Seat belts again....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Seat belts again....
Doing a '74 conversion from dual retractors to single retractor 4th gen belts. I've searched the archives and can't find any reference to the mounting bolts for the seat end of the retrofit. The '74 uses an under seat bolt with a guide to bring them around the outside of the seat. Where my '78 uses a mounting bolt that goes into the rocker channel on the outside of the seat. I prefer to not use the underseat bolt. One of the forum members that had some great pictures posted on AOL Hometown were deleted when AOL dropped Hometown.
All of the posts I find are on the retractor end over the rear wheel well. I understand how to do that end.
So, my question is what is the best method to accomplish this? Do I add the nutplate on the rocker? Body is off and that can be done if necessary.
Blain
All of the posts I find are on the retractor end over the rear wheel well. I understand how to do that end.
So, my question is what is the best method to accomplish this? Do I add the nutplate on the rocker? Body is off and that can be done if necessary.
Blain
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,558
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
I used the original under seat bolt but I had to drill the hole in that end bigger because the bolt has a thick collar. PG.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Hey Redwing.
Couple of questions in case I end up using the guide bar;
Do you put the belt on top of the carpet or under?
If you don't use the plastic cover, how does the moulded carpet lay?
Would it be better to order carpet for a later year that did not use the under seat retractor?
Thought I saw pictures of an early 70's with the anchor into the rocker channel. I may just need to leave it un-violated.
Blain
Couple of questions in case I end up using the guide bar;
Do you put the belt on top of the carpet or under?
If you don't use the plastic cover, how does the moulded carpet lay?
Would it be better to order carpet for a later year that did not use the under seat retractor?
Thought I saw pictures of an early 70's with the anchor into the rocker channel. I may just need to leave it un-violated.
Blain
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Hijack warning!
Is this a cheaper route than the replacement belts for the C3? I have a 72 that needs new belts and a 73 that needs new belts. Both had the dual retractor shoulder and lap belts.
Sorry for the hijack, but I wanted to get in on the thread in case there are some good links posted here!
Sorry for the hijack, but I wanted to get in on the thread in case there are some good links posted here!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
Is this a cheaper route than the replacement belts for the C3? I have a 72 that needs new belts and a 73 that needs new belts. Both had the dual retractor shoulder and lap belts.
Sorry for the hijack, but I wanted to get in on the thread in case there are some good links posted here!
Sorry for the hijack, but I wanted to get in on the thread in case there are some good links posted here!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
I made a mistake shown in this pic. The belts are inside the guide rods. That was corrected.
Last edited by Paul L; Aug 27, 2009 at 02:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Checked out the gen 4 (or are they 3?) They do spool up far enough to anchor at the rocker. But I'm thinking I may be chasing a non-issue. Maybe just route them like the factory intended. Another one of those "Do I violate it or not" episodes.
BTW, got mine on Ebay for, I think $70. Nice charcoal set.
Blain
BTW, got mine on Ebay for, I think $70. Nice charcoal set.
Blain
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 4
From: Lewisville TX
I put a set from a Firebird in my '75. I had to widen the hole so I could bolt it using the original bolt. The only other mod I had to make was to raise the rear retractor at an angle so it would lock like it should. Bolting it flat kept the locking mechanism from working. I went cheap, and cut a piece of PVC pipe angled to mimic the Firebird angle. Now they work fine. $25.00 for a set (and I found a set in a Green Firebird that closely matched my Med saddle interior). And I ran the floor connector through the guide bar. I slit the carpet using a soldering Iron so the carpet edges are melted, instead of cut (keeps the carpet from running). Mine doesn't have the plastic covers (previous owner really butchered her up). So far I haven't had a problem without them. I left the original covers for the rear retractors off. Sometime when the weather cools off here in Texas, I might see if I can adapt them to fit over the Firebird retractors.
Last edited by sfallison; Aug 28, 2009 at 10:16 AM.