Seat Belts Installed This Weekend

[SideShifter Tri-Carb]

[FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]My MKII finally has a pair of NOS 3-point seat belts - Britax, with the same part number listed on the AH parts manual. They came in original BMC boxes with fitting kits. [/FONT]61 was the first year for pre-drilled with reinforcement from factory, so it was pretty easy to install. Only had to crawl under the car for the tunnel bolts, with my 11 yr old daughter holding the wrench up top.

I've never seen them installed on another Healey before and I'm curious if there are others that have them. I've seen a lot of the lap belts that are offered by folks like Moss, but never a 3-point. I've only been to one concours event, so my population is somewhat minimal. I[FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] posted on the AH Facebook page and didn't get any other pictures. Please post some examples of them if you do.

[/FONT] [FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/FONT]

 

[davidb]

Hey Olin,

Curious as to where you found the 3 point seat belts. I have an early model 62 BT7 3000, with no seat belts currently. Found a decent pair of two point racing belts with a large leather flap covering the buckle part, but have been thinking that a 3 point would be more comfortable.

Quite a nice interior on your beast.

Cheers
Dave

 

[HEALEYJAG]

They look great...dying them the correct blue would be the bomb...


Pete

 

[SideShifter Tri-Carb]

Hey Olin,

Curious as to where you found the 3 point seat belts. I have an early model 62 BT7 3000, with no seat belts currently. Found a decent pair of two point racing belts with a large leather flap covering the buckle part, but have been thinking that a 3 point would be more comfortable.

Quite a nice interior on your beast.

Cheers
Dave

Dave,

Thanks for the compliment. I had been searching for over 10 years using the part number and one day I hit the jackpot on eBay. I paid quite a bit, but I bought 3 sets. the 2 sets I installed are boxed sets with each having the fitting kits. So, the third set appears to be identical, with the exception of the adjusting plate on the belt. The ones I installed were coated with plastic, and the other set is not. I would assume this to be the set that goes with the AHB9140 part number for early BN7/BT7s (up to Car No. 13750).

 

[SideShifter Tri-Carb]

They look great...dying them the correct blue would be the bomb...


Pete

Pete,

Glad you like them. I wouldn't have the heart to dye these. Britax belts for BMC were always silver blue from this era. I was concerned about the contrast at first, but I think it has just enough blue hue in it and I really have grown to love it. If they were ratty and needed restoring, I would have replaced with blue to match.

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Olin,

Very Very Nice!!

Hey Olin,

Curious as to where you found the 3 point seat belts. I have an early model 62 BT7 3000, with no seat belts currently. Found a decent pair of two point racing belts with a large leather flap covering the buckle part, but have been thinking that a 3 point would be more comfortable.

Quite a nice interior on your beast.

Cheers
Dave

Austin Healey Spares has belts that fit the original mounting hardware. (See links Below)

The seat belt fitting instructions (Below) are in the workshop manual for all models prior to the 3000 Mk. II.

Seat Belt
https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-h...arnesses/SEAT-BELT-original-type-BLACK-1.aspx

Floor Bracket
https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-h...Seats-Safety-Harnesses/BRACKET-seat-belt.aspx

Propeller Shaft Tunnel Bracket

 

[davidb]

Duane,

Thanks for posting that reference to the seat belt anchorage points. I don't have that prop shaft tunnel bracket on mine, so that photo was really quite helpful, along with the AH Spares reference for the floor bracket. Any idea where you can purchase one of the tunnel brackets?

Dave.

 

[British_Recovery]

I purchased the rear brackets from Clarke Spares in Doylestown, Pa. They came with chrome acorn nuts and clear instructions. Belts were from Moss, and instead of stitching them to the brackets, I used a slotted rectangular keeper to lock the adjusted belt in place. These are on my BJ8.
Bob

 

[PHulst]

Wonderful photos, gentlemen.

Using the factory directions shown by Duane, are the AHSpares belts the only ones that would fit?
Or are there lap-only belts that could also be installed?

My 59 has no belts, and I'd really like to install them. This thread has some of the best photos I've yet seen.

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Duane,

Thanks for posting that reference to the seat belt anchorage points. I don't have that prop shaft tunnel bracket on mine, so that photo was really quite helpful, along with the AH Spares reference for the floor bracket. Any idea where you can purchase one of the tunnel brackets?

Dave.

Dave,

BCS has them at https://www.britishcarspecialists.com/ Best to call them at 209-948-8767

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Wonderful photos, gentlemen.

Using the factory directions shown by Duane, are the AHSpares belts the only ones that would fit?
Or are there lap-only belts that could also be installed?

My 59 has no belts, and I'd really like to install them. This thread has some of the best photos I've yet seen.

Patrick,

Seatbelt planet can make anything you need! (Link Below)

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/?gclid=CNO-qpyztMoCFVBffgodDs4EEg

Thanks,
Duane

 

[John Turney]

I bought my seat belts and mounting parts from BCS. I have the retractable 3-point belts which work more like modern belts, and they use the same mounts as the originals.

 

[PHulst]

Patrick,

Seatbelt planet can make anything you need! (Link Below)

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/?gclid=CNO-qpyztMoCFVBffgodDs4EEg

Thanks,
Duane

Thanks Duane.

I wish someone made a "kit" with the proper body reinforcements, mounts, and belts. From what I can see I'll have to figure out what parts I need and go from there.
I've actually been searching on the forum too, and what came up in this thread is the best of what's been written so far. It does surprise me that none of the parts houses have step-by-step how-to guides for this. You'd think they would sell more parts.

Patrick

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Thanks Duane.

I wish someone made a "kit" with the proper body reinforcements, mounts, and belts. From what I can see I'll have to figure out what parts I need and go from there.
I've actually been searching on the forum too, and what came up in this thread is the best of what's been written so far. It does surprise me that none of the parts houses have step-by-step how-to guides for this. You'd think they would sell more parts.

Patrick

Patrick,

Yes, I'm often amazed about this myself. BCS carries the correct brackets for the original seatbelt mountings, so with the seatbelt fittings, seatbeltplanet could make you anything you can dream up. The BCS parts A, B, C, and E (Below) constitute the "Kit" without the belts although you can buy belts from them as well and do one stop shopping. The floor mounts from BCS include the reinforcing pads (Bolted) for the floor, and the propeller shaft (Bolted) and rear mounts (Welded) are very secure if installed as described in the factory manual.

Thanks,
Duane

 

[PHulst]

Patrick,

Yes, I'm often amazed about this myself. BCS carries the correct brackets for the original seatbelt mountings, so with the seatbelt fittings, seatbeltplanet could make you anything you can dream up. The BCS parts A, B, C, and E (Below) constitute the "Kit" without the belts although you can buy belts from them as well and do one stop shopping. The floor mounts from BCS include the reinforcing pads (Bolted) for the floor, and the propeller shaft (Bolted) and rear mounts (Welded) are very secure if installed as described in the factory manual.

Thanks,
Duane

For lap-only, I assume that you would use A/B and then E for a factory type installation? If so, it appears they are bolt-ins.
I have to do more inspection to see if I want to do shoulder belts and welding.

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

For lap-only, I assume that you would use A/B and then E for a factory type installation? If so, it appears they are bolt-ins.
I have to do more inspection to see if I want to do shoulder belts and welding.

Patrick,

Correct. The only item requiring welding is the third point C bracket on the rear wheel well, everything else is bolted. Let me know if you want any more pictures!

Thanks,
Duane

 

[PHulst]

Patrick,

Correct. The only item requiring welding is the third point C bracket on the rear wheel well, everything else is bolted. Let me know if you want any more pictures!

Thanks,
Duane

You've got my email, otherwise a photo posted here of the other two install locations would be great.

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

You've got my email, otherwise a photo posted here of the other two install locations would be great.

Patrick,

Per your request!


Interior: Welded Plate

Exterior: Welded Plate

Location of Quick Release Bracket

Quick Release Bracket and Plate

 

[davidb]

Duane,

Very helpful! Thanks. This has been a good thread. Everyone kind of chipped in. Why don't we all get together and rebuild a Healey? We can keep it in my garage, and I promise to wax it regularly.

Dave

 

[Duane_Rhynard]

Dave,

Thanks for the compliment. I had been searching for over 10 years using the part number and one day I hit the jackpot on eBay. I paid quite a bit, but I bought 3 sets. the 2 sets I installed are boxed sets with each having the fitting kits. So, the third set appears to be identical, with the exception of the adjusting plate on the belt. The ones I installed were coated with plastic, and the other set is not. I would assume this to be the set that goes with the AHB9140 part number for early BN7/BT7s (up to Car No. 13750).

Olin,

Could you please post some close up pictures of your original set up: buckle, adjusting plate, and the three attachment points?

Thanks!
Duane