3 point seatbelts in a bumper shark

[lnirenberg]

I found the OEM shoulder harnesses useless at best and frustrating always as they constantly slipped through the sash guide back to the retractor. One of this winters projects was installing a more modern setup. I got the seatbelts at:

http://store.yahoo.net/wescoperformance/seatbelts.html

I don't remember what they cost but it was relatively inexpensive. A bit of luck in that the male side fit into the OEM GM logo female buckle. The ones in the kit were let us say s***. The problem with this type of belt is that the male buckle is too large to fit through the front and back sash guides built into my coupe's seats. They did, however, fit through the seat opening with the upper trim pieces removed. A small and relatively unnoticable slot was cut in the corner of the front and back trim and the belt was slipped through this so that the trim could be reinstalled. The belt itself anchors in the same place as the OEM seat belt and the take up fits nicely under the rear compartment trim. The color contrast between the tan seatbelt material and my dark saddle seats is not as striking as it looks in the pictures as I used a bright flash on this gloomy day:

 

[Eddie 70]

Nice looking setup. I installed late model camaro seat belts in my 70 to get the 3 point. Makes one feel much safer IMO. I wish I would have went ahead and ran the belts through the seat as you did. I guess I could put this on the next winters project list.

Good job.

 

[crause]

I found a set of rear seat shoulder belts in a wrecked 2002 Camaro and the place gave them to me if I took them out. I even took the "belt guide" off of the front seats and attached them to mine. It looks great and holds the belt up. The whole thing bolted right in. If you need pictures let me know.
Andy

 

[vmrod]

Send me a pic Crause. Right now, I only have lap-belts and I would feel much safer with shoulder belts.
I'm not sure how the shoulder belts would hook up though. Since my car was not originally a convertible, I don't know where to attach them.

 

[lnirenberg]

I have no idea how anyone else looks at this but I feel a lot better with the 3 points when I'm driving with any of my kids next to me. It may be a false sense of security but I have never had a problem being delusional. Crause, can you post pictures as I'd also like to see how you did your install.

Eddie, nice ride. I saw your picture early in my CAC life and I admit it was the look of the TTIIs on your car that sent me to the wheel store. They look awesome against black. Also, nice choice of tranie. This is the best mod I made on my car as I do a lot of 1 hr+ highway runs and 75mph @ 2100rpm makes it a whole different car (not to mention 90@2500). 1st gear with my stock 3.36 rear is a much appreciated bonus.

 

[crause]

I will take some pics of the belts and post them as soon as I can.

Andy

 

[wrc3]

Hey I installed the camaro belts in mine as well, but I am kind of concerned about the safety factor. Normally with modern belts if you move them forward slowly they will go, but if you give them a quick jerk with your hand they will catch. My Camaro belts don't catch at all.

Am I missing something?

 

[Tritium007]

Don't know exactly how they work, but I believe there is supposed to be a floating piece of metal in the retractor that moves forward (carried by inertia during sudden stops) to engage the retractor lock and prevent it from moving out any farther. It may just be stuck and need to be percussion calibrated.

Mike

 

[lnirenberg]

The belts I used are very sensitive and catch easily.

 

[wrc3]

The belts I used are very sensitive and catch easily.

Ya maybe I will go the WestCo route. I am kind of waiting for some Camaro users to chime in to see if they have had the same performance.

B

 

[L48]

I am kind of waiting for some Camaro users to chime in to see if they have had the same performance.

On my 95 Camaro you can pull the belt as hard as you can and it will not lock up. Try it when going on a bumpy road.

 

[wrc3]

Ya I am still a bit concerned. I just installed my driver's side Corbeau A4 last night and with it leaned back it seems to kind of pinch against the arrestor/retractor that sits on the back wheel well. Not like I plan on getting in an accident, but you just want to be safe...

 

[80convertible]

I test fitted the 96 Trans Am rear seat belts into my convertible and it appears to be working correctly. I won't have any rear world experience until the C5 seats get installed.

If the retractor lock is not working as it should, you may want to experiement with the angle of the retractor relative to the mounting position. It has to be perfectly flat to work correctly. Perhaps the carpeting is causing the retractor to sit at an angle. If I hold my retractor in my hand and try to pull on the belt, the lock engages and the belt will not pull out. Try this and see if the lock is engaging. If it's not locking then possibly a defective retractor lock.