Is there a thread form anyone converting a 70 cars seatbelts to the later style.

Or what do you guys do to change it. The car is almost done in its conversions and this is one of the last things.

Thanks 914 bros.

Joe

joe,
I may have some misc. seatbelt parts you can have. They are from a 73.

Thanks Gregger, but I am not sure what do do with them yet. I don't know if I should weld in a mount behind the seat or if there is another way.

Food for thought: Does your backpad have a carve out on the backside to accomodate a retractable reel?

I've got both backpads. But I'm not using either one. It will be custom.

I believe the upper firewall was different in later cars to accommodate the inertial reels. (I may be wrong, but that's what I think)

Will trade you even, my retractors for your non retractors...

DON'T buy the ones on E-bay. They don't fit. The retractor mechanism is too big and the belts are too long.

I tried them, had to send 'em back.

That is correct. The rear bulkhead has recessed pockets for the retractor mechanisms. The early cars did not have the recessed pocket.

You can weld in the recessed area from a later car, but it would be a hassle. The easiest way is to buy the retractable belts that AA sells. They're not original and don't work perfectly as you have to mount them on a bit of an angle to get the belt to come out at an appropriate angle, but they are easy to mount and work well.

I kept the early belts for my 914-6 for many years, but finally gave in to comfort and am glad I did. I'm just keeping the early belts for any future concours nuts.

Why do you want them? Sure i'll do that. PM me Joe

Mucho Gracis Gary

I used the rear seatbelts from a Volvo station wagon in my 71. Long enough to mount the retractor at the bottom & still reach with some room. I haven't done anything on the passenger side, so I'm no help there.

Mark could you send me a pic. What year Volvo? Joe

Date of manufacture was 5/4/83
Belt #1225861

Click to view attachment

Wow I think thats what i'll do. Thanks

i actually like the early style much better ...
Andy

Me too.

Yeah they're quaint. I just don't want to be speared by the steering column.

I already flipped one on these skateboard in Mexico. I guess I faired well. Just shattered the fg top, crushed the windshield post and windsheild, smashed in some fenders, got a flat and bumped my head. Oh yeah lost all the contents, it was at night. Didn't even have the belts on to boot.

Seems the three way belt would be like better jackstands. Ouch

The reason they like the early belts are because they are fixed -
The retractables may more "Comfortable", but remember they those mechanisms are 30 years old or older -
All it takes is them not working ONCE when you really need them too...
At least with the fixed belt, you take the retractor out of the equation...

Now don't try and scare me I'm on a roll.

A roll is close to the last thing I would want to do in a 914...
The only thing that would be worse is a head on...

In both cases I would want the best belt I could find...

I hear they lived. Kinda like not being the casualty in the middle east bombing.

early belts hold you in place nicely!

later belts don't.
and i have never seen a set that was still working alright.
maybe if they're brand new.

anyways, been driving my '70 with the old style belts for 5 years now.

couldn't be happier!
Andy

I hear they were drunk...

Nite-

USE THOSE BELTS! My late neighbor, ironically one of Ralph Nader's original raiders, somehow not using his belt, was (according to his belted passenger) tuning the radio, dropped of the right onto the shoulder, over-corrected, crossed the road and dropped down an embankment. Out of the car with a broken neck, RIP. Left a broken-hearted wife, too!