What's involved with installing retractable seat belts? When I bought my 1970, it had no belts at all. I put in some crappy stock non-retractable belts years ago, but they are and always were crappy. I'd like to put in something better. Suggestions? Just lap and shoulder retractable should be all I need.

Don't!

I have actually come to really like the non-retractable belts in my '70.

Set them once and forget about it.

Tougher on the early cars as the back wall has no recess for them, but you probably new that.

Andy - My 72 has belts that sorta retract. They are a bit balky. Can I make them non retractable? Or are you talking track belts?

I've got the later back pad with the cutouts in it, I assume that helps. I'd need to remove the back pad, but it's attachment to the firewall that has me wondering.

Not talking track anything, the early stock belts don't retract. They are adjustable but stay tight once set.

I very much prefer them over the retractable ...

This is what I'm running in my 73 DD.
Which uses the later mounting points. But they should be able to come up with something for you.

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/seatbelts-an...ts/332/view/125

one of those special early car things.

Cool, I thought I was the only one, but mine work the same way! Maybe it was installed like that at the factory along with the rust???

The retractable belts used in VW Beetles might fit.

RenoRoger

I retro fitted a 1970 with front retractable seat belts from a 944. There were some modifications to make it fit perfect, plus I drilled two holes in the firewall to mount the reels. Not plug and play, but it can be done.

Retractable inertia reel seat belts were designed because people are too f**king lazy to buckle and properly tighten their seat belt. They were designed more for convenience than safety. I don't trust them. Some designs will tighten the inertia reel belts automatically when the airbag is deployed. Retractable belts in the 914 however were not. Here's what I use.

Perfect, that's what I was looking for, thanks.

I've replaced my old belts on my '76 with new ones from seat belt planet. Extremely happy with the fit and quality of their parts.

Auto Atlanta has (had?) some retractable so that bolted onto the upper mount and work pretty well if yo want to go retractable.Click to view attachment

I believe that you must modify the firewall in order to fit the 72+ retractors on an 70-71 car.

--DD

This is true.
I am in the process of doing this on my 71.
Grafting the recess and reinforced part of the firewall from a newer car that the retractible assemblies will fit into.
Not a trivial process if done correctly.

I'll check that out, looks like the simplest solution.

Elliot:

Where'd you get these? What's involved in installing them on a '72?

[quote name='pbanders' date='Oct 14 2016, 12:10 PM' post='2411181']
[quote name='cary' post='2411104' date='Oct 14 2016, 07:25 AM']
This is what I'm running in my 73 DD.
Which uses the later mounting points. But they should be able to come up with something for you.

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/seatbelts-an...ts/332/view/125
[/quote]

Can you confirm these will fit on a '72? I have the recess in the firewall (what I'm assuming is the later mounting points?). I have retractable seat belt now, but they stick a little and I'd like ones that work and are new.

Try restoring them 1st.
>Remove from car
>affix in a Vice or similar
>unroll & wash straps thoroughly with mild soap
>allow to dry completely
>reinstall

Youll be amazed how much dirt come off of them, and usually how much more easily they retract afterward.
Of course if your concerned about their integrity after 30 Yrs, replace them.

WOW... as much as George talks about keeping the cars original and he suggested that but does not want you to up a 1.8 engine to a 1911?

I don't get it.

I know this list does not include much more than washing and it should not.

Don't just go in there willy-nilly. There is a spring that will go off like an atom bomb and you will be so pissed. Clean, wash, squirt silicone or WD-40, but be very careful if you start taking them apart any further than just off the car.

Maybe you got your back pad off already. But if not and for anyone else that happens to wander by....

the attachment of the backpad to the fire wall is with small bolts that screw into plastic sleeves inserted into the fire wall. But you probably saw that cause the bolt heads are visible.

The crazy thing is the pad has hooks that point UP. They go in loops in the firewall. So once the bolts are removed, you have to pull the pad DOWN to get the hooks out of the loops on the firewall.
Click to view attachment

I must be one of those f******g lazy types since I added inertia reels to both seats. Besides wearing 4 or 5 pts in this state is illegal. I believe the reasoning is in a side impact situation you can't move the upper torso/head away from the impact.

After initially adding, I removed the driver side and after a few months got fed up with not being able to reach the radio and passanger side window crank, etc, so went back. Only regret on a 71 is the clunky appearance, but they do work.

Click to view attachment

Thanks, actually, I haven't removed the pad yet, so that was really helpful.

Meant to reply to this earlier. I have a quick question. I looked at the belts for 914's on seatbeltpla et. It looks like the whole mechanism is new, including the recover that the belt plugs in to. Does anyone know if the new belt mechanisms/latch fit into the stock receiver? I think it would help keep the interior more stock looking if so.

Has anyone had just the belts themselves replaced? Essentially just having seatbelt planet replace the webbing while retaining the mechanism/latch/receiver? Just curious if replacing just the webbing cures the sticking belt syndrome.

I tried to retain the stock receiver for my sealtbelt planet replacements on my '76, while the new belt could occasionally latch in, it wasn't a perfect fit. Ended up putting in the new receivers as it just plugs in so well.

Thanks, definitely good to know.

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