Finally! Retractable seat belts!

[rico_vancouver]

Hi all,

Long time member, but haven't done much with the car in many years except drive it. Thinking about making it a full-time, secondary car (as opposed to weekend/sunny day driver), so have started a long list of niggly things that I haven't done in 15 years of ownership.

Recently, I ordered some universal retractable seat belts; I saw a lot of posts on this topic, so thought I'd show/describe what I did. I had some static 3-point converted seatbelts - the original owner took the Hickok clasps, and put different belts on to make 3-pointers. My wife hated them, so they made the top of the list.

I mounted the spool in the spot where the belts were currently mounted, and therefore needed to buy "belt-movement" ones so they would operate in any orientation. Most belts mount with the spool's axis pointing front/back, and can use either belt-movement or car-movement mechanisms. I was able to use another hole that had a plastic plug to mount the other end of that belt. I attached the "pillar loop" to the same spot where the 3-point shoulder belt was already bolted. The one thing I did do, is "flip" the pillar loop around so that the belt is fed a little higher up... normally the pillar loop "hangs" from the bolt, so with it pointing up instead, the belt is close to the top of the seat and easier to reach. To flip the loop, I had to pull out and remove the entire length of belt from the spool (making sure to retain the spring tension), remove the pillar loop, turn it around, then slide it back on. Then re-attach the belt to the spool. I also shortened the receiver end from 16" down to 10"; before I sewed the belts back together, I also flipped the mounting bracket so the angle was correct. Lastly, in order to make it easier to grab the belt, I used the belt slack adjusters that came with my belts to stop the belt from retracting all the way into the spool each time. By leaving them loose on the seat, they are much easier to buckle than having to reach over your shoulder each time.

BTW, I still have the original Hickok hardware if anyone is looking to go back to original-style lap belts.
Hope this was useful.

[rico_vancouver]

a few more pics...

[Harry]

Great job.  I have a 1966 230SL with the original lap belts and honestly, after all these years with the shoulder harness in newer vehicles, I don't feel quite as safe with the lap only arrangement.  So your post is very helpful.  I do have a couple of questions.  Where did you find the replacement belts, and was the pillar hardpoint already there?  My car does not currently have a location that is ready to accept the loop behind your shoulder.  I need to look again to see what might be utilized but I was curious about what you found.  Your car doesn't have the headrests either so I was assuming that it originally came with only lapbelts?

[rico_vancouver]

Hi Harry,

Mine had lap belts originally, but the owner had switched to static 3-point ones at some point, so the hole was there in the pillar. Maybe the hole is there, just under the vinyl? I ordered my belts off eBay.

Just a minor note: with the spools sitting behind the seat, you can no longer push the seat all the way back on the rails. Not an issue for me, as I'm only around 5'10". But might be an issue if you are taller.

Rich

[Harry]

I'll check this evening for available mount points.  And I wondered about the spool reducing the seat travel.  I'll have to consider that as well.  Thanks very much.