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Seat Belts . . . again.

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OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#837538
Hi everybody.

I want to fit inertia reel seat belts to my 1967 Aussie Built Type 1.

Mine has only got front seat belts at the moment, but they consist of only the sash part (over the chest), not the lap part! Might as well not have them in my opinion. 🤪

I've seen that some models come with the bottom mounting already there from the factory, and I haven't had the time to have a look, and frankly I don't want to pull off the trim just in case I ruin it - and only to find nothing there.

Would any of you know if my model comes with the mounting or not?

Chassis built between December 1966 and July 1967 (if that helps).

Thanks in anticipation.

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#837548
not on the 2 i have

OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#837552
Ahh crap! 😬

Er . . . thanks hellbugged. 🙂

Do you have belts fitted, if so do you reckon you could throw up some piccies or at least a quick explanation of how you fitted them?

Thanks again.

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#837558
Hi

My 1st bug was 63 austerity model, it had the lower bolt for the lap part. Try having a poke around with a pin.

Steve

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#837560
1303Steve wrote:Hi

My 1st bug was 63 austerity model, it had the lower bolt for the lap part. Try having a poke around with a pin.

Steve
where?......the b pillar?........heater channel?....floor pan?

OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#837567
Hey hellbugged

Thanks for the reply and info. 😀

To be clear: As I don't have the hole at the base of the B pillar, (I have yet to check - but believe you) 😁 I should get the plates from ebay (your first link), then once they are welded in place I can attach either one of the other brackets (whichever suits) listed in the other two links?

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#837574
Thank you for the link hellbugged,just goes to show you should learn something every day or it is wasted.You are also right about the sash mounts and no floor point on the 67 . Cheers Les

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#837617
I have fitted retractable belts my karman convertable and used a square plate under the floor pan with a angle bracket made of 50mm x 50mm x 5 angle to carry the reel, this has no offset as shown in some of the links so the load is a direct pull through the floor, the plates with the capsulated nuts should not be used as they have square corners and would pull through the floor under load, they should have as radius of at least 12mm so they do not tear the sheet metal , the engineer i used was quite specific when mounting the belts and have used him also to fit harnesses to my other beetle

OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#837634
Thanks for your comments vwo60.
I'm guessing that the same problems DO NOT arise when these plates are welded to the base of the 'B' pillar?

Thanks also to hellbugged. I'd like to see some piccies of your setup, I'm sure they'll be helpful.
Also thanks for the links to seat bellt sites, but I already bought a set through George at Classic Vee Dub. Just had another look in the box, and they come with the same brackets in your first CIP1 link above.

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#837648
shit hey might have to grind off the corners on those plates.........so i can join the perfect world too 🤘

if you want to go down the engineered route, you will find the top (shoulder) location in the body will need plating too.......that's what my engineer has indicated

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#837671
Drill hole the correct size through the flat part of the floor next to the B pillar, the plate goes under the floor and use a 7/16" UNF grade 8 bolt bolt to secure the angle bracket to the floor, i would not advise you to weld the bracket to the B pillar as i do not think that it would be approved as it is not a factory weld and will require a lot more work to install anyway, you then can mount the reel part of the belt and the other end of the belt to the angle bracket, i have installed the belts in my cab but do not have any photos and are totally different to your fitment, i checked on my early car and this set will work perfectly without ant welding. sorry to disagree with you hellbugged but if the top mount is factory you will not need to engineer it and it will need to be engineered as per the vehicle code.

smithy68 Wolfsburg Wizard

419 posts · joined Oct 2010 ·

#837675
I know this is not about the original post (I apoligise), but how and where do people fit anchor points for kiddy seat in the back of the beetles?

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#837691
smithy68 wrote:I know this is not about the original post (I apoligise), but how and where do people fit anchor points for kiddy seat in the back of the beetles?
oh bloody hell!.........you will have to see an approved licensed child restraint fitter for the correct way to go about that

hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#837694
vwo60 wrote:Drill hole the correct size through the flat part of the floor next to the B pillar, the plate goes under the floor and use a 7/16" UNF grade 8 bolt bolt to secure the angle bracket to the floor, i would not advise you to weld the bracket to the B pillar as i do not think that it would be approved as it is not a factory weld and will require a lot more work to install anyway, you then can mount the reel part of the belt and the other end of the belt to the angle bracket, i have installed the belts in my cab but do not have any photos and are totally different to your fitment, i checked on my early car and this set will work perfectly without ant welding. sorry to disagree with you hellbugged but if the top mount is factory you will not need to engineer it and it will need to be engineered as per the vehicle code.
all good

The top mount is only for sash belts.....so was told it would need strengthening modifications.......just goes to show even engineers opinions and approvals vary. there is an older thread on here somewhere of this being completed for proper approval (in NSW)

would love to see this car of yours, sounds really nice and well done...are there any pics of it here yet

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#837711
hellbugged wrote:
1303Steve wrote:Hi

My 1st bug was 63 austerity model, it had the lower bolt for the lap part. Try having a poke around with a pin.

Steve
where?......the b pillar?........heater channel?....floor pan?
Sorry it was 40 years ago I when I owned this bug, I cant remember where it was mounted

OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#837735
Hey guys, let's not argue over this stuff. I don't want to start a war.

I don't want to penny pinch either, and it's better to be safe - so I'll get a local engineer to check it out and give me advice.

So vwo60, if I'm reading your explanation correctly, I won't have to weld at all? Just drill a hole the right size and bolt the thing in? Wouldn't welding the plate too be safer?

I really do appreciate your help and advice, as that's what the Vee Dub World is all about after all (IMHO).

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe

smithy68 Wolfsburg Wizard

419 posts · joined Oct 2010 ·

#837758
oh bloody hell!.........you will have to see an approved licensed child restraint fitter for the correct way to go about that [/quote]

Emmmm? Interesting response!

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#837784
1303Steve wrote:
hellbugged wrote:
1303Steve wrote:Hi

My 1st bug was 63 austerity model, it had the lower bolt for the lap part. Try having a poke around with a pin.

Steve
where?......the b pillar?........heater channel?....floor pan?
Sorry it was 40 years ago I when I owned this bug, I cant remember where it was mounted
Steve I must be as old as you as I can remember those early lower mounting points,I think they were a mongrel size and took the normal 7/16 bolt inside them as there was only a lap belt at that time,but as you say that was 40 years ago. Cheers les

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#837790
Hi Grumble

I'm old, in VW years I'm an Oval with click clack doors and heart shapes.

Steve

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#837834
Yep you are around my vintage!🙅😂

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#837836
grumble can i ask how did the dinosaurs die out since you where there after all???
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#837946
I have had a look at the vehicle regs for Queensland,
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/0cfd9741-715c-40ff-9806-f0a1223af8ef/codeofpracticelightvehiclesreductionspart5.pdf
and the requirement for the renforcement plate under the floor is 3750 square MM, i used a 50mm x 75MM x 3MM plate, 50MM x 50MM x 5MM angle for the bracket that you bolt the reel and belt end to,i use Richard Larsen at Load Safe Engineering - PH 38511066, he is a automotive engineer and not a fitting station, he will tell you the correct requirements and after you fit them will sign of on them, he has done all the mods on both of my cars and does not charge the earth.

OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#838066
Thanks vwo60.

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe

OldTimer Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#838258
Hi Kev,

Yes indeed, very helpful, thanks.

Now get back into that garage and finish that orange beastie! 😵‍💫

Old Timer
air is cool, but air-cooled is cooler!
1967 Aussie Built Type 1 1915 Deluxe