Fitting seatbelts to a '68 Traveller

Post by **TJW446F** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:07 pm

Hi, I've just got securon inertia front/rear seatbelts for Henrietta. Can anyone who has fitted these tell me exactly where/how they should be anchored? Can the front belts be fitted using the existing anchor points?

Cheers!

PS How does everyone put those pictures in their signature?!

Post by **simmitc** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:03 pm

The front top fixing is standard, through the wood on the B-post. You will need a long bolt and a spacer so that you get sufficient thread into the mounting and also do it up tight whilst allowing the attachment to swivel - you should not compress the wood at all. The lower fitting (the reel itself) might be able to mount to the sill fixing, but must be vertically under the top fixing. It may be necessary to use an angle bracket bolted through the floor pan to get this alignment correct. If so, re-inforce the floor pan. The buckle assembly mounts to the tunnel, forward of where the handbrake cable goes through. Exact positioning will depend on the length of the buckle, your size, the seat position etc. Again, use reinforcement. In all cases consult the instructions from the supplier.

Post by **TJW446F** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:50 am

Thanks for the tips, any ideas on the positioning of the rear belts?

Post by **JimK** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:29 pm

simmitc wrote:The lower fitting (the reel itself) might be able to mount to the sill fixing, but must be vertically under the top fixing.

Why is this? Reels are available with adjustable orientation, so is it to keep loadings in line with the B-post?

Thanks for the tips, any ideas on the positioning of the rear belts?

I can't remember where the buckle and end fixings are, but the reel is attached to the wheelarch, with a auitable strengthening playte underneath. Once fitted you adjust a couple of dials to tell the reel which way is up.

Our belts came from Securon and were fitted by the garage we bought the car from.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:38 pm

Any chance you could post some pictures of how your rear seatbelts are fitted, Jim? Do they look like the same type ESM sell?

Post by **JimK** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:54 pm

Those ESM ones look like they could be the ones I have. It's hard to tell from the picture, but I think I can see the bit to adjust the reel orientation. I've just looked but I can't a Securon product number on ours.

I'll grab some pics when I have both camera and daylight...

Post by **TJW446F** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:56 pm

Thanks for helping out, I bought the ESM securon belts...

Post by **JimK** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:31 am

Promised photos:

The reel is bolted to the wheelarch, with a plate underneath:

Closeup, showing the adjustment for the reel's orientation:

Where the other ends are attached. One to the front of the wheelarch, and the buckle to the floor. Again, there are plates to reinforce the sheet around the boltholes.

I hope that's useful. I'd recommend getting the belts with adjustable orientation, as fitting the reel is easier. I'm getting some like that for the saloon.

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:38 am

Thanks for that. Are they comfortable for an adult, and do you think you could attach a child seat to them? (not that I have a child to carry in the back of my car yet but you never know ;) )

Also, can you still fold the back seat down without them getting in the way?

Post by **JimK** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:11 am

I haven't sat in the back myself, but I could see that the shoulder belt would be better anchored a bit higher. I wondered about attaching a shoulder loop to a metal bar running vertically between the top and middle rails?

As for the car seat, that's all that's been in there. I can't remember what "stage" the carseat is, but he's three now and has been in the same seat since he was 11 months. When attaching the carseat I push it down into the seat base, so that when he sits in it the belt doesn't loosen. I'm totally happy with the security of his seat.

Post by **TJW446F** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:51 pm

Thanks very much for the pics, that's a big help. The reinforcing plates you refer to, are they welded to the body?

Post by **JimK** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:28 pm

Not welded, just flat plates to spread the load, with a captive nut. They're about 3 inches square, I think.

Post by **Mike Shipman** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:21 pm

Hi, I had the same arrangement for rear seatbelts in my previous '58 Traveller. The extra plates were held in place by the nut / bolt and seemed very secure. I fitted a plain pair of chrome D shape cabinet handles over the belts on the top of the seat to stop them sliding off. They looked OK and worked well.

The belts were fine for kids in the back (who didnt need car seats btw) as their shoulder height was below the top of the seat back, but it was uncomfortable for adults whose shoulder height was above the seat back, they tended to get pulled down into the seat.
Ive not yet got round to fitting rearseatbelts in Benny, but will go with the same arrangement - adults dont often travel in the back....
Regatds, Mike.

Post by **TJW446F** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:34 pm

Thanks everyone, hope to get on with it this weekend!

Post by **TJW446F** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:32 am

Not welded, just flat plates to spread the load, with a captive nut. They're about 3 inches square, I think.

Daft question - can you buy these or are they made specially?

Post by **Welung666** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:00 am

Available from all the specialists.

Post by **TJW446F** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:29 pm

Brilliant! If the weather warms up now I can get started!! Many thanks.

Post by **TJW446F** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:00 pm

Hurray! Seatbelts fitted on Sunday, thanks everyone.