Retractable Seat Belts in a 1969 911E

domtoni · 03-16-2006, 01:34 PM

Guys,

My car has the original seat belts and they are 38 years old. Can I replace them with retractable units, and if so, do I have to purchase the covers so the retractable unit is not seen?

What should I use and where can they be purchased?

I found nothing in the catalog. Awaiting your kind replies.

Dom Toni

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

I checked the host's parts catalog and didn't see any seat belts offered by Pelican. With that said, you can get a used set through either eBay, private parties or the used parts house. I think an 70's or early 80's belt should work. You may need to track down the female ends as well. The only problem with that is.....there used. Maybe not a big deal, but I'd rather have as new a seat belt as possible.

Automotion sells a conversion kit for right at $220 which I think is per seat. Expensive? Your call, but this is how I will likely go as I am in the same postion as you.

And yes, I would get the small upholstered pieces that cover the retractor units themselves. Again you should be able to find these either on eBay or through a used parts house.

jasonq · 03-16-2006, 03:41 PM

I think PEP has better prices.

http://www.peparts.com/Categories.bok?category=SEAT+BELTS

I bought new belts from them a couple years ago and they knew exactly what i needed.

Jason

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

Thanks Jason...those look great.
I'm ordering some in the next day or two.

domtoni · 03-17-2006, 03:25 AM

Thanks guys for the info.

Doug&Julie · 03-17-2006, 03:55 AM

I had a couple of threads on the same topic...

New seatbelts in an old car?

..and some pics in this discussion...

New seats are in!

domtoni · 03-17-2006, 04:08 AM

Thanks Doug. Looks great !!!

356robo · 03-17-2006, 05:40 AM

Dom, I'm currrently installing the PEP belts in my 70. Everything's going well. Great product. Their sets come with the vinyl trim piece to install in the hole in the vinyl quarter panel.

domtoni · 03-18-2006, 03:51 AM

356robo,

Over here in the UK we have a supplier called Eurocarparts. Their belt 500/15 is made for various BMW, VW, Mercedes and Saab models.
The belts are also cheaper than the PEP belts. Works out around $50 each plus VAT etc.
I presume that one takes out the static belt and bolts the retractable product in its place with no further modifications?
Best
Dom

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

Ordered a pair of seatbelts from PEP last week for my 73. When they arrive, I stick some pics here and comments about the install.

HarryD · 03-20-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by skinnerd
Ordered a pair of seatbelts from PEP last week for my 73. When they arrive, I stick some pics here and comments about the install.

When I ordered my replacement belts from PEP several years ago they just bolted right in, no fuss, no bother.

domtoni · 03-21-2006, 12:24 AM

Thanks guys. My car's static belt mounts to the seat and to the B post. I understand that USA only cars had static belts in 1969, and the rest of the world had inertia belts. When the car goes in for the suspension rebuild, the car will be checked for the belt mounts.

Thanks for all the help, and I look forward to see the photos.

Dom

pope · pope's Garage

Just ordered a pair of the KT101T's. I'll post an update when I install them.

911pcars · 08-27-2007, 10:28 PM

I installed retractable belts in my '69 some years ago. I tried to use the upholstered trim piece but as I remember, there wasn't enough space under it to house the retracting mechanism. I did notice that the sheet metal mounting area on later vehicles has a depression that might account for the the available space on those vehicles.

I ended up using the existing panel and mounted the retractor to the factory-installed threaded anchor in the steel quarter panel (also visible from under the wheel well). To arrive at the correct location to make everything work smoothly, I fabricated a tubular spacer on the retractor mounting bolt so it sits away from the panel the proper distance.

You have some options with the buckle receiver. PEP has the proper receivers that bolt onto the seat rail so it moves fore and aft with the seat. I opted to use the factory center tunnel receivers (from an SC). I fabricated an anchor and bolted it in place (see below):

You'll also see another seat belt eye bolt anchor in the above photo. They're also mounted through the center tunnel for the inboard half of lap-type race belts.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

Nick912 · 08-28-2007, 08:56 AM

I have an inexpensive pair of aftermarket retractable belts in my '67 912, but I don't trust them.

I want a three point retractable system without much modification and this seems like the thread to be on!

Is it OK to have the retractor mounted horizontally and at about shoulder level on the rear quarter panel, with NO redirector? I don't know what you call that loop of metal the belt usually goes through, but my arrangement would have the belt mounted only at the retractor and down at the lower mount on the body. It comes out of the retractor and goes directly over your shoulder as you sit in the seat, and then down across and into the receiver.

Also, have many people mounted the receiver to the seat mounts? Those bolts seem rather small.

Thanks!

Nick

pope · pope's Garage

So, I finally got the KT101C's (for the Coupe not the Targa), followed the instructions and installed them quite easily.

First of all there is a left and right so you should be careful which one you put on which side. The side of the inertia reel with the plastic covering should be towards the back of the car. Here is how they look when installed:

This particular belt was stuck in the inertia reel and would not come out. I almost panicked but when I bolted it on the car in its normal position, the belt unwound easily.

The inertia reel should be installed with lock washers and spacers in the order that they are found in the packaging. Just take the whole thing and bolt it on the mounting hole which is revealed if you follow the installation instructions.

The shoulder anchor should not have any washers or spacers. Just use the existing bolt and remove any washers. The "D-Ring" has to be able to move freely round the bolt.

The receivers and return lap belts are a bit more tricky in that there are no instructions on the order with which you should install the washer. You should do it as shown here. This is the right-hand seat return lap belt:

Remove the washer shown by the yellow arrow (if there is one there) and install the wiggly one shown by the red arrow that came with the new belts.

This is the left-hand seat receiver where the wiggly washer is shown by the red arrow:

The rubber o-rings in both of the above cases go where the blue arrow shows.

Good luck!

Tachin · 12-08-2010, 08:29 PM

Are the PEP belts any better than an original Porsche set of an '88 or a 964 car? Redoing my belts in the '69 targa. Many thanks.

PropellerHead · PropellerHead's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tachin

Are the PEP belts any better than an original Porsche set of an '88 or a 964 car? Redoing my belts in the '69 targa. Many thanks.

New is better because belts deteriorate with age/use. Now, if you go to the dealer and buy new belts for an '88 or a 964 (or 993) that might be better yet but I would trust new PEP belts over 20+ year old OE stuff.

deathpunk dan · 12-09-2010, 05:04 AM

I installed PEP 101 retracting belts in my car and they are great. The receptacle works with stock seats if that is a consideration.

crater64 · 12-09-2010, 08:12 AM

Holy old thread Batman! Yes I know it's been said before, but this is one I have bookmarked.

I installed the KT-101C PEP retractable belts in my '70T coupe in the spring of 2009. I also did the three-point retactable rears (KT-120 IIRC?) so that my son, then 5, could ride along with me (originality be damned). He's now 7 and almost ready to move up front - sizewise if not agewise - but no regrets on the installation.