WARNING, Shelby 7000 & 8000 Series Continuation Cobra!!!

[Historybuff]

I was shocked to read that fabric seat belts and shoulder harnesses have a fairly short shelf life so I'd replace those if they came on the car when you got it. I am sure occasional exposure to gasoline rots them further.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Historybuff

I was shocked to read that fabric seat belts and shoulder harnesses have a fairly short shelf life so I'd replace those if they came on the car when you got it. I am sure occasional exposure to gasoline rots them further.

Nothing shocking there,NHRA has been mandating for years and years now that seat belts can not be more than 2 years old, most road racing sactioning bodies allow seat belts up to 5 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David

[Bernica]

Check that old helmet too. They have a date code...

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Bernica

Check that old helmet too. They have a date code...

Yes they do, IIRC, NHRA is 5 years and road racing is 10 years on the SNELL Rating date.....

David

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Historybuff

I was shocked to read that fabric seat belts and shoulder harnesses have a fairly short shelf life so I'd replace those if they came on the car when you got it. I am sure occasional exposure to gasoline rots them further.

So I guess you didn't see the date punch out on your harnesses? If they were real Simpson etc. they are date coded and a statement of life. Tech inspection at all tracks I know of will flunk you if your harnesses are expired.

The reality is that standard auto belts survive in the same environmental conditions for longer periods of time (did you replace the seat belts in your 1973 CHEVELLE?)

I did replace (reweb) the harnesses in my Cobra though. This was because one of the leather guards behind the duck bill failed and I sent the belts (both sides) and they essentially replaced them for the reweb fee.