Falcon and MSVA/IVA

[Boggy]

Hi all
A question for all members, has a Falcon LX3 ever been submitted or passed the MSVA/IVA test? If so I would be very interested in the modifications that had to be made to the original design.
Many thanks in anticipation

Boggy

[callum]

Boggy,
You're not getting many reples, which probably reflects the number of thrree-wheeled falcons out there.

There are plenty of four wheelers, but I suspect that they were all passed pre SVA or have gone down the 'radially modified vehicle' route which negates the need for an IVA.

However, you predicament cannot be dissimilar to that of the Pembleton builder - and they're getting through MSVA.

I suggest that you post details of your specific concerns and some nice Pembleton chap will give their view on this.

Rgrds
Calum

[Boggy]

Hi Callum
Thanks for your reply, my main concerns are around the upper seatbelt mounting area and whether the mounting height is sufficient. I have an original Falcon Designs build manual and although there is plenty of detail on seatbelt mounting for the Falcon S, but the manual says this bracketry is not used on the LX3 but then is quite vague as to what one should do instead.
I will ask the height question under a title of Pembleton as you suggest

Cheers

Boggy

[howardjs]

Hi Boggy,
You could always fit a full harness which doesn't have a height fixing problem

Howard

[david]

full harness interesting- its still the collar bones at risk which is why the height rule is there ????
or please explain.

[howardjs]

Some seat belt mounting pictures...
As you can see these are all harness systems. They look like they are mounted at seat back height level.
Even so, when I checked the MSVA manual it says that all upper seat belt mountings must be 450mm high above a 136 x 53mm high block placed on the seat base. Lap and diagonal and 4 point harness.
It must be that the seat bases in these cars are very thin, at least for when the test was carried out...!!

[howardjs]

Here is the Morgan 3 Wheeler... This has an interesting seat belt mounting solution.
As you can see the lap and diagonal upper mounting is in the centre of the car... Again it looks quite low, but again the seat base may be thin...
The Morgan is a factory built car and not a self build kit, so presumably complies with all the regs....!!

The MSVA manual says that the upper seat belt mounting position must be such as to prevent the lap belt from slipping off the wearers shoulder..

Howard

[Boggy]

Thanks for those pics
It seems that there are quite a few ways to overcome the requirements. The actual seatbelt mounting frame will have to be designed with the above in mind, as the original build manual doesn't include any seatbelt mountings for the LX3, sometimes it is much easier to start from scratch rather than try to modify an existing idea.
Cheers
Boggy

[Jamez99]

I wish I could've been there. It just seems like it'll look even better in belt; all those curves. What did you think about the size of the plan mountings for the LX3

[Boggy]

Hi James
Not sure exactly what you are asking?

Boggy