I'm Making a Sparco Harness Bar DIY. Anyone Have Installation Tips?
 

I reviewed Sparco's website. They do not have any downloadable installation manual PDF files. I've spoken to a couple people. They've all told me their were no instructions included with the bar either. Search results on the forum did not yield any explicit instructions on how to install it. I found very few pictures that showed actual close-ups of the bar's brackets. From what I understand, it's a pretty straight foward to install.

Last week I purchased a used silver Sparco harness bar from a local user who was parting out his car. The 2 bolts that attach the bar to the brackets were a tad stripped, so I picked up some new ones at the harward store. They were only .44 cents each. No biggie. I also removed the Sparco decal and sent the bar to a local body shop to have the bar/brackets smoothened out and painted to match my Bride seats. I should recieve it today.

I plan on documenting the install with lots of pictures and illustrations. I plan on tackling this project by myself tonight. If anyone has any pointers or tips, I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

It is pretty straight forward. I also bought new bolts when doing my install. The one thing I remember having to do was taking apart the stock seat belt guide to re-install it with the sparco bar.

You shouldnt have any problems once you get everything apart it will all come together in your head. Oh yeah, remove the end mounts from the bar and then install the bar after the mounts are hung. just leave the bolts loose for wiggle room.

You're talking about the black allen head bolts that mount the bar to the brackets, right? Not the factory bolts that attach the seat belt to the B-pillar?

Werd. I was brain storming last night, and thought this would be a good idea too.

I have Brides that not only slide back and forth, but also recline and incline all the way to the dash board. Is it necessary to remove the seats? Member=MethodRN was telling me that it might be in my best interest to remove the seats entirely. I was hoping to avoid this...

I bought new bolts for the seat belt to b pillar. 5mm longer than the stock. grade 8

Are the longer bolts necessary?

Please explain "grade 8". I'm not too familiar with bolt catagories...

not necessary, just made it a little easier for me since I was adding the bracket and it is about 5mm thick.

Grade 8 are some of the strongest bolts you can buy.

here is a picture of what a grade 8 end looks like.
http://www.rockcrawler.com/techrepor...ers/teaser.jpg

Ah! I understand now. Thanks for the info John. I'll swing by the hardware store and pick up a couple. I agree, it should make the installation easier...

USN HM 350Z, you added an '07 f430 to your stable???

Awesome, Val! Between this and Val Jr., you are going to be one very busy man... :icon38:

:werd:

I called the body shop today. They haven't painted the bar yet, so I guess I'll get started on removing the belts tonight...

Hi Val :thumbup:

lol @ the all Mod/Admin thread (for the most part)

Hi Dave...:hello:

That's how we roll...:thumbup:

when you remove the set belts, i suggest pulling all the slack out, and taping them to the roof out of the way.....well, thats what i did...lol. made it easy.

-J

Thanks Jason.

I took the belts off already. It was simple as pie. I'm going to install both brackets 1st, then the bar last. This way I don't have to fight with the weight of the bar...

Oh yeah, I forgot that the actual bar and L shaped brakets are seperate pieces. Since you had your's painted, I can already predict that it will get scratched up as you try and install the bar into the brackets. It's a tight fit as is, but since you painted it, the thickness might have changed slightly. Just something to watch for. I remember now, that the "tabs" that slide into the brackets on mine got scratched when I tried to slide it into position.

The body shop should be removing the old paint, then painting on new primer and paint, so the thickness shouldn't change. :dunno:

Last night was a breeze. I pulled my seats all the way foward, then pulled the back part of the seat all the way down to the dashboard. I then placed throw blankets over everything in the back, to avoid scratching any interior panels during installation. I have tons of room in the back to install it. Then again, I'm a small guy.

I'm headed to Home Depot during lunch to see if I can score some new bolts. If not, I know where to get them, I'd just have to wait until Friday to pick them up...

Subscribed. My bar has been sitting in my basement too long and this gives me the inspiration to install it ASAP. Looking forward to your write-up!

:thumbup:

I snapped tons of pics last night. When I get the bar installed, I'll edit all the pics and post them up. It shows the bolt length, inner workings of the seat belt chassis, and how everything looks disassembled...