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Harness and Powdercoated Wheels

To: "'ba-autox@autox.team.net'" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Subject: Harness and Powdercoated Wheels
From: "Runnion, Ed" <Ed_Runnion@regionofdoom.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 21:21:41 -0700
>Anyone have experience with a six point harnesses? using the OEM seat?
>attaching the shoulder belts to the rear parcel shelf?  way back in the
>back of a 4 Door sedan?

(raises hand)

I have this setup in my Impala SS, mounted in back to the rear seat belt
mounts (ones under the rear seat).   The lap belt mounts to the OEM points,
and the anti-sub belt bolts to the front bolts on the seat.

It's a pretty good harness, obey's the physics stuff (mounting angles,
strength, etc) that you wanna do.   Not real cheap, but not bad either ($160
with latch-link, $260 with cam-lock.....I got the latch-link).   A fellow SS
owner up in Seattle sells them, doing a purchase on them 4 times/year.   The
next one is coming up in May.

The belt mounts are done by removing the OEM bolts that hold down those seat
belt mounts (and they are a CHEEZY design, just threaded into the floorpan!)
and replacing them with eye bolts that have a nut/washer on the backside to
hold them in place (i.e. stronger than stock).   Then the 6-point belts just
clip on to the eye hooks.

If you want to see the belts on Sunday, I'm running 1st and working third
(i.e. I should be around all morning).   It isn't 100% guaranteed it'd work
in a Maxima, but I bet they would....

>How about powder coating road wheels?

I did this with my race wheels a couple months ago (stock Impala SS cast
aluminum wheels).    All black on a black car, it looks evil :^).

As Rich mentioned, the heat CAN be an issue if the shop does not prep the
rims properly.  Many powdercoat shops will try and "bake off" all old
contaminants like clearcoat, dirt, etc by going to 700-800 F or so.   You DO
NOT want to do this to aluminum wheels, as that is TOO hot!!!!

The shop I used did NOT do this!   Rather, I stripped the wheels myself
first (chemically, with "aircraft stripper" from the parts store).....man
was THAT a pain!    Then all the shop did was sandblast the rims to remove
the rest of the residue (i.e. no heat), and powdercoat away.

The actual process to "bake on" the powder is in the 400F range....aluminum
will be fine at those temps.    Heck, there are OEM wheels now that are
powdercoated!

I used Component Finishing in Santa Clara (800 Aldo Ave).    They were
reasonably priced, not quick (took 2 weeks) but I was VERY happy with how
the wheels came out.   I would not hesitate at all to use them again.

As for the finish : powdercoat CAN get superficial surface scratches, but
for the most part they'll just wax right out (car wax works fine).   It is
quite durable, and chances of chipping thru it are pretty negligible.

Ed Runnion          Santa Clara CA
mailto:Ed_Runnion@RegionOfDoom.com
96 Chevy Impala SS, ESP

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