I had kinda a half-baked idea.

My only restriction on buying my first car is that it has to have air bags. That's the one and only requirement.

I've fallen in love with 1980s f-bodies (See: 1980 Camaro or Trans-Am), but they don't have air bags.

From what I understand about air bags (Which is not a lot, I can assure you), the systems are actually somewhat simple. It's essentially a couple of explosives and a bag hooked up to some sensors. I know this is a gross oversimplification, but bare with me.

Could I essentially nigger-rig an airbag system to the car, just for the driver? Sure, it wouldn't have the stock steering wheel, but hell, for airbags, it's worth it, amiright?

Could this be done easily and for a hundred bucks or so?

I know this is a gross oversimplification but NO FUCKING WAY ON EARTH.

Listen, I hate being racist, but air bags are for fucking niggers.

This is going to be a disaster.

A hilarious disaster.

But still a disaster.

This is true.

You should do it!

Surely one of the later firebirds or camaros came with airbags, so get a wheel out of one of those, possibly the steering column if need be and the airbag sensor. Then wire it up. No guarantee that it will work properly in your car though, or won't knock your head off if it was to go off.

My Fiero got 5-star frontal ratings and it has no air bags. I've seen people hit trees head on at 70 mph and walk away. Air bags don't mean much, and they are most assuredly not going to do much if you aren't wearing your seat belt anyway.

Air bags will fuck your day completely up if you don't do it right. And by fuck you up, I mean break you in half while you are fiddling with wires under the dash, or blow stuff like fingers into your eyes, break hands, etc. Sodium azide is an explosive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnNnIlio8YY

Don't be a pussy.

Why do you think they use crash test dummies to test airbag positioning and the like dude? Just tell you parents that it has airbags. Either that or buy the car yourself and get whatever you want.

jesus.

go to the junkyard and rip a 'airbag equipped' or 'srs airbag' badge off a car.

buy desired car.

stick badge on

show parents

ta dah!

http://www.dodge.com/shared/2007/nitro/safety_security/air_bag_protection/images/lb_airbags.jpg This

http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i30/3034_8lo.jpgNot This. lol.

Airbags do very little, if anything anyway. If you ever watch a crash test video, assuming a seatbelt is working correctly, you won't even touch the airbag. And if the seatbelt is faulty, or not being worn, an airbag is going to do fuck all to save you.

To recount a story of mine, remmeber that MG that crashed trying to race me? He wasn't wearing his seatbelt and all his airbag did was serve to force him over the steering wheel and dashboard, straight into the windscreen.

Who races without wearing a seatbelt.

Some people are dumb.

What happened to that boy racer anyway? Tell us a story, though you've told it before.

:):):)

Last I heard was about a year ago, but when he came out of his coma after about 6 weeks, he was too brain damaged to be able to talk or walk, and his right shoulder was shattered beyond repair. I think his punctured lung was alright though. And his legs healed, even though he can't use them.

Always wear a seatbelt youngsters! Don't rely on airbags.

http://www.dodge.com/shared/2007/nitro/safety_security/air_bag_protection/images/lb_airbags.jpg This

http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/articles/i30/3034_8lo.jpgNot This. lol.

Goddamnit, I knew something was wrong when Argon started talking about air bags and safety ratings!

I am buying my own car. The problem is I'm 15 right now so when I buy a car it'll be in their name. That's why they can set restrictions, because it's not technically mine until I'm 18.

Air bags suck, but they do help you not die when using a 3 point restraint system.

If you are dead set on getting an F-body, talk to your parents.

Tell them that you want this car, and it's your hearts desire.

Then present them with data showing that a roll bar and 5 point harnesses are a safer combination than air bags. That the f-body is a solid car, and combined with a roll bar and 5 point harnesses, you would be safer than a squishy newer car with air bags, especially in a side impact collision.

So convince them to let you have it, as long as you put in a roll bar. 5 points and racing seats.

So you get the car you want, AND you get to have a kick ass roll bar, belts and racing seats. And get a shop to put the stuff in, don't try to do it yourself.

So you get the car you want, AND you get to have a kick ass roll bar, belts and racing seats. And get a shop to put the stuff in, don't try to do it yourself.

I can understand having the shop doing the roll bar, but why the seats and harness?

Goddamnit, I knew something was wrong when Argon started talking about air bags and safety ratings!

lmfao, I thought you were talking about safety air bags all along. :D

Who needs air bags when you have throttle bodies?

I can understand having the shop doing the roll bar, but why the seats and harness?

The seats are designed not to bend. Not sure about the harness (other than being alot stronger), but I'm sure it would be alot harder to get gutted using a 4 point than a 3-point.

The seats are designed not to bend. Not sure about the harness (other than being alot stronger), but I'm sure it would be alot harder to get gutted using a 4 point than a 3-point.

He's asking why he can't do his own seats and harnesses.

Well, you can I suppose.

Just make FUCKING SURE you get quality seats. I'm talkin Sparco. You also will need the sliders and brackets for your car. They cost extra, and are sold separately. You will never get seats into your car without having the custom brackets. Sparco, Recaro, etc. sell the brackets. The brackets make it basically a bolt in.

I'd suggest getting seats that don't recline, if you want them to work right with the belts.

As far as harnesses, get 2" wide belts with cam locks. Simpson are nice, and the cam lock system Simpson has is nice and easy to belt in/get out.

The cam lock is essential since this will be your daily driver. Without the cam lock, getting in and out will suck donkey balls.

You'll have to make sure that you get the right length belts, and I don't know where you will mount them. You are also supposed to use some sort of large washere'd eye hook for certain mounts, like on the floor or something. I'm not quite sure. I know either sparco or simpson sells them.

If you want this to actually be much safer than air bags, I would suggest you consult someone who is a professional in belt, bar and seat installation. You seem to be going into this kind of blind, and need someone close to you that can help you along.

Lul, safety.

stay out of this thread, motorcycle enthusiast :P

A normal 3 point belt is plenty safe, I wouldn't bother with racing seats and belts, you have to be careful with those. The belt has to be at a certain angle and location or it will damage you in an accident.

bad idea.

bad idea.

True. I saw a television program documenting car safety technology (old shit too), and an interviewee told that the explosive charge the sets the bag off is "as powerful as a 9mm parabellum round." Doesn't sound like something you should be fucking around with.

the straps that go over your shoulders in a 4 point need to be mounted higher than your shoulders, which can be awkward, and hard to have people in the back seat.

True. I saw a television program documenting car safety technology (old shit too), and an interviewee told that the explosive charge the sets the bag off is "as powerful as a 9mm parabellum round." Doesn't sound like something you should be fucking around with.

The energy in a gun is forcibly directed though - rounds that cook off or are otherwise fired outside of a gun (i.e. unconfined) are pretty weaksauce.

On the other hand, all this setup is going to do is fire into his face when he brakes too hard or hits a squirrel, thus causing him to swerve off a road and hit a tree.

The energy in a gun is forcibly directed though - rounds that cook off or are otherwise fired outside of a gun (i.e. unconfined) are pretty weaksauce.


did you see the mythbusters where they shot off ammo in an oven?
no rounds damaged them alone, except the .50 cal
in a gun is a whole 'nuther story. it keeps it directed.

did you see the mythbusters where they shot off ammo in an oven?
no rounds damaged them alone, except the .50 cal
in a gun is a whole 'nuther story. it keeps it directed.

Yep. The casings did the most damage. :)

Yep. The casings did the most damage. :)

yep, the explosive force wasn't directed in on place in particular. good show. the old alameda air base they film on isnt but half an hour away from me.

i swear adam and jamie are ghey for each other

To give you an idea how powerful the inflater module on a standard air bag is, the bags themselves have roughly a quarter-sized hole in them for deflation. Meaning, the inflater pumps them full of pressure so fast that they have the pressure needed to keep your ass safe despite having a huge hole in the bag.

lol they have airbags for motorbikes as well now.

^ and airbag suits too, seen them in racing

The suits have a sensor that plugs into the bike, when you fall off it unplugs and deploys the airbags.

Pansies.

What happens if you slide off and have already hit the ground, eh?

Pansies.

What happens if you slide off and have already hit the ground, eh?

B-dooiiiiiing. You get sent for six.

B-dooiiiiiing. You get sent for six.

I laughed :D

And you can fuck right off, 4 wheel suspension airbags are stock on my car.

And you can fuck right off, 4 wheel suspension airbags are stock on my car.

Only because your car shares its platform with a full size bus and a semi trailer tractor cab.

Eh my Mark VIII isn't any heavier than a new Challenger or Camaro, less heavy than an M5 or CTS-V.

But the M5 and V scoot.

Only because your car shares its platform with a full size bus and a semi trailer tractor cab.

What about my 3000GT? It doesn't come with airbags, but the VR-4 weighs over 9000 lbs. It shares many parts with the M1 Abrams tank.

I come into this thread and all I can picture is this> http://bayimg.com/image/hamldaabd.jpg (http://bayimg.com/image/hamldaabd.jpg)

You're an idiot. Real men don't need air bags.

But the M5 and V scoot.

That doesn't make them weigh less.

But if we want to compare them, I paid $81,000 less for my Mark VIII than a new M5 costs so meh.