3 in the back?

Post by **JohnnyBifter** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:51 pm

Hi

This is my first post on the messageboard so sorry if im in the wrong category. Just got my very first Morris Minor last week and am really loving it. So much so my wife and 3 children all want a go, but the car is only fitted with 2 rear seat belts (its a 1955 split screen job).

Anyway, my question is, is there any way to fit a third seat belt in the back. I appreicate it would be a tight fit with all the car seats but I've measured up and they will fit - just need the extra belt. Anyone heard of anyone doing this?

Cheers
John

Post by **Dean** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:34 pm

I think someone on here has fitted one of those lap belts. I'm sure though if no one responds, if you give one of the main suppliers a ring they would tell you what's best.

I would have thought though as the rear seats are so easily removed it would be easy to fit a retractable centre belt.

Glad you are enjoying the moggy, can't wait to get mine on the road....

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:26 am

Do you need to fit three child seats in? If so, a lap belt won't be suitable for securing a child seat. Difficult to see how a third 'full' seatbelt could be fitted to the rear but someone here with more knowledge of fitting belts should be along soon.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:39 am

Try sending a PM to 'Justininhenley' as there are various ways to do this.

The normal rules are that if you fit 2 car seats and a 3rd does not fit in the middle then the middle child can be seated without a child seat. Bear in mind that a lap belt is 1000 times better than no belt but nowhere near as safe as a 3 point belt.

The minor is classed as a 4 seater! Therefore if you want to carry 3 kids in the back, 3 seatbelts are the only way to get a clear conscience.

Post by **Peetee** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:44 am

At the rear I have used all 3 belts from a VW Polo. The 3rd is a lap belt but there is no reason why a full 3 point harness couldn't be used.
This illustration should explain how although the style of back seat may dictate that the hole positions for the centre belts may need to be in the base of the rear bulkhead.

Post by **Steve_PFJ** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:28 pm

What year/mark polo did you remove the seatbelts from Peetee?

Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:47 pm

the final paragraph says a 1982 - 1994 vw polo..

in danger of sounding like a broken record on this one... do not get seat belts from a scrap yard.. you have no idea of what sent the car to the scrap yard or if the belts have got damp and have started to rot.. any way how much are new belts going to cost and in the event of an accident they are what is going to save you.. sorry i will now get off my horse..

Post by **Dean** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:15 pm

Charlie... for the price of a new belt I agree get new ones. Unless of course you can still get new Polo seat belts and in various colours to match your trim. Never buy old ones... why play with you and your passengers safety.

Post by **Peetee** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:49 pm

do not get seat belts from a scrap yard.. you have no idea of what sent the car to the scrap yard or if the belts have got damp and have started to rot

True up to a point. If there is any sign of structural impact or internal decay then you have to assume that the belts are unsafe. However, cars arrive in scrapyards for a number of reasons. What is becoming increasingly common is 'beyond ecomic life'. No more so than 80's VW's which can be found in large numbers in yards without any sign of physical damage. Something major goes wrong with them and it's cheaper to send it to the scrapyard and buy a new car. To not use seatbelts from such a car is wasting an opportunity. They are no less 'safe' than those in any second hand roadworthy vehicle you could buy.

Post by **Steve_PFJ** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:19 am

[quote=]"charlie_morris_minor"]the final paragraph says a 1982 - 1994 vw polo..
[quote]

Silly me

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:05 am

I have to clarify this text and illustration is my own account of fitting to my cars. It is not a professional instruction by a qualified engineer.

Post by **Sidney'61** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:43 am

Peetee, did you put anything around the edges of your slots in the parcel shelf to cover bare metal edges and reduce wear on the seatbelt?
If so what did you use?

Hope I'm making sense..

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:36 pm

Second hand brake parts are not meant to be available from scrap yards, and I wouldn't be surprised if the same applies to seatbelts. However if the parts are perfectly serviceable it's unliklely a breaker will stop you buying them.
There's many thousands of crash-repaired cars driving around with the original belts, so a non crashed scrapyard car can be a sensible source...

The same goes with child seats - after a crash the insurance company will replace the child seats - a cynical person would expect the old ones to end up on ebay.

Obviously I wouldn't advise anything other than new seat belts (and brake parts), but if people want to make a choice it's up to them.