Retractable seatbelt bracket

[Batan]

I'm planning on getting a pair of retractable seat belts. A friend of mine can cut and drill a pair of brackets for me. However, I don't have the seat belts yet and I don't know what dimensions angle iron comes in. I was wondering if somebody would be kind enough to give me the dimensions so I can get them made even before I get the seat belts?
Here's a sketch...

Thanks a bunch!
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'69 Riviera Bay
'03 20th Anniversary GTI
'74 Super Beetle
Badzak Creative – Still and Motion Pictures

[Krautski]

Steel angle comes in a huge variety of sizes.

In inches:

1x1
1x2
1x3
1x4
2x2
2x3
2x4
etc etc etc

Can't recall off the top of my head if it applies to steel, but in Alu it also comes in architectural or structural configurations. Architectural doesn't have a fillet type web, so definitely spec structural when you're looking. Kind of a no brainer but in case you didn't know, there it is.

I'd use at least 3/16-1/4" wall steel for seatbelt brackets. Overkill is good here.

I'll get you some dims on mine.
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BUS FOR SALE

[Krautski]

[Krautski]

For reference's sake...

Architectural angle:

Structural angle:

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BUS FOR SALE

[chabanais]

I bought mine from GoWesty already done just bolt in.
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"I spud therefore I yam."

[skid]

The ones I got from Cip1 had a bracket included with them. I can take a picture for you, I can't do any dimension thingies though. Something about me and numbers just don't work.

Oh wait, I don't' think they were included I think I had to buy them separately. But whatever, you get the idea.
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'71 Westfalia

[aeromech]

Done use a bracket and just bolt the seat belt reel to the riser behind the front seats.
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Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[kombicol]

Retractables were stock on bay windows in Australia from about 72 on...but the US busses had a higher level of trim.

[hansie]

Use a set of seat belts from a older Jetta. Use bracket that the stock belt is attached to . The one behind the seat next to the door. Cut the belt off the bracket,bolt the Jetta rewind to it . The housing has to be pointing up to work. There is a bracket to mount the sholder part in the stock spot. I have the set up in both my buses.
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Karl Bower

[Batan]

Thanks a lot guys!
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'69 Riviera Bay
'03 20th Anniversary GTI
'74 Super Beetle
Badzak Creative – Still and Motion Pictures

[MrBreeze]

[LeeE]

I bought a set of Vanagon retractable belts, and used brackets & bolts from here. Good quality, good price.

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/boltkit.html
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1978 Westfalia stock 2.0 FI
Welcome to the Okeedokee Swamp

[Alex6373]

Here's a photo of the bracket and the install i did today hopes this helps others to get an idea whats needed to do this great upgrade to your bus!

I kept the bolts when I took the belts out of the 91 Jetta and as seen here in this photo the longer bolt is installed with the plastic washers and i also got come caps for the bolt heads.

[Desertbusman]

Wait until you get the belts. Brackets depend on what type of belts you have. Location can be very critical. Some will just barely fit in the area.

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71 Superbug
71 Westy

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

[BusterBrown]

Just finished installing retractable seat belts in my '78 Westy, and thought I'd share the results. They are FANTASTIC!!!

Went to a German car salvage yard and bought and easily removed some decent looking belts from a 1991 Vanagon. Looked around in my junk piles for scrap steel I might use for a "L" bracket to bolt into the base mount next to the front seats. Found some old gate hinges that looked like they would provide the stout steel stock I needed, and started cutting and drilling:

Here's where you will do it differently; that bottom hole that is used to bolt the bracket to the floor will need to be 1/2" to the right of center on one, and to the left of center on the other. I had to go back and cut some more metal out from these to allow the bracket (and therefore the retractable belt housing) to move slightly towards the seat; otherwise the door wouldn't quite shut.

The above photo is so you can see the bracket and belt housing together. The bracket and belt housing will be facing the front when finished, with the steel tab at the end of the belt NOT in the housing installed between the bracket and the housing.

Brackets painted before final install.

Photo taken from behind passenger seat. When looking at this photo (above), one might ask "Why not just use that wedge shape green metal tab that is already part of the bus's seat pedestal?" Well, some people have, and have submitted their results in various threads on this subject. But in my opinion this approach does not provide nearly as solid and secure a solution for mounting as does using the original threaded mounting location. The way I'm describing here is extremely solid! If, heaven forbid, you ever have a collision and need those belts to really hold, you don't want the thinner metal to just tear out from the forces involved, and not hold you and your passenger in your seats!

Now on to the door pillar mounting bolt (above).

OK. Now the above photo shows the original bolt (bottom), and the new (replacement) bolt needed above it. The nut added onto the new bolt keeps it from tightening in beyond a certain point. You need to enable the shoulder belt strap guide to swivel on the bolt as it is used; not locked in one position. The new bolt extends the belt guide out beyond the door pillar welting (shown in the photo below as the white plastic edge covering that is behind the black swivel guide bolt cover). Without a longer bolt, the belt guide will bump into the welting, and not be able to swivel towards the front when you pull the belt to extend it to use. When you go to install your own belts, all this will make a lot more sense. The first thing you have to do is get your hands on some Vanagon retractable belts, and make some brackets to accommodate them.

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1978 Sage Green Westfalia (Happy Trails, SOLD)
1977 Transporter

Life is short. Can I have some of yours?

[Tri-Bus]

[germansupplyscott]

[MalibuLX3]

[BusterBrown]