I need some opinions/advice. When I disassembled my 73 coupe five years ago the seatbelt retractors under the seats were frozen with corrosion and crud. The plastic covers were installed.

I decided that I would like to convert the belt system to a single retractor over the shoulder to eliminate the under seat retractor and simplify the system in general. I ordered a kit to do this. The single retractor mounts where the shoulder harness retractor did before. The belt goes from the retractor through a guide on the seatback and down through the guide and bolts under the seat.

Well, its interior reinstallation time and I was about to put the black plastic covers on under the seats. They have two screws in the inner rocker area, the outer rear seat mounting bolt goes through and there are three additional screws into the floor.

So I'm trying to figure out how to fit these things and locate all the holes, and it dawned on me that these covers are to protect the under seat retractors which I no longer have. All I have down there is a belt end bolted through the floor.

I'm thinking of just leaving the covers off and am wondering if I'm missing something or could I do this. I think it would be easy to clean down in that well where the belt is bolted down and sure would be easier not having to locate those holes.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Thanks
Mark Potter

 

I don't have shoulder belts so can't advise on your installation but if you decide not to use the covers I would be interested in purchasing them from you. PM me if interested.

 

I think I should keep them in case I need to go back to the original installation.

 

Even though I think the covers were mainly there to protect the retractors, you may still want to use them. The covers may also protect the belt webbing from premature wear and damage, do to rubbing on the seat tracks and/or seat frame.

At minimum, I would reuse the metal belt guides, that bolted to the sills, as a safety measure to keep the belts clear of the tracks and seat frame.

The image below shows the covers and guides (#5). This image is from the 74 Assembly Manual, but 73's use the same covers and guides.

 

I don't blame you , they are hard to find.

 

I'm using the guide bars, you almost have to in order to keep the belt positioned correctly and as you said to keep it from wearing on the seat track/bottom.