Author Topic: Retractable seat belts (Read 17703 times)

jeffc280sl · « **on:** March 14, 2006, 09:01:53 »

While welding in new floor pans I decided to make provisions for retractable seat belts. I welded a nut for one of the seat belt bolts on the rear side of frame section inside the parcel shelf area. Saying it another way the new seat belt nut is located on the opposite side of the frame from the factory location behind the seats. I bolted the retract mechanism under the rear shelf on that side of the frame so as not to take up leg room for the seat. I reused the other factory seat belt fittings to secure the remaining mountings for the seat belts. I like the Kangol fittings so I used them. One day I'll get around to coloring the black plastic fittings to match the interior.

I also decided now was a good time to do this upgrade because I'm also installing new carpet. I need to cut a slit in the rear shelf so the seat belt can retract freely on to the spool.

Took a ride last night and the belt fits well. It's nice to have some freedom in the cockpit to move around some without being restricted by the belt.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

rwmastel · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:07:48 »

Jeff,
How much more difficult would this be to do on a car as a stand-alone project? That is, a car not getting new floor pans and carpet.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:23:44 »

Rodd,
Very well timed question.
I ordered rectractable belts for my 230 last week.

Jeff,
Any pictures of the reel mounting?

Thanks

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

jeffc280sl · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:28:25 »

Hi Rodd,

All one needs is a welder. Other than that it's an easy job. If I were to do it again I would cut a 1/2 hole in a 2in by 2in piece of steel. I would then weld the nut to this piece of steel. Next drill a 3/4 inch hole on the backside of the frame and weld the 2x2 steel/nut to the frame over the hole.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

jeffc280sl · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:30:36 »

Naj,

I'll send you the pics off line. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I can not post pics on this site.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

rwmastel · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2006, 22:41:57 »

Here are the pics sent by Jeff:

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

66andBlue · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2006, 22:50:53 »

Naj and Rodd,
In an earlier thread,
http://sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=2046
Tom (pagode.info) posted 2 pictures showing the location of the 3rd attachment point under the parcel shelf. His sets come with all the hardware and no welding is required but, of course, one could also weld the nut for the hook as described by Jeff.
Here is another pictures that he sent me showing the hook/bolt without the reel/retractor:
Download Attachment:

Belt_Installation.jpg
73.78 KB

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

psmith · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2006, 01:45:36 »

Jeff,

Where did you get the retractable hardware, is that standard for a 280 or aftermarket? I also like the kangol belts and would like to add your setup to my '67 230.

Pete S.

Ed Cave · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2006, 05:22:27 »

On my project we used a MB retractable set for a 560SL. Figured a little newer technology when it comes to seat belt functionality was probably a good idea and they look essentially the same as older inertia sets. Try to get the ones with the really short stem on the receivers. I've seen some that stick up really tall and IMO, don't look very good.

Download Attachment:

Belt-receivers.jpg
41.21 KB

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1971 280SL
1973 911S
2004 A4 3.0
2006 GS430

jeffc280sl · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:13:14 »

The belts I used came from a reletively new wrecked Chrysler I found in a junk yard. Nothing special about them other than the color which closely matches my seats. They were of sufficient length that I could cut the ends off and have the Kangol fittings sewn in. The upper bracket also came from the same car.

I looked at the retrofit kit pics posted by Alfred. In this application the seat belt brackets are bolted to the floor pan. I estimate the floor steel to be about 1/2 the thickness of the frame. For those that have access to a welder I recommend welding the seat belt brackets to the frame.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

Khurram Darugar · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2006, 08:50:51 »

Hey Jeff,
Looks like your motor is coming along very nicely ......
I saw these the other day, some stickers that may come in handy.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-230SL-250SL-280SL-280SE-SEATBELT-LOGOS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80736QQitemZ4620688361QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Kay

Kay
Euro 280sl LHD Auto.

jeffc280sl · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2006, 09:08:20 »

Thanks Kay,

I need some of those!

Jeff

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

psmith · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2006, 22:51:32 »

Hi Jeff,

A few more questions about your belt setup. What did use at the top bracket behind the seat, was that also from the doner? Also, was it difficult to get the belt to angle in two directions at the kangol buckle? Mine looks like it would only work as a lap belt. Thanks.

Pete S.

jeffc280sl · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2006, 06:27:54 »

Hi Pete,

The top bracket also came from the donor car. I noticed someone else used the same style bracket. I had to trun it over to get the alignment correct. The bracket was made for a vertical post installation. Our post is at an angle.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

66andBlue · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2006, 21:35:17 »

During the process of removing the old carpets and aftermarket lap seatbelts I noticed to my big surprise a factory-installed nut in the crossmember that looks like an attachment point for a seatbelt. The nut has the same thread as the (ugly) ring bolted through the floor panel.
I have searched the forum for pictures of seatbelt installations but could not find any that refernced this. Not even Tom Koellner's pictures mentioned in my previous message show this.
Are there any cars out there with seatbelts attached to this point?
It looks like this:

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

n/a · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2006, 23:10:24 »

I believe this is an original mounting location for the lap/shoulder belt made by Kangol (non-retractable). My car had retractable later model belts which utilized this nut and interfered with rear seat travel, hence the origin of this thread.

n/a · « **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2006, 23:12:33 »

I believe this is an original mounting location for the lap/shoulder belt made by Kangol (non-retractable). My car had retractable later model belts which utilized this nut and interfered with rear seat travel, hence the origin of this thread.

Raymond · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2006, 15:36:34 »

My car had a non-retractable shoulder belt attached at this point. I bolted in an aftermarket retractable set. Yes, it restricts seat travel, but I'm only 5'11" and it is perfect for me. Here's a photo looking down on the floor behind the driver's seat. US quarter for size reference.

My car is a coupe, so there is a back seat instead of a parcel shelf and there is no top well in which to conceal the reel. The advantage is it took me a half hour to install both belts.

Download Attachment:

Beltretr.JPG
81.79 KB

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

n/a · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2006, 04:25:30 »

I want to have retractable seat belts in my pagode 280 sl from 1971 which has a third childseat at the rear of the passengersseat
Has anyone fixed this?
What are the problems with the third child seat?
All suggestions are welcome.

Marien

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Author Topic: Retractable seat belts (Read 17703 times)

jeffc280sl

jeffc280sl

jeffc280sl

psmith

Ed Cave

jeffc280sl

Khurram Darugar

jeffc280sl

psmith

jeffc280sl

n/a

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