Seat belts in front

Billyd64 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:08 pm Post subject: Seat belts in front

The 74 Thing (Acapulco) I bought for my GF did not have any seat belts at all in it. I bought the front and rear seats from the ThingShop (that felt like Austin Powers giving an obvious plug, eh?) but they 1. did not come with the bolts and 2. I don't know where to bolt the front seat belts. I found the inner bolts holes on the trans tunnel, but do I have to bore a hole in the pan for the outer front seat holes? The pan seems rather shallow and I am loath to drill there for fear of rust, etc. Any ideas? There are the bolts where the roll cage is bolted just behind the front seats, but it seems an awkward place to bolt the seat belts. Any ideas? Thanks all. (BTW I DID a HEAVY search through the forums for this subject, only found bolt sizes which seemed to be ~ wrong, it seems...and yes I certainly agree with some other obvious pros here that we will probably end up going with minimum 3 point harness after I spend all this other money needlessly - heh Smile

)

Semper_Dad · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject:

I have standard original belts. Still feels weird wearing them compared to my Passat. I almost feel naked.

My outer seatbelts bolt through the pan about an inch behind my rollbar. You may have a different rollbar. There should be a reinforced nut/washer there. Maybe your pans were replaced at one time and the new holes never put in.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

If I had my choice I'd install 3 point retractables. That would require a redesign of the roll bar because you want the upper point to be higher and behind the occupant's shoulder.
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Billyd64 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:51 pm Post subject:

Semper_Dad · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject:

There a a lot of threads about upgrading seatbelts for the 181. 3, 4 and 5 point systems. You may want to file away this picture for future reference. Best example for a 3 point setup

Notice how the rollbar tilts back in order to get the upper mounting point higher and back than the occupant's shoulder. Very important or spinal compression injuries could occur.
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Billyd64 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject:

Ferretkona · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:13 pm Post subject:

Back 20 or 30 years ago there was a fuss about how dangerous the seat slides were in a accident. How in a rear end or rear ending someone can create enough force to overcome the cogs holding the seat in adjustment.

I only mention this as I wonder how safe a 3 or 4 point seatbelt is with original seat brackets.
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uberautowerks · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:48 am Post subject:

Let me add a word about after market retractable 3 point belts. All the sets I've seen need their retract section mounted perpendicular to the center line of the vehicle.
Otherwise the "Lock-up" mechanism won't work correctly.
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CraigInPA · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:54 am Post subject:

GI Joe · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:54 am Post subject:

I'm preparing to tackle this exact issue. I will be doing 4 pnt belts at each seat. I too feel nekkid with judt a lap belt and my lil 'uns are too big now to sit in a car seat(with harness), SO.....
Ill add a crossbar to the roll bar, behind the front seats to attach front harnesses to, and either add another cross bar in the back(low pro to not interfere with cargo) Or reinforce the cargo floor and bolt the rears straight through. Ill be sketchin my ideas today after looking closer at these areas.
A buddy turned me onto a company called Autoloc seatbelts, a Lot of colors available and Aircraft, or push button latches. Very reasonable on the wallet too.
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curtp07 · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject:

I have a rollbar installed with a non-retract shoulder harness installed (through the rollbar for the shoulder).

I have the thing bottom seats with bug high-backs.

Is it perfect? No. You do what you can to mitigate risk

Drive it as defensively as a motorcycle.

Any more and it's time for a Land Rover.

Ferretkona · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:26 pm Post subject:

Solomon Grundy · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject:

This is what I did, front and back. Works great. Wish I could have welded points on the roll cage but this should hold.

From CIP1 - on the back ones.

C45-3P-AF-PAIR - 3 POINT RETRACTABLE LAP/SHOULDER BELT W/CHROME VINTAGE STYLE BUCKLE (W/COLOR MATCHED RETRACTOR HOUSING

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C45-3P-AF-PAIR

From CIP 1 - Front ones

C16-111-707BK - RETRACTABLE 3 POINT BLACK SEAT BELT W/HARDWARE. O.E. QUALITY MADE IN THE USA

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C16-111-707BK

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citroen · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject: seat belt bolts

all seat belt bolts are american fine thread i think 7/16 fine thread thanks brother for setting me straight i know that sounds wrong but all cars that i know of have american bolt threads on the seat belts i have seat beats from a street rod shop julianos they are great for a lap belt they are retractable and the work at a angle they are comfortable and they do lock if you brake hard they come in 6 colors if you order the mount kit they come with a big plate for mounting on the pan the inner belts mount on the stock mounts and they are 39.95 each they also have 3 point s for 99.95 each you can find them at julianos.com

Ron Domeck · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:25 am Post subject:

7/16 fine tread.

yellow73kubel · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:29 am Post subject:

I have my Thing set up with the reproduction 3-point non-retractable belts in the front. When I picked up the car, they were installed with a bolt through the top bar of the roll cage. I decided that this was very unsafe, as the cage would crack in a roll over (it needs all the help it can get being supported by the wimpy pans).

I welded the holes up and made a set of triple-shear 3/16in plate brackets lower down on the vertical bar, which appears to be much safer as far as roll cage integrity and belt arrangement are concerned. One day I'd like to do some major work to the cage, which would include the addition of a crossbar for better mounting and possibly 4-point belts.

Billyd64 · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: seat belt bolts

Billyd64 · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject:

dells68 · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:51 pm Post subject:

I just bought 4 of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...MEWNX%3AIT and installed them. The quality seems great and at $45 you can't beat it Very Happy

Banker · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:23 am Post subject:

I went to the local pick and pull. I picked up seats and retractable seat belts. Price was great due to 1/2 price day Very Happy

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Billyd64 · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject:


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