79 Seat Belt Pics

[FiatSparky]

I'm in the process of installing new carpet in my 79 Spider and it was 3 months ago that I removed everything..........and now I have no idea how the seatbelts are installed. Does anyone have pics on theirs they can show so I can see? Please.......boy do I feel dumb.......

Thanks!

[azygoustoyou]

This is all I have

[vandor]

Brady,

I am pretty sure the '79 was different from '78, as it only had a retractor behind the rear seatback, whereas a '78 with shoulder belts had two retractors per side. Early '78s only had lap belts.

On the '79 the end of the belt simply bolts to the outside (rocker panel) attachment (left side of the left seat).
The only other attachment is the retractor and the female end on the tunnel side.

[FiatSparky]

I have the ones with 2 belt retractors.......what a weird set up too. As far as I can tell one main retractor (pass side) is behind the seat below the reat seat and the other (drivers side) is above the rear seat. \as for the rest of it.......I'm lost

[DocGraphics]

A-HA thanks for that pic Brady
I have a 78 & picked up a set of 78 shoulder belts w/ the retractors on both ends & couldn't figure how they would even fit. I need the side brackets! HAH! Or I'll fab some up, thank you this makes some sense now.

Mine had the retractor part attached to the rear wall thru the back seat w/ a strap coming out with nothing on the end(I assume it got cut off at one point) and the PO had lap belts installed.

I see from your pic the pass side mounts to the verticle behind that seat, & I assume the drivers side mounts to the recess in the floor under the drivers seat where the threaded attachment is. is this correct???

Sorry to jump the thread a bit but this has been a major headscratcher for me.

[DocGraphics]

Heres a quick pic of how I understand it

[dkphotog]

I have a question to add....I've searched the site and not finding many answers on seat belts for '78s. Mine looks just like the diagram posted here....only my lap belt does not move/retract and is very tight. The shoulder part moves freely - almost too freely!!! I've given it several very quick tugs to simulate a quick stop or accident and it does not stop when impact occurs. I stopped quickly today and the shoulder strap did not hold me back.

Should i get new seat belts? I don't want to die in this car.....and I'm not really sure who i can get to install these in Northern California if I do need new ones!!!???

[124JOE]

i pulled a set off a 95 lumina
mounted on the floor it goes up and over the sholder after the buckle it goes back to a solid mount.
i did this after my state required seat belts as the LAW.
the old ones were trash

if you do something like this be certin there mounted in correct orietation,if you turn it 90 degrees it wont work right.

[vandor]

>I assume the drivers side mounts to the recess in the floor under the drivers seat where the threaded attachment is. is this >correct???

Yes.

[vandor]

..only my lap belt does not move/retract and is very tight. The shoulder part moves freely - almost too freely!!! I've given it several very quick tugs to simulate a quick stop or accident and it does not stop when impact occurs. I stopped quickly today and the shoulder strap did not hold me back.

GET NEW SEATBELTS!!!

http://www.gotbelts.com or

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/resebe.html

You will have to adapt a belt with a single retractor.

Your old ones could likely be restored and re-webbed, but would likely cost a lot more than just buying new universal ones.

[dkphotog]

GET NEW SEATBELTS!!!

http://www.gotbelts.com or

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/resebe.html

You will have to adapt a belt with a single retractor.

Your old ones could likely be restored and re-webbed, but would likely cost a lot more than just buying new universal ones.

Thanks!!! I'm going to work on that ASAP - I'll check out the sites and hope I can figure out which ones will work in my car.

[dkphotog]

Well - went and looked & then I called a fiat mechanic - recommended here in Walnut Creek and they are going to look at it for me. Like you said I may have to have one retrofitted and bypass the retracting out of the seat back. We'll see what the shop recommends.

This repair is out of my league - I don't want to crash and have it not work.

This link helped:

http://www.wescoperformance.com/welr-n- ... stall.html

[124JOE]

>I assume the drivers side mounts to the recess in the floor under the drivers seat where the threaded attachment is. is this >correct???

Yes.

yes

[FiatSparky]

I got it all figured out; what a bizarre set up! Thanks to all that replied!