how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts?
10-01-2003, 04:19 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts?
Something I want to do down the road. The '69 has lap belts in it right now. What has to be done in order to convert it to shoulder belts? I will probably buy new belts/ retractors from ssnake-oyl, but I was wondering what hardware I would need in order to bolt up the shoulder part, and where to bolt it up. Pics would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Scott
Thanks,
Scott
10-01-2003, 04:37 PM
#2
Team Owner
Re: how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts? (Shrike)
Not a big deal at all. A little bracketry and the REAR seat belts out of a recent Camro/Firebird and you're in business.
Do a search for belts in the archiveand you should come up with lots of hits.
I'll post more later since the '69 is slightly more complicated than 70+
Do a search for belts in the archiveand you should come up with lots of hits.
I'll post more later since the '69 is slightly more complicated than 70+
10-01-2003, 06:08 PM
#3
Drifting
Member Since: Feb 2001
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Re: how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts? (Shrike)
Check with Juliano's. They have a website I think Julianos.com. I have bought 2 sets of 3pt. harness' from them. They have hardward kits that have everything you need. $190 for the set of 2.
10-01-2003, 08:55 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
Re: how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts? (R. Bruno)
There is a post by me in the archive (maybe on forvettefaq.com too) that have pictures and everything...
10-01-2003, 09:31 PM
#5
Team Owner
Re: how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts? (goofygrin)
10-01-2003, 09:38 PM
#6
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts? (Shrike)
Shrike,
I just did it.
I bought the shoulder belts (retractable) from ANDOVER RESTRAINTS for around $250 for both + bolts + shipping. They are not OEM but are fairly close. They have the correct end metal to hook onto the original belts. If you are worried about orignality then seek some originals and get them rebuilt by someone like snakeoil (or some of the guys who are supporting vendors :-) )
To bolt them in you need to look up into the rear wheel well and see where the mounting hole for the reatining bolt is filled with sealer by the factory. You need to remove this in order to bolt the seatblets in. I ended up lifting the carpet and going from the top. It it located just behind the hinge for the convertible top on th flat area above teh wheel well. I also removed some of the soundpoofing and a cut a hole in the carpet. Test fit the retractors before you glue the carpet back down. The bolts Andovers have fit excatly in the hole in the body (note that the threaded hole is part of the body and is not actually in the frame of the car).
I still have to get the pieces for the front and rear of the seats to allow the belt to slide through the seats. I can use it at the moment but it is a pain in the a.. If you leave the lap belt bolted to the shoulder you can get at it easier.
If you have any specific questions IM me and I will try and assist.
Pete
:steering:
I just did it.
I bought the shoulder belts (retractable) from ANDOVER RESTRAINTS for around $250 for both + bolts + shipping. They are not OEM but are fairly close. They have the correct end metal to hook onto the original belts. If you are worried about orignality then seek some originals and get them rebuilt by someone like snakeoil (or some of the guys who are supporting vendors :-) )
To bolt them in you need to look up into the rear wheel well and see where the mounting hole for the reatining bolt is filled with sealer by the factory. You need to remove this in order to bolt the seatblets in. I ended up lifting the carpet and going from the top. It it located just behind the hinge for the convertible top on th flat area above teh wheel well. I also removed some of the soundpoofing and a cut a hole in the carpet. Test fit the retractors before you glue the carpet back down. The bolts Andovers have fit excatly in the hole in the body (note that the threaded hole is part of the body and is not actually in the frame of the car).
I still have to get the pieces for the front and rear of the seats to allow the belt to slide through the seats. I can use it at the moment but it is a pain in the a.. If you leave the lap belt bolted to the shoulder you can get at it easier.
If you have any specific questions IM me and I will try and assist.
Pete
:steering:
10-01-2003, 10:05 PM
#7
Team Owner
Re: how hard to go from lap belts to shoulder belts? (stingry)
The catch on a '69 is the factory position of the mounting hole. The amaro belts need to have a bolt go in vertically. This is fine on the 70+ vettes. In 69, the shoulder belt retractor was mounted on the side of the wheelhouse, so the bolt goes in horizontally.
You need to do 1 of 2 things to properly mount the retractor.
1) Replace the shoulder belt mount reinforcement with a new one with the nut on top.
2) Add a stiff bracket to the factory mount, something l-shaped, to move the mounting hole to the top of the wheelhouse. So the retractor goes into the bracket with a vertical bolt and then the bracket mounts to the car with a horizontal bolt using the factory location.
You need to do 1 of 2 things to properly mount the retractor.
1) Replace the shoulder belt mount reinforcement with a new one with the nut on top.
2) Add a stiff bracket to the factory mount, something l-shaped, to move the mounting hole to the top of the wheelhouse. So the retractor goes into the bracket with a vertical bolt and then the bracket mounts to the car with a horizontal bolt using the factory location.