Installing Airbags on an S13?

[M3Racer]

Long post, skip to end for actual question. Heres a question for ya guys, I'm trying to buy a 240, and I really wanted the S13 because of looks, weight, and availability. So I find this good lookin one for a good price. So I approach my parents and they still weren't convinced I should be allowed to get a car like this and not just a hand me down. So they say I should do some saftey checks for the car. So I find out that S13's don't have airags. And thats a no-no to my parents. So instead of having to save more money and sacrafice for my second choice, how hard would it be to install airbags on an S13? How hard would it be to put in crash sensors? IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE? Thanks in advance for any help.

[phroze2001]

I cant say it is impossible but it is improbable, you would need speed sensors at each wheel a s**t load of electronics that were never meant to be in that car.

just put a honda steering wheel in it that has an airbag and tell your parents that it has airbags lol

[240marcuSX]

show them crash test results, explain to them that a responsible driver is more important than all the safety equipment in the world, and airbags dont work properly if youre not buckled up anyway, so ultimately its up to you to keep yourself safe.

[llamabeta]

Your parents should remember the days when there werent air bags in cars. I'm sure they didnt wear seat belts either. The S13 never came with air bags. That's why it has the automatic seat belts. The stipulation at the time from the DOT was to have some type of passive system... this meaning, either auto seat belts or an air bag. I wouldnt even attempt to cut your car to install such a system. It would be more dangerous than not having them. I'd be worried they get set off for whatever reason.

I dont understand the hoopla behind airbags and now the plethora of airbags found in vehicles. I'd recommend getting some Canadian seatbelts or S14 manual belts and installing those. An airbag never replaces a seat belt. I'd rather have a couple cracked ribs (in a very extreme accident) than have a bag opening in my face at a high rate of speed. Good driver position and a good seat belt are all that is needed IMO.

Airbags.. bah...

[M3Racer]

Thanks for everyones help, I think I'm not gonna try. But there is a chance my parents would let me get an S13. I just had one question for llmamabeta, whats the difference between auto belts, the canadian belts, and the manual belts? Again, thanks to everyone

[M3Racer]

Nevermind about the last post, I did some research and found the answer. I also found a sloution that my mom and I like. We would get a racing harness and possibly an upgraded seat. That would probably be safer then airbags. Thanks for your help guys.

[240marcuSX]

hey man, whatever works, post up pics when you get the car, enjoy.

[Chingon]

When was the s13 killed in Japan, '98? I'm sure you could get japanese equipment if they ever made it available w/these options..

[Chingon]

maybe, just maybe....

[89 240 SOHC]

if you get a racing harness keep the stock belts too in most states and Canada racing harnesses are not approved by the DOT.....and for godsake mount the harness to the same thing your seat is mounted to eg. Racing seat mounted to rollcage mount the belts to the cage too.....nothing worse than rolling a car with the seat bolted to the floor and the belts to the cage.....cage goes through the floor seat stays still and belts squish driver....see it mostly in local stockcar racing

[bcar240]

and remember, racing harnesses only work when used properly. That means buckling all the belts and cinching it down to the point of you not being able to move nearly at all. I have heard that 4-point harnesses arn't even as good as stock belts (cause you can slip underneith), that you should go with 5 or 6 points. But that is just a rumor, I don't know for sure.

[240marcuSX]

couldnt you slip under stock belts just as easily..

a 4 pt harness is at least as safe as a stock seatbelt... but you are supposed to have a crotch belt too.

[hannibal]

I wish I coulda convinced my parents I needed a Recaro and harness to be 'safe'...

[Lil_JV]

Tell em it'll be fine if you get a bride seat and a 4pt harness.

[kane2g]

i can see it now:Mom I need $3000 in seats/harness/rollcage/etc to make my $500 car safe!LOL

[sil80drifter]

I did that. I told my mom that since my car didn't have air bags I needed a 4 point harness. And a roll bar since I dont want my head squished by the roof in case the car rolls. My harnesses are mounted to the floor, but I think a good rollbar isn't supposed to go through the floor when the car rolls over, that defeats the whole point of the roll bar. weld it in properly or secure it to the parts of the floor that has frame rails goign through it. Otherwise don't get one. Unless you just want rigidity out of it.

sil80

[Luke]

I've considered a harness, then realized the whole needing a roll bar to be safe. If you're strapped in a seat upright by a harness, you won't have the flexibility that a standard seat belt has in a roll over. If the roof crushes, and you're like me (6' 1", head inches away from the roof) your head will crush along with the roof. Bad idea...

So then the idea of a roll cage came in. It fixes the problem with the harness, but presents another problem itself. What happens in a side impact and your head slams into your nice roll bar? It wouldn't be pretty, a roll cage will protect you the most when you wear a helmet. I think there would need to be some hefty padding to keep your skull from crushing. Think Murphy's law when it comes to your safety equipment...