Confirm installation of rear seat belts 64

[circular_file-thesamba@sp]

Alright, I have read the posts here. I ripped everything down to the metal in my back seat. I have talked to the people at Wolfsburg West. Here are the steps I have concluded for installing a rear lap belt in a 1964 beetle.

1. Obtain seat belts and two seat belt adapters from Wolfsburg west (couldn't find the adapters anywhere else).
2. Remove the two center plastic screw covers from behind the rear seat
3. Insert two adapters into center holes
4. Drill a hole on each side under the bolt the rear seat back attaches to the car
5. Place bolts through seat belt and new holes using large washers to hold in place on the outside.
6. Place bolt through the other side of the seat belt and into the adapter.

Does this sound right. I didn't see anyone else talking about drilling the outer holes, but I could not find any holes to use.

Thanks,
-Rick

[Mark]

That's pretty much how my '64 was done for rear lap belts. There is an additional plate that was added between the metal & bolts, which I'm told is to give the anchor points more strength.

[bird blaster]

Anybody have a pictorial step-by step to go on with this? Sounds relatively straightforward. I need to have 2 rear belts for my children.

[hawk2828]

I did this but drilled a hole through the body about 12" or so over from the center holes. Installed the belts with the supplied bolts washers and nuts that came with the WW belts.

[rcroane]

Things must have changed in '65. I didn't have to do any drilling to install my rear lap belts. All holes were already there from the factory.
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'65 Sunroof Bug

[Sharp64]

[panicman]

Whoa- 15 year old thread?

I disagree with using the interior sheet metal as an outboard seatbelt mounting location.

I (and many others) advise using the outboard chassis mounting bolt that attaches the body to the chassis... the shiny bolt to the left in the picture below, (pic is a 1960 beetle)

[bluebus86]

be sure to add reinforcment plate under the body panel to prevent the bolt from pulling out in event of a crash. My Dad installed belts this way in his 61, using big 3 inch or so diameter fairly thick washers under the panels to reinforce the body. He added belts front a rear, as his Bug came new with neither.

I recall the good old days when autoparts stores carried lots of seatbelt kits (usually including the reinforcement washers) . There was a time back in the 60s and 70s when folks would add belts to cars that did not come new with belts thus creating a huge market for belts.
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[hawk2828]

I didn't want to use the outer body bolt because it ended up under the seat and I didn't care for the way belt had to be routed. I would definitely use a large thick washer or a thick metal plate to back up the belt. I figure if you get in a bad enough crash that it pulls a 3"x1/4" washer through a body panel you'll probably be dead regardless. FYI I'm just the typical jackass vw mechanic not a structural engineer so don't sue me for any input I've posted.

[bird blaster]

thanks for the update to this thread guys!

Looking at a few early 60's beetles that don't have rear, and one that doest have front. I do need to have these for the kids in the back - I can accept that change from stock.