Roll cage/ Four point belts

[dmccaig]

Dear Panthers,

I'm beginning to think about a mod and your insights would be appreciated.

I'd like to solve two problems at once:

1. On long drives, it would be very nice if the passenger seat folded flat so the co driver could sleep more comfortably.

2. My 89 has no airbags and there's no practical way to retrofit them.

(1) seems fairly doable: replace the split bench with buckets from a Thunderbird, make the headrests removable during the reupholstering, reverse and modify the passenger seat hinge, move the track forward.

(2) is much harder. Some kind of roll cage with attachment for 4 point safety harness(es) would work but I like the luxury/limo aspect of the car which, with the usefulness of the back seat would be compromised.

Whatever I come up with, this could be one job. Concealed roll bar under the A and B pillar? Some sort of concealed frame for the seats?

Whatever I do won't need to pass anybody's safety regs - I don't intend to race the car. It should, hoever, offer better protection in a crash.

Ideas? Foolish notions? Off the top of your head?

Donald

[dmccaig]

Bad Post title. I meant 4 point belts. Sorry.

[L1011tristar17]

I always liked the idea of putting in a concealed roll cage under the pillar panels. Replacing the bench seats with buckets could also allow you to add 4-point belts. I'm sure there are also ways to beef up the sheet metal that the seats bolt down to.

[87gtVIC]

I fixed the title for you Donald.

[sly]

yeah... airbags would require swapping in a 90/91 dash and steering column and all hell worth of wiring shenanigans. The roll cage and 4-point harness idea would work well though. The only problem is that when laid down, a 4 point harness will not stop you from falling into the foot-well if something bad happens.

I very much like the idea of welding some DOM tubing under the pillar panels. To hide it all, it would probably take cutting out some existing metal to make room for the tubing and then welding it all in. Complete interior removal would probably be required, including the dash, to get at the needed mounting points. Hella lot of work for sure.