Seat Belt Mountings

[MrIan]

I've had a good look through the posts about seat belts and was wondering where most people have the upper B post swivel part of the inertia reel belts fitted on a 2 door?
I see some are fitted under the rear side window on a bracket. So where is the approved or rather the preferred location.
My 1959 Boris Minor has been fitted with inertia reel belts but the upper swivel fitting is right at the top of the B post in the roof rail, thus the belt is drawn across your neck so very uncomfortable and also I doubt if it's safe.

Where are yours ???

[faversham999]

There are no seat belt anchor points on a 1959 Morris . if you are going to fit them its best to get the anchor points welded
properly My seat belts are in the Dustbin

[SteveClem]

I really enjoy not having seatbelts in my '61 saloon.I know it's ridiculous but so liberating and reminds me of a so much happier and 'hippier' age. I'm quite happy to gamble on the off chance of a big shunt for the sheer joy of '60's'driving. Our kids think I'm crazy but it wouldn't really bother me to be wiped out tomorrow doing what I enjoy.

[MrIan]

They're fitted already but as far as I'm concerned wrongly. Not keen on tempting fete and removing them really to be honest. Sods law n all that !!!!

[faversham999]

The ones fitted to my car were dangerous

[mike.perry]

[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[MrIan]

Are the above pictures of the morris approved method of install?
Does that hold the belt over and down across the shoulder? If so is it comfy for long journeys ?
Any more thoughts / pics ?
At the moment the majority of replies is take them out !!!

[faversham999]

no need to take them out just make sure the fitting are not dangerous mine had a fitting to the floor with large washers I just pulled them out

[MrIan]

The fittings are fine and have spreader plates fitted, it's where the upper swivel fitting is that's the problem because the belt cuts across your neck and if you turn your head to look out the window the belt is across your face !!!! I'll lower the upper mount to the rail under the side windows and try that.

[mike.perry]

Inertia belts were not fitted to Minors, only static belts which in my opinion are almost useless
The belt shown in the photos sits over the shoulder and is comfortable for a day's driving, certainly comfortable enough to drive to the national rally, wherever it is.

[Trickydicky]

How about a more simple solution such as this? https://www.puresheepskin.co.uk/sheepsk ... wwod_aYADQ
May be a tad more easy than moving the mountings?

[kevin s]

I have been thinking about this on ours, being a later one ours has the factory mountings in the sill and under the rear window but ideally the top position needs to be higher, in my opinion the A pillar is not strong enough to take the load even if you could get a bolt in it, the only safe way to do this I can think of will be to take a bar from the original mount to the roof rail and bolt it through to a spreader plate, this looks doable without the headlining in place would be more difficult on an assembled car though, the upper seat belt mounting would then be in the middle of tge nbew bar.

The other option is to find a seat with integral belts, many minibusses have these in the back as do a few cabrios.

Kevin

[philthehill]

For the inertia reel to work correctly in an emergency it needs to be kept upright and must not exceed the manufactures declared maximum inertia angle either side of vertical (see fitting instructions for details).
Note: Some inertial belts are fitted horizontal but the manufactures inertia angle must be adhered to.
Many of the inertia belt reel housings have a dowel above the main securing bolt which fits into a drilled hole in the body so retaining the reel in the correct position.
Seat belts when fitted MUST be fitted correctly otherwise they can be useless and more importantly dangerous to the occupants/users of the vehicle.

The attached link may be of use and which has a listing for Morris Minors but appears to be for fixed webbing :-

http://www.securon.co.uk/index.htm

[MrIan]

On Boris his belts are quite new and has inertia reel belts front and rear. The problem is the height of the front belts swivel fixing. With it being in the roof rail the angle it puts the belt at rubs your neck and chin, as I said earlier if your at a junction and look out the drivers door window you get the seat belt across your face !!
Ideally it needs the upper mounting lowering I'd say about 6".
I'll see what it feels like lowered to the rail under the rear side window.
maybe look at the possibility of using some kind of drop bracket on the mount to lower the fitting.

[ManyMinors]

This is the factory seatbelt mounting in the later Minor 1000 2door saloon/convertible. Basically a captive nut welded into the waistrail. It is just about adequate but I personally prefer the higher mounting in the pillar of the later 4door saloon and traveller which is much more comfortable to wear and can't fall off your shoulder.

I don't agree with the suggestion that static belts are "almost useless". Properly adjusted they work perfectly well in my car. I'd be much more concerned about older inertia reel belts which can be inclined not to lock up when you need them too.....I've had experience of this twice in older cars![frame][/frame]

[BLOWNMM]

G'day all
I have to agree with Many Minors that static belts properly adjusted are far superior. I have experienced occasions where the retractor will not lock up before a substantial amount of the belt is withdrawn from the reel. In a Minor the distance between your snot box and the dash or the steering wheel is not very far! The Australian regulations for modified vehicles (VSB 14) insists on retractable belts and not static which I would feel much more comfortable with. The pertinant point is how many rally or formula 1 cars are fitted with retractable belts!
Cheers Bob

[MarkyB]

The pertinant point is how many rally or formula 1 cars are fitted with retractable belts!

In what way is rally or formula 1 pertinant to an elderly saloon car?

[BLOWNMM]

G'day all
The non retractable seatbelts fitted to rally or F1 cars, if they are properly adjusted, are capable of restraining the occupant/s in the event of a crash infinately more securely than retractable belts in any other car, be it a modern or an elderly saloon. This is why F1, FIA or any governing body associated with motorsport competition insist on non retractable belts.
Cheers Bob

[MrIan]

Yes I recon I'll try the waistrail under the window, think that would work and look better than a reinforcement strip running up the B post to bolt to.

[philthehill]

Will any modification to the seat belt and/or securing points from that specified in the manufactures workshop manual be acceptable to the insurer of your vehicle ????????