multitude of opinions with acompanying logic, but as for me I have no belts in my TF. I have lap belts only in my B and I think they might do some good with the pillow dash and collapsing steering colum. In the TF I have come to the conclusion that they are of little use except for keeping you in the car during hard cornering. With a front impact and a lap belt alone I believe Your head is going to have a major crease from the windscreen frame and your chest will be crushed or scewerd from the steering wheel and shaft. Rear impact and whiplash city to go along with impending fire. Side impact at much more than 15 to 20 mph and I think I'll be crushed to death. Flip the car and she will colapse the wind screen like a pancake. In a newer car the philosophy is to build a saftey area and try and keep the ocupants inside it. A T series really has no safe zone inside the car. In a roll over this is about the only car I belive that I would just as soon take my chances being pitched out and hope the car doesn't roll over me.

LaVerne
LaVerne

LaVerne,

Your explanation makes some sense to me, but it does not pass muster with The Navigator" who is, one the one hand, very anxious for her first ride in the TD we've now owned for over a year, but on the other hand she refuses to ride in any car without three-point seat belts. I'm planning on installing them as per Horst Schach but I confess I've been putting that project off as the car has a beautiful new interior (courtesy of the previous owner) and now I'll have to take it all apart. In my heart of hearts, I'm not sure this is going to make the car any safer, but a lot of people close to me, including my wife, are convinced that it would be irresponsible not to do it. Rather like deer whistles, we'll probably never know if they help or not. Would a roll bar be a particularly sound safety feature on a T-series car?

FWIW,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

If you are putting in three point harness's you should have a roll bar for the upper end of the belt...
gblawson (gordon)- TD#27667

LaVerne,
What about our state's new "Clickit or Ticket" law in that TF?
While I'm at it, do you bother with that stupid front license plate law (I don't, but my son just got a ticket for not having one on his Toyota, which has no installation holes for one.)
Ed
efh Ed

Ed, the law is fairly old now, but vehicles produced without the belts were granfathered in. I Do have plates on both ends but "Johhny Law" around here typically ignores it. Allen, My wife feels the same way as yours but she has ridden in it without belts. I have to admit that I also feel a little naked as I've always worn the belts in a car ever since I started driving. In this case, I just don't see that they are going to be of mch use without some major rebuild/re engineering of the entire structure including a full roll cage. Right or wrong I'm prepared to accept the penalty.

LaVerne
LaVerne

This thread was discussed on 14/05/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.