Discreet reat seat belts

Post by **eastona** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:17 pm

I'm finally going to get round to fitting the rear seatbelts on my '69 four door "Maggie".

Has anyone put the inertia unit underneath the rear parcel shelf with the seat belt coming up though the parcel shelf in a slot?

I'm sure it's possible. Also there is a captive nut under the rear seat at each sill. Is this suitable for mounting from?

Also where are the two put in the middle? either side of the transmission tunnel? And have people gone for a conventional "inertia on the outside edge" approach or the "inertias in the middle" look,

So many qustions,

but I want them to be a) safe, b) unobtrusive, and I'm a bit stumped,

Andrew

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:50 pm

Has anyone put the inertia unit underneath the rear parcel shelf with the seat belt coming up though the parcel shelf in a slot?

But would it still work properly as the ones for Minors are not designed to be mounted like that.

Post by **dunketh** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:02 pm

Minor ones probably wouldn't work but you could get some from a scrappy that are similarly mounted in a modern car.
Some 'reel' kits even have an adjustable spindle control (a knob on the end with an arrow on it) that allows you to change the mounting orientation.

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:17 pm

The type ESM sell as rear inertia reel seatbelts are adjustable.

Post by **eastona** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:51 pm

yes, it's the esm ones that I have, the securon type that have the adjustable angle.

I was even thinking of mounting on the rear wheel arch in the boot and cutting the slot in the parcel shelf?

Of course I'd need to make sure the belt was big enoug.
Andrew

Post by **d_harris** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:36 pm

Peetee has done it using polo bits. Worth sending him a PM for the details?

Post by **Peetee** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:29 pm

Peetee has done it using polo bits.

Oh yes!

Polo rear seatbelts from a '83 - '94 car will do the job. You need to remove the bigger of the two plastic cover plates from the side of the reel and remove the ball bearing. The reel can then be bolted to the body panel behind the rear seat. The 90-94 Polo can also provide some neat plastic guide chanels for the parcel self slot.

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:39 pm

eastona wrote:I was even thinking of mounting on the rear wheel arch in the boot and cutting the slot in the parcel shelf?
Of course I'd need to make sure the belt was big enoug.

I think that's how they're normally fitted on Travellers (though they don't have a parcel shelf to get in the way). I've got all the bits, I just need to collect enough round tuits to fit them...

Peetee wrote:You need to remove the bigger of the two plastic cover plates from the side of the reel and remove the ball bearing.

Sounds a bit dubious to me - isn't the ball bearing an important part of the mechanism?

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:52 am

I've got a complete set from the back of a citroen AX. I wanted them for the front but the belts arent long enough.

They mount vertically at slight angles fine (i.e. inner arch fit) as do Metro and Fiesta front belts.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:44 pm

Sounds a bit dubious to me - isn't the ball bearing an important part of the mechanism?

Yes sorry how lax of me not to mention this.

I have to admit my solution appears a bit dodgy but is relevant to the car I used it in. The ballbearing is there to lock the mechanism should the car roll over. It has no influence on the inertial locking of the unit in a regular linear shunt but it stops the passenger slumping out of the seat should the car end up upside down.
I have a convertible and, god forbid that should ever happen, I would rather the rear seat occupants have the opportunity to move out of harms way than be held in place and be certain of recieving serious injury.

Post by **Peetee** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 4:38 pm

Further to my last reply (which, I suspect has put you off Andrew - sorry). You could feasably keep the ball bearing in place if you can mount the seatbelt reels perfectly vertical with an inverted V shaped bracket.