Middle and rear seat belt install help request

[src91790]

Hello all VW enthusiasts! I recently purchased a 65 11-window bus that has no middle or rear bench belts. My kids are ecstatic about the bus but can't hop in until I install belts. Anyhow, I've read some of the threads here in forums but am still not fully grasping the concept of installing seat belts. One local said that i have to drill the holes through the floor and add some thick washers under the floor to prevent bolts from ripping out on impact. He also I could really use some "how to" help here. I currently have a 69 bay window extended middle bench and a shortened camper rear seat. How do I go about this as I have no clue?????

[flemcadiddlehopper]

Are you sure you don't have any anchor holes already? My '67 has six for the back and six for the middle. The holes that were not being used by seat belts had plastic threaded Phillips head screws threaded into them with sealer on them. I assume from the factory.
The ones on the outside edges of the rear seat can be seen in the fender well. All the centre ones have captive nuts mounted in the centre cross member for the floor.

I thought buses from '63-'67 frames and floors were the same? and mine is an 11 window.

trying to post pics but 'bleep is disagreeing with the Samba Gallery search.

Gordo.

[ccb_dan]

I'm in the same boat...can't take my 6 yr old for a ride until I get some seat belts installed. I have a '65 11 window as well and I don't see any mounting points like you mentioned hopper...can I call you "hopper" Or should we keep it formal..."flemcadiddlehopper"?

[EverettB]

For reference, 65s only have front seat attachment points.

Older thread with some links
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=397429
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[flemcadiddlehopper]

[src91790]

I do recall seeing some holes in the floor but can't be sure until I take a closer look at floor tomorrow morning. Dude at the shop told me that these buses originally didn't come with seat belt holes unless you ordered them from the factory during purchase. Anyhow, he said that I have to drill out the holes for the brackets and use proper hardware for safety precautions. If anyone has any pics of these "holes", please post them!!!

[flemcadiddlehopper]

Here are the back seat ones

Here is the centre cross member that houses the captive nuts for the centre seat belts.

Here you can see the centre two belt anchor holes.

It would be great for you if they were there.

Gordo.

[ccb_dan]

Thanks for posting those pics!

[BarryL]

It's hard to see in that picture but the rear seat belts have one anchor over each wheel-well, also. All the rear anchor points aren't just a hole but have a factory support plate spot welded behind each hole with a threaded receiver. If you just put a bolt and fender washer on a non factory application it could prove dodgy in an accident. You might acquire the factory support plates to use. If you have someone to help you, you can bolt the seat belt in place without having to weld in the plate although I'd put some kind of sealant between when tightening.

[scottvw]

I sandwiched a few big fender washers with a decent sized bolt in my bus. I didn't have the factory middle seat anchors.

[src91790]

Just checked my 65 and no holes were visible for a middle bench seat belt install. As for the rear, bus was turned into a camper and so the wood paneling makes it hard for me to see. I also went under the bus and could not find anything down there that would be associated with seat belt installations. Guess I gotta just get down there and drill. My kids are dying to get in there and cruise with me but the wife is a stickler for seat belts......I don't blame her.

[G-wood Todd]

Here is what I did to add 2 rear seat belts in my kombi. The pic does not show it but they fit with a camper bed. I used the WW seat belts. They came with bolts, nuts, lock washers and big washers. I added a few plates for extra support. Be careful and not use bolts to long as it is a tight fit behind the gas tank. I cant remember if I used the bolts with the belt kit or if I got some different length ones.

[Eric&Barb]

That is good, but you do not want that firewall panel to pop loose in a crash. VW made seat belt mounts for there in the 1970s buses and they attached to both the firewall and the panel the gas tank resides on.

Here is an image of the later bus rear seat belt mount cut out of the bus.

Should not be that hard to add the extra bolting mount, and with gas tank in place it would be out of sight.
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[Busryder]

I chose to mount mine below the tank deck... and anyone looking that close at my Westy in some random parking place, is damn suspicious.

'Function over fashion' is sometimes called for...
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[ccb_dan]

Is it right out to drill a hole through the base support bracket of the rear heater log and run bolts through that to secure seat belts to? Seems like it would be the easiest solution.

[Eric&Barb]

Problem with bolt points so low is the crash energy is going to be placed against the seat tearing it out of place...

Higher up bolt points the belts are more directly in line with the crash energy and the rear seat is not going to be put under so much strain from the belts being wrapped up around it.

VW put the later seat belt bolt points up there for a reason. To help those in the rear seat to survive a crash as well as could be done. VW could have saved much $$$ bolting lower down and not making the special seat belt brackets in front of the gas tank.
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[ccb_dan]

Thanks for the reply...that makes sense.

So for those of you that have buses without factory rear seat belt mounts, did you have to remove the gas tank or can you manage to get back there somehow without removing it?

[Eric&Barb]

Best to remove the tank.
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[ccb_dan]

Uggg, that means pulling the motor right? It won't come out with the motor in there will it?

[zozo]