TheSamba.com :: View topic - Question for you 68 and up guys...Seat Belt Project Complete

Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:59 am

I have a '65 Beetle. I am installing retractable 3 point seat belts in it. I am going to weld a "weld nut" in the B pillar. I understand that a '68 and up has the seatbelt nut towards the bottom of the B pillar. Could someone advise me what the distance is between the center of the seatbelt hole and the heater channel is?

Thanks,
Denny

Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:33 am

You might want to check if there isn't already a caged nut already there. While seat belts were not mandated (by US DOT) until 1967, many manufacturers (including VW) were including the option for installing seat belts years earlier. I would imagine that in 1965 these would have been lap belts only, the threaded holes may be there under the headliner material.

Here's a thread on the topic:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=110301
From the thread you can see there were seat belts in pre-'67 Beetles from the dealer. Whether they were from the factory is not clear.

Here is a pic from a '67 to show where the lower mounting point on the B-pillar is located:

FYI, the seat belt bolt/nut are NOT metric. Seat belt standards came from the US so the bolt/nuts for ALL cars are almost always 7/16"-20 thread size/pitch.

Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:33 am

ashman40 wrote: You might want to check if there isn't already a caged nut already there. While seat belts were not mandated (by US DOT) until 1967, many manufacturers (including VW) were including the option for installing seat belts years earlier. I would imagine that in 1965 these would have been lap belts only, the threaded holes may be there under the headliner material.

Here's a thread on the topic:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=110301
From the thread you can see there were seat belts in pre-'67 Beetles from the dealer. Whether they were from the factory is not clear.

Here is a pic from a '67 to show where the lower mounting point on the B-pillar is located:

FYI, the seat belt bolt/nut are NOT metric. Seat belt standards came from the US so the bolt/nuts for ALL cars are almost always 7/16"-20 thread size/pitch.

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't looked under the material yet to see if there is already a captive nut (it sure would be nice if there is) but, there is a threaded 7/16-20 welded nut in the floor behind the seat. The weld nut that I plan on installing is a 7/16-20. It is actually a nut welded to a heavy duty 2" washer which would be fitted through a hole a little larger than the nut and then the washer will be puddle/spot welded to the B pillar.

I'm going to go check to see if there is already a captive nut in the B pillar but I've got a feeling that I'm not going to be that lucky. :shock:

I'll let you know what I find.

Mon Jun 10, 2019 12:35 pm

Okay...no seatbelt holes in my '65 (in the B pillar anyway...only the floor). I will proceed with my "welding venture" and I will post photos when complete.

Mon Jun 10, 2019 7:48 pm

Before you start welding, consider this approach. Sturdy bracket on the retractor fits into the existing factory floor belt bolt hole. It places the retractor more in the way of rear seat passengers' feet, but if you will mostly be driving alone or with just a front seat passenger, it could simplify your work alot.

Your '65 would have its upper belt hole midway up the door post, per this location on a '64. You remove the large plastic plug, and install an adapter plug that has the domestic bolt thread in the center.

Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:53 pm

The distance from the centre of the bottom seat belt hole to the where the B pillar intersects with the top of the heater channel on my '68 is 40mm.

Wed Jun 12, 2019 9:45 am

Thanks for all the replies.

Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:27 am

Yes, but did you sort it?

Fri Jun 14, 2019 7:07 am

viiking wrote: Yes, but did you sort it?

I'm working on it. I will report back with photos after the weekend. :D

Sun Jun 16, 2019 4:18 pm

Okay...here is my report. I have no idea how many photos I can put in one post...but here goes.

By the way....this is a '65 Beetle...I came to the 68 and up forum to request a measurement and I said I would report back to you guys when I finish. Thanks for your help and suggestions...HAPPY FATHER"S DAY!

First, I wanted my seat belts as much out of the way as possible therefore I really didn't want to use the supplied "threaded seat belt hole" in the floor that's between the front and back seats on a '65. So, I used viiking's measurement of 40mm above the heater channel and dug in!

First, I welded 7/16-20 nuts to 2" OD, thick washers (please give me a break on my welding skills...I am a novice welder and I'm 73 years old!) :D and drilled holes around the nut for puddle/spot welding.

Then I measured 40mm above the heater channel and used a 1 1/8" hole saw and cut the holes.

Checked for fit.

Secured with one Cleco and got ready to weld.

This was first time I tried puddle/spot welding. Worked out very good. After welding I took a chisel and hammer to both sides and nothing moved! :shock:

Passenger side...

Driver's side before cleaning up with wire wheel...

Finished product....

Sun Jun 16, 2019 5:42 pm

They look great!

I think I have the same belts, only in tan. The female receptacles were a bit weird. Where they attach to the tunnel, mine don’t sit flat. If I turn them to sit flat, then the receptacle part is backwards. I finally decided that it made no difference if they sat flat on the tunnel, so I went with what made the receptacles line up on the proper side.

Other than that, they work fine.

Tim

Sun Jun 16, 2019 6:11 pm

That looks excellent!
Solid too.

Nice job.

-Jeremy

Sun Jun 16, 2019 8:08 pm

Tim Donahoe wrote: They look great!

I think I have the same belts, only in tan. The female receptacles were a bit weird. Where they attach to the tunnel, mine don’t sit flat. If I turn them to sit flat, then the receptacle part is backwards. I finally decided that it made no difference if they sat flat on the tunnel, so I went with what made the receptacles line up on the proper side.

Other than that, they work fine.

Tim

Yes, they are attached to the tunnel where the original seatbelt bolts go.

Sun Jun 16, 2019 8:08 pm

jeremy.g wrote: That looks excellent!
Solid too.

Nice job.

-Jeremy

Thanks! :D