<VV> Seats/Safety

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 10:50:56 -0700

Bill makes a good point -- there is no way in the world to make a Corvair 
(or any 40 year old car) as safe as a modern car.  Top modern cars have 4 
channel ABS, traction control, stability control, front, side, and curtain 
airbags, sensors in the seats to control the force of the bags, superior 
seat belt design, better crush zones, and so forth.  Attempting to improve 
safety on the Corvair is problematic without the proper engineering.  It is 
easier to recognize that the Corvair is inherently less safe and drive 
accordingly.  I keep my speeds down, especially in bad weather or corners, 
I keep huge following distances, and so forth.  Doing these things in any 
car will improve safety more than anything done to the car.  After all, if 
you don't get into an accident you don't need seat belts and air bags ... 
accident avoidance is the first line of safety.

At 04:42 AM 8/24/2004, Bill Hubbell wrote:
>Oh, I am not offended by people making changes to their Corvairs, but I do 
>get bothered when people try to claim modern day safety standards and 
>practices to the changes.  Today's cars go through rigorous design and 
>testing phases to arrive at their ability to offer protection.  Adding 
>components of modern safety equipment to old cars does not have the same 
>methodology, and the results cannot be assumed to be the same. Remember, 
>once you start modifying a car you are moving away from the researched and 
>tested design, and the end product may or may not be safer than the 
>original.  Unless you are able to put your car through the same testing 
>procedures (doubtful), at best you can only guess as to the safety 
>"benefit" of the changes.
>
>That is all I was trying to say.
>
>Bill Hubbell
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephen Upham" <contactsmu@sbcglobal.net>
>To: <VirtualVairs@corvair.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 1:06 AM
>Subject: Fwd: <VV> Seats
>
>
>>>Bill, do as you wish.  If a few simple improvements like radial tires, 
>>>dual master cylinders, extra passenger side mirror, shoulder belts, 
>>>padded dashes, or head rests offend your "original" sensibilities, then 
>>>no one is going to make you do it.  On the other hand, if someone wants 
>>>to add a few safety improvements to increase the comfort and/ or safety 
>>>of their Corvair, how is that an affront to you?
>>>
>>>Stephen Upham
>>>Corvairium II
>>>On Monday, Aug 23, 2004, at 23:04 US/Central, Bill Hubbell wrote:
>>>
>>>>More Naderism.  Who are we kidding.  If you are really so concerned 
>>>>about safety we shouldn't even be driving these 40 year old cars --- or 
>>>>should we? As for me, I will continue to enjoy driving my Corvairs with 
>>>>nothing more than they were equipped with by the factory --- Love that 
>>>>1964 solid steering shaft!!
>>>>
>>>>Bill Hubbell
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "airvair" <airvair@richnet.net>
>>>>To: "Stephen Upham" <contactsmu@sbcglobal.net>
>>>>Cc: <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
>>>>Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 9:52 PM
>>>>Subject: Re: <VV> Seats
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Just be aware that in order to make the belts function in a crash the
>>>>>way they are supposed to do, the floor has to be reinforced adequately.
>>>>>Kent has done a good job on his car, but until a real-world destructive
>>>>>crash test is conducted, the reinforcement adequacy is purely an
>>>>>educated guess. Question is, would you bet your life on what you
>>>>>install? Because a poorly thought out job could be even more dangerous,
>>>>>rather than safer.
>>>>>
>>>>>I used to do engineering testing in a research lab, and on at least one
>>>>>occasion this included a seat belt pull test.
>>>>>
>>>>>-Mark
>>>>>
>>>>>Stephen Upham wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I have always liked the idea of the Sebring convertible seats because
>>>>>>of the fact that they come with their own shoulder belt that is
>>>>>>integrated with the seat-back.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>See: The Chrysler Cure
>>>>>>   Go to Kent Sullivan's website. www.corvairkid.com
>>>>>>and look at the Chrysler seats he put in his LM.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Stephen Upham
>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>_______________________________________________
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