Seat belts Replacment for 74 Comet

Has anyone taken out the factory seat belt units like below, removed them and use a replacement lap belt system like from andover? I have new carpet and was thinking that would be a good time to change out the belts also.

 

I'm using some similar to the Andover belts in my '77. The old, factory plastic casings can hid with carpet. I haven't put it together yet, but I don't foresee any problems.

 

What color are your plastic housings? Hard to tell, looks like it might be medium blue or black. IF it is blue and you decide to replace them, I would be interested in buying your take outs.

Thanks!

rk

 

My 74 Mav has a much larger mount at the bottom just inside the door, maybe 14" long, with a crappy plastic/fiberboard cover. Did the comet come with small covers for each portion that bolts on?

 

See picture of them when I took them out to repaint...yes I have the small bolt cover snaps also. These are rugged plastic and must be 5lbs each... Yes they are blue. I would like to see a picture of a car with these gone and ones like the ones from Andover installed.

 

Mine look like the ones above, with the 3 snap-out bolt hole covers. In the top picture, they appear to be small covered units at each attachment point. Are those the "Andover" set?

If so, What do you do about the huge hole in the floor under the door when you remove the big cover?

 

I believe if you bought new carpet, it would cover all that like it does on the pre-'74 cars. Sill plates will hold the carpet down. It that's not sufficient, it wouldn't take much to put in a couple of pieces of sheetmetal for stability.

 

I was thinking just cheap piece of plastic or metal, nothing fancy, I have plenty of carpet to cover the area(I think they use the same mold, I got 2 piece carpet)...sill plates will work fine I agree with Terry. Would like to see what others have done. It not a daily driver, but I would like something better than 32 year old webbing... Yes, that is the picture from Andover site, would only need 1 mounting screw at bottom??? and 8" drop down. Front would be about $130.

 

Anyone got 74 or later picture of how they did seat belt replacement...or can anyone reweb the orig. units. Want blue...Terry any picture of how yours came out.

 

Tom, below is a link to pics of the seat belts I installed in 2005 before I began restoring the car. These are aftermarket belts. However, I will bebuying and installing ones with the 8.5" offset. These cut your neck off. My biggest complaint with these is that the seat hits them when pushed back. The retractor (is that a word) is closer to the front on the '74 and later cars than it was on the earlier models. I'm going to "speariment" with trying to make an offset in the inside part of the rocker.

http://mmb.maverick.to/showpost.php?p=182816&postcount=64

 

Thanks just what I wanted to see? Terry, are these the Andover ones???

 

I'm getting ready to install that kit in my 71. My plan is to mount the retractor behind the rear side panel the belt will go threw the little arm rest. I will weld on a nut to the B pillar because the stock upper mount is to high. The last part will mount in the stock lap belt location.

I haven't decided on the other peice that mounts to the tunnel becuase it seems to be a little short for what I want. I may mount it to the seat as recomended in the instuctions and also like the new cars. The Cavalier seats that I am using already has the belt connected there so I just need to change it over.

If you want more information I can take pictures of what I'm doing so it makes more sense.

 

Sure picture are great, the 74 used a different assemble as you can see from my first picture.

 

Terry thank you so much for sharing this gem of information. I've been fretting over the use of aftermarket seatbelts and the gap I was imagining it would leave.

 

Tom an Upholstery shop can re-webb your seat belts! Not sure if it would be cost prohibitive or not?