i'm going in a new direction on seat belts

[btoran]

i'm thinking of putting factory type 3 point retractable belts up front and non-retractable lap belts in the rear. no rollbar.

from what i've read, there should be factory mounting points for the rear belts under the rear seat in my 1975 spider. As my car is in the shop for an inspection, can someone pls confirm this should be the case?

for the 3 point belts up front, i'll need a more recent back seat with the cutouts for the retracable belts. what year was this option first available? also, will i find factory mounting points for the retractors somewhere on my 1975 or will i have to figure out where to put them myself? i'll also need one of the headrest guide thingies to keep the belts over the shoulders.

[seabeelt]

I know 78 had the three point. To install there you will have to weld in brackets to receive the seat belt retractor from the three point setup. Aftermarket guides are available. I believe AR has them.
R/

[westy64]

i'm thinking of putting factory type 3 point retractable belts up front and non-retractable lap belts in the rear. no rollbar.

from what i've read, there should be factory mounting points for the rear belts under the rear seat in my 1975 spider. As my car is in the shop for an inspection, can someone pls confirm this should be the case?

for the 3 point belts up front, i'll need a more recent back seat with the cutouts for the retracable belts. what year was this option first available? also, will i find factory mounting points for the retractors somewhere on my 1975 or will i have to figure out where to put them myself? i'll also need one of the headrest guide thingies to keep the belts over the shoulders.

you don't have the brackets available on your 75.
they were not yet on 76
not quite sure but I don't think the mounting brackets are available on aftermarket.
you will have to get them from a donor car.
then seats brackets are available from vendors.

[btoran]

westy - i checked last night after i picked the car up and there is nothing to mount lap belts to under the rear seat. there is also nothing to mount the front belt retractors to behind the rear seats. which of these must i get from a donor car and which from a vendor? thanks.

[johndemar]

There aren't any mounting plates behind the rear seat as you pointed out. When my kids were small I simply drilled the lap belts in using a backing plate and grade 8 bolts. Worked well keeping them in place. I'm not sure how much more protection a 3 point system would provide as we're pretty much smaller than anything else on the road.

[Wheel]

Try this link for information regarding rear seat lap belt installation.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4314

[westy64]

I will check on my car early next week what is on my car (I mean show you what actually is on my car).
I thought the holes were my harness is attached under the rear seats were factory installed as they are still with the blue original paint (the car is now burgandy), bt maybe my memory is wrong.
If you only need holes to install belts, what you need is this kind of threaded nuts and plates

http://www.bps-racing.com/contre-plaque ... m-fia.html

or

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/seatbelt ... 28/view/84

it is threaded 20 G 1/4 whitworth to receive standard safety belts.


I also have 2 at the back of each front seats, one on the tunnel side and one on the opposite.
I also have one in the middle of the rear floor pan, but it was surely added by a PO.

I have been lazy so far to go to stock rear mounting brackets as I am not comfortable with welding inside the car, without knowing what kind of fire will stard durind the welding operation (metal coat, paint, foam, etc...) plus the need to protect burnt metal with anti rust.
And the work on the back seat to cut the frame, then modify the cushions, etc...
I would probably do it if I were in a project phase with other body works.

[btoran]

Try this link for information regarding rear seat lap belt installation.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4314

Wheel and westy - thanks. the pictures from the old thread and link to the backing plate stuff is what i needed to understand what needs to be done to set up lap belts in the rear.

Does anyone have pictures of how the 3 point front belt retractors are mounted behind the rear seats on newer spiders?

[westy64]

This thread will show you what you look for

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... lt#p137450

[westy64]

I checked on my car.
removed the rear low seat
saw this on the passenge side.

then heard a metallic sound on the floor

the back plate had fallen down. A PITA to put it back, but at least I know what and were it is.
also found a central hole at the back, but only on the passenger side.


hope this help...

in fact, I guess all the rear holes have been added.

[btoran]

westy - thanks yet again. i finally get it.