Next big project

[1977and2010]

Looking good, nice work. So what did you end up doing with the air bags?

[SSSoon]

Originally Posted by 1977and2010

Looking good, nice work. So what did you end up doing with the air bags?

Well, I don't think it's a problem. When you unplug the wiring harness under the seat and then plug the battery back in and crank the car, it tells you to service airbag. Hit the control stalk, the message goes away. There is a little red airbag light still on on the dash, but so what? Spoke to a guy who fixes Chevs and he said there is NO WAY that GM would disable all air bags just because one air bag sensor says there is a problem with that airbag. So I figure all the rest are still there and the seat mounted ones are just missing.

BTW it was really funny the first time I unplugged and drove a bit, OnStar started emailing me like crazy to warn me and tell me to take it to my dealer

[1977and2010]

Good to know thanks. That's funny about the onstar.

[SSSoon]

So I got the car into the garage late Tuesday, didn't have time to take the seats out. Had to get to airport for 6am the next morning, so I get into the car at oh dark thirty Wed AM, get buckled in (still takes me 3-4 minutes to get all the straps loosened, connected, and retightened) then try to close the door. Can't reach the handle. Man am I strapped in TIGHT. So, took it all off, closed the door, strapped myself in again, picked up the keys, accidentally popped the trunk.

Cursed eloquently and then phoned my wife to come out and close my trunk.

She's a real sweetie.

[JusticePete]

Really nice work. As solid as the 5th Gen is a roll cage makes a difference. Everything in the suspension works better. How restrictive are the seats with your HANS connected?

Originally Posted by SSSoon

I get into the car at oh dark thirty Wed AM, get buckled in (still takes me 3-4 minutes to get all the straps loosened, connected, and retightened) then try to close the door. Can't reach the handle. Man am I strapped in TIGHT. So, took it all off, closed the door, strapped myself in again, picked up the keys, accidentally popped the trunk.

Cursed eloquently and then phoned my wife to come out and close my trunk.

Been there too

[SSSoon]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

Really nice work. As solid as the 5th Gen is a roll cage makes a difference. Everything in the suspension works better. How restrictive are the seats with your HANS connected?

So far, fits like a glove. In the pic a few messages above showing the belts in the car, you can see a big black U-shaped back pad in place behind the harness. That cutout is where the Simpson R3 unit fits into when strapped on. The tethers hook up to the helmet and let me turn my head but hold it in place, so any sort of hard shock would only let the helmet move forward an inch or two. Then with the halo from the Kirkeys, I'm covered for side impact too. Like I tell my wife, it's the cheapest life insurance we can buy. I can turn my head enough to see the side view mirrors and maybe a bit more, but that's all. No more shoulder checking. But with mirrors set right, you don't need to.

[cornerspeed92]

Originally Posted by SSSoon

So I got the car into the garage late Tuesday, didn't have time to take the seats out. Had to get to airport for 6am the next morning, so I get into the car at oh dark thirty Wed AM, get buckled in (still takes me 3-4 minutes to get all the straps loosened, connected, and retightened) then try to close the door. Can't reach the handle. Man am I strapped in TIGHT. So, took it all off, closed the door, strapped myself in again, picked up the keys, accidentally popped the trunk.

Cursed eloquently and then phoned my wife to come out and close my trunk.

She's a real sweetie.

Yeah funny,the 1st time i strapped myself in i couldn't reach my gloves or shut the door,and it does take some time to strap in

[SSSoon]

Some other observations after driving around for a few weeks with the bars/harnesses/seats in.

1. After 2 hours on the highway, the fact that the seats have no lumbar support becomes obvious. Bought the Kirkey lumbars and they are too soft to do any good. Cut down a piece of a pool noodle and it is a good start, but need to find some foam that is in between pool noodle and seat cushion. But still, 30 minutes on the track at a time would be no problem even without lumbar supports.

2. I can get the whole rig out and back to OEM in 45 minutes easy. If I was in a rush I could probably have done it faster. Took it all out without help last weekend, so it is possible to do this as a one-man thing. Not sure putting it in will be a one-man thing though. Stay tuned.

3. I love sitting lower down in the car. The only problem is there is now a huge blind spot in front of the car. Better not be any craters in the road as I go over a sharp hill because I would drive right into it. But still, lower seating is very good.

4. You get really used to being held in snug by the Kirkeys. Feels great. Getting in and out is now much easier now that I have done it a bunch of times. You don't sit down ass-first as you would normally do; you stick your head in the car first, lean on the center console, lower your butt in the seat. Works great.

5. Have not taken them to the track yet but am trying to soon, so will report back once that is done. But I am thinking it is gonna rock.

[cornerspeed92]

[SSSoon]

Work done, car packed, heading to VIR for two days of fun with the Mustang SVT Club. Should be a blast. Will post some stuff Sunday night or Monday.

[SSSoon]

Tried uploading a video in between runs but it looks crappy to me. Not sure what is up. Will try another one later. For now:

http://youtu.be/7TbLzf4PHSQ

[SSSoon]

Hit 140 on the back straight and 120 on the front. Still slower in the corners than I want to be. But, it's been a great day.

Roll bars and seats have me in the car like glue. It's fantastic. Gotta remember to do it all in the right order though: Neck brace, lower harness, door bar, close door, set up iphone, upper harness, helmet. It's particularly a drag when you do all that and THEN remember your key is in your pocket. Start over.

First time I have ever had the car tell me to check my cooling system, though. Coolant temp at 201 (EDIT: 205 on last run of day). I am thinking that's not too bad, but I guess that's what you get with a supercharger.

Here's a 2:30 run:

http://youtu.be/mDXFfjxeEuw

[SSSoon]

More runs and conversation about VIR at:

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6590763

[LC]

I love this kind of threads when I find them with all the info done instead of waiting for it hahaha. also like a lot the little warning posts..