TheSamba.com :: View topic - 3-Point Rear Seat Belt Install

Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:49 pm

So, got some rear three-points belts on their way. Does anyone have a pic of where the mounts behind the panels are located? Also, does anyone have a pic of the through-cabinet mounting for the left one (Westy Weekender, so maybe that's only an issue with full campers)? There was mention of such a pic on the Go Westy site in a different thread, but damn if I could locate it on the Go Westy site. Thanks all.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:26 pm

Hi, I will take and post a pic when I get home tonight. I only did the right side on my 85 westy.

Does your weekender have a closet on the driver side near the back window?

tom

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:45 pm

Thanks! Yes, it has the rear closet on the driver's side.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:20 pm

I too am intersted in seeing a pic. I need to order a 3 point for the right rear on my 85 Westie. I need to put a car seat back there...baby due in December :D

Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:10 am

Do you have the GoWesty belts? They have a suplimental instruction set for the weekender installation. The belt exits behind the cabinet so you do not need to cut a hole in the front like a full camper. You do have to cut the back panel though. You might call them for the instructions sheet. It was not included when I got mine. I will look for it tonight.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:01 am

Great, thanks! Its actually late VW belts.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:23 am

bunker108,
You wont need the 3 point for a couple years. The baby seats as well as the upright seats get by with just a lap belt. I like them better than trying to use the crazy belt clamp provided to cancel out the 3 point inertia reel.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:07 am

OOPS. Forgot to take pic. Will do tonight.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:19 pm

Here you go. Took about 20 minutes to install and clean up last night. Perfect fit and works great. I only installed the passenger side into my 84 Westfalia.

I removed the two small screws that hold the panel along with the screws for the curtain wire and tie back. When I pulled the panel back a little, I could easily see the factory plastic plug in the mounting hole. After a coule of measurements, I drilled a hole big enough to get my phillips screw driver through the panel to remove the plug then I made a clean 3/4" hole with a hole saw to finish the job.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:50 pm

Envious? Envious of what? I'm the envious one: a Touareg, a BSA and standard verts. You must have a heck of a garage. Love the Vespa/Lamberetta. Also, thanks for the pics and info. I had no idea the mount was so far back. Looking forward to making the linolium lizards (kids) a little more safe.

Thanks again.

Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:59 pm

nice pic.

I eyeballed the location, then used a razor blade to cut the opening.

wasn't bad at all.

the driver's side looks like more fun!

Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:04 pm

Envious wrote:

looks like a baywindow bus washer fluid cap mounted on the wall there?

Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:58 pm

airkooledchris wrote: looks like a baywindow bus washer fluid cap mounted on the wall there?

Dunno :? I wouldn't know what one looked like if I woke up with it glued to my forehead. This is pretty new to me. My safety zone is early 60's aircooled.

Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:44 pm

Okay, I just finished installing the driver's side rear seat belt today, and it really is not that bad. I used the Go Westy kit. After installing the passenger side rear 3-pointer, I had a good idea of where to find the mount through the cabinet on the opposite side. I took a couple measurements from the rear mesh screen snap locations, and figured out the rough location of the mounting bolt inside the rear cabinet. After cutting a small hole and then drilling through the panel behind the cabinet, I ended up hitting the plastic bolt that plugs the rear seat belt mount hole. It was perfect, and easy to find.

The retractor ends up sitting in the forward section of the rear cabinet, just below the top shelf. Then it's a simple matter of drilling and cutting the two pass through holes and dressing them up with the rosettes provided. It is a lot simpler than I previously thought. In fact, the hardest part was vacuuming the dust out of the hanging closet from cutting the holes.

The one thing I did not care for was that the belt initially rubbed across a sharp edge of one of the new holes on the inside of the hanging closet. I took a small piece of plastic wire loom, sliced some of it off, and screwed the piece around the inside edge. This ultimately keeps the belt from sliding on this point, and doesn't cheapen the professional look at all.

As for the belt passing through the cabinet, it really doesn't seem too intrusive. It is still possible to hang clothes (if you do such a thing), though the space is reduced some. I end up stuffing my laundry bags and random crap in there anyway, so it doesn't make any difference at all to me.

The best part is now I have the peace of mind that when my 2 and 4 year olds transition to a booster seat, and then no child seat, they will have better protection. Now I'm thinking about retrofitting some head protection on the rear bench that is easily removable for when we camp. Any thoughts or ideas?

Lundy

Sun Aug 20, 2006 6:06 am

Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:43 am

I am wondering if a front belt from a parts van can be used in this application. I thin k probably not due to the necessity for the belts to be oriented in their proper direction (up must be up) in order to release.
If the front belt cannot be used, where can I order whatever I need to install what is pictured.

Andrew

Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:14 am

Go Westy does not have their seat belts listed on the website right now because I was told they are switching the design slightly. If you call, however, they may still have a few sets left.

Lundy

Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:21 am

Andrew, I was about to ask a similar question. The belts I have are from a 91 vanagon with rear sholder belts (the belts have a mfr date of 1988). They will not work unless installed (the retractor) vertically. These also have a panel pass-through trim piece on the belt that indicates to me that the retractor installs behind an interior panel. I think I would end up using the mounting point for the aftermarket belts as actually the mounting point for the belt pivot. Howver, I wonder if there is a mounting place below that area for the retractor? Came with a substantial mounting bracket (sort of a "T" shape with welded nuts on the backside). Guess the only way to find out is to remove everything today and just see. Should be working on the house, though.

Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:36 am

This is how I thought it should go, I didn't bother putting it in.

here's a how to, but it might be outdated:
http://volksweb.relitech.com/helmut/RearSeatBelt/RSFB_001.HTM

Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:16 am

If we have any more kids, I'll name him/her/it "Mightyart." That is exactly the pic I need. Thank you very much (and for the link too).