TR5/TR250 Have you added 3 point belts to your TR4/5/250/6?

[TR4A_IRS]

Hi all. It has been a while since I have posted, but summertime with young kids in the house tends to be a full time passtime for me....

I am in the process of retrofitting my TR4A with static 3 point seatbelts. Since TR4As came with provisions for mounting lap belts, figuring our how to mount the bottom two points is a no-brainer. Figuring out where to mount the shoulder belt is another story. All the "good" locations seem to interfere with the convertible top frame (or hood sticks for the purists. ).

Have any of you been through this before? Might you have some advice or pictures that you could share? I really don't want to drill any holes until I am 100% sure that I have picked the best mounting point.

I included the TR6 in the list of cars in the subject, with the understanding that they all came from the factory with three point belts. I imagine some pictures of TR6 seat belt mounting points would be equally helpful.


Thanks!

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Here's a picture of my 74 TR6 while I was replacing my top frame. Pay no attention to the black belt added to the "rear seat" by the PO. I can say the original sliding seat belt tab is a pain to find and the original "holders" are silly.

 

[CinneaghTR]

Do a search here and there will be a lot on this, including my questions for my 4A. The picture above is a big help and the TR6 location is what you should strive for.

 

[TR4A_IRS]

Knucklehead,

Thanks. That picture will help tremendously. As I suspected, the correct upper mounting point is much lower than I would like to place it. It is optimal to have the upper mounting point above your shoulder, but these cars don't really offer us much choice...

 

[TR4A_IRS]

Cinneagh,

I will try another search, since you seem to have found more than I have. I have searched on this topic several times recently and have never found more than passing references to this retrofit.

Thanks.

 

[tdskip]

I find the pictures really helpful here as well, so maybe if it isn't a total pain we can get some posted here of how you guys took care of getting a proper 3 point set up.

Ian - not just you that didn't find a lot via searching.

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Searching can be frustrating. I've found searching for something new yeilds nothing, so I always start searching for something I know exists. After I can successfully get what I know is there, I modify the search for what I seek.

I don't know if a better seat belt installation is possible, but I know that when I have the "hood stick-cover" or tonneau folded back, the shoulder belt is lower than prefered -it has a hard time coming over the shoulder of the seat. A higher point would be better, but it can't interfere with any of the covers or folded top. -I'm 6'1" and the seat is back as far as possible, and reclined a bit wich probably doesn't help either.

I'm glad the picture is useful. I can't say how many I've seen on here that were exactly what I needed.

 

[rooster]

Ian - not just you that didn't find a lot via searching.

Ditto here!

I'm putting 3 point statics in my 6 and I haven't found any references in the search. I'd like to know if I can just use the existing mounts (especially for the shoulder)?

 

[TR4A_IRS]

I would think that you could (and should) use the stock locations. As mentioned previously, the upper mounting point is lower than would be ideal, but appears to still be within the limits of the manufacturer's installation instructions (at least for the belts I bought from TRF)

Why are you going to static belts vs. inertia reel? Since my car did not come with three point belts I chose the static type for the lower price and because I wanted drill as few holes in the car as possible.

 

[rooster]

I would think that you could (and should) use the stock locations. As mentioned previously, the upper mounting point is lower than would be ideal, but appears to still be within the limits of the manufacturer's installation instructions (at least for the belts I bought from TRF)

Why are you going to static belts vs. inertia reel? Since my car did not come with three point belts I chose the static type for the lower price and because I wanted drill as few holes in the car as possible.

My reels no longer work, and I don't trust them. After all they are 30 years old and have a lot of exposure to the sun which weakens them. The statics were a good price on sale at TRF a few months ago. There were no mounting instructions included with them. I'm asking because on the reel type belts the upper mount isn't really a mount but just for positioning, so the mounting point for it may not be designed for the stress a static type belt can put on it.

Cheers

 

[JohnnyMead]

I went with the static 3-point design from TRF as well. I used the same brand (Bemis as I recall) on another vintage car and my only problem was that the shoulder belt seemed to go out of adjustment over time (no big deal, just pull the loose end a little). So far I'm not having that problem with the one I bought from TRF.

I thought about a reel, but opted for simple mechanics and fewer holes drilled.

I've read everything I can about mounting seatbelts and many say it should be above the shoulder, but the Bemis instructions show a permissible mounting angle that extends above and somewhat below shoulder level.

John