Back seat seat belt and kids on 1980 911sc

hpmad · 03-11-2009, 11:17 AM

hello,

I have a 1980 SC with the 2 small back seats and no seat belts...

I also have a 3 year old, and a new kid on the way which will need to be in it's (sex unknown at the moment) baby seat on the front seat...

I was thinking of salvaging a '5 point harness' from a baby booster seat and trying to fit it in one of the 911 back seats...

has anyone ever done something like that?

does anyone have any better idea?

is it a stupid idea?

thanks, cyrille

jasonlee · 03-11-2009, 11:44 AM

The best would be to retrofit some 3 point belts to the back seat. I had lap belts, and modified a car seat for my son. Even had the fire department take a look, they were happy with the lengths I had gone to ensure my child's safety I will be installing 3 point belts so I can take both my kids in the P Car. I will search to see if I can find some photos of how I got the car seat in the back.
BTW congrats on the soon to arrive new addition.

72T · 03-11-2009, 11:52 AM

I would like to do the same thing on the 72. Are the mounting points standard through the years for a 3 point belt? Mine is a Targa, any special issues there? Is this a DIY project or would most Porsche mechanics be able to handle it?

jasonlee · 03-11-2009, 11:57 AM

From my understanding the early cars don't have the mounting point on the rear deck for the 3 point belts. So some re-enforcement is required. That said, it is fairly DIY friendly from what I can tell. Mine is an 82 Sc, had does not have the needed mounting points for the 3 point belts. I am sure other who have done it, will chime in.

healeykit · healeykit's Garage

I want to install factory 3 point belts in my 73 targa so I'm interested also.

dan79brooklyn · 03-11-2009, 01:48 PM

If you get the Porsche child seat (or the Romer version which I have) you can just use a lapbelt.

Zef · Zef's Garage

Holy...this boy seem to have a lot of fun...A futur Porsche driver for sure...!

hpmad · 03-11-2009, 03:39 PM

hello,

I have tried fitting a normal car seat in the back of my 911, and they do NOT fit...

do you have a specific make and model that works?

cyrille

boyt911sc · boyt911sc's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpmad

hello,

I have tried fitting a normal car seat in the back of my 911, and they do NOT fit...

do you have a specific make and model that works?

cyrille

Cyrille,

My granddaugther loves this car seat better than the $200 car seat her parents bought for her. Plus I could take her around in my targa. Unfortunately, the installation of the roll cage has prevented me from using it again. Hate to give it up because it took me a while to find this.

Please send reply to atd911@hotmail and will discuss the details. Thanks.

Tony

dan79brooklyn · 03-12-2009, 08:03 AM

I bought the generic version on ebay UK (search for "Porsche seat") it is a 'Romer Prince' which is the exact same seat as the Porsche version above w/out the logos. The Porsche version shows up on ebay (here in the USA) sometimes as well, but usually sells for more than $100. My seat was very cheap on ebay UK, but shipping was a lot, so it works out to about the same thing. My son has been using the seat in my 1993 964 for the past year (he is now 2) he does love the car and the is comfortable and secure. But the three point belt just reaches the buckle and is sometimes a struggle to extend the belt fully to reach the buckle. Otherwise the seat is great, he also has plenty of legroom.

I think the way the seat is designed with the 'bumper' in front of him that a lapbelt would also be just as secure, depending on the design of the reels and buckles, the stock lapbelt would probably not fit as it is too bulky and would interfere with the seat.

I spent a lot of time researching options for car seats. From the time my son was born he was riding in our SC (aftermarket lapbelts) in a Britax companion (rear facing). Which fits fine without the base and is an excellent seat, until getting the Romer Prince.

I saw a lot of people doing more complicated installations (plenty of info in the archives). But I wanted to keep it simple.

Good luck, kids love PORSCHES!

Christien · Christien's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonlee

The best would be to retrofit some 3 point belts to the back seat. I had lap belts, and modified a car seat for my son. Even had the fire department take a look, they were happy with the lengths I had gone to ensure my child's safety I will be installing 3 point belts so I can take both my kids in the P Car. I will search to see if I can find some photos of how I got the car seat in the back.
BTW congrats on the soon to arrive new addition.

Could we get some details on this please? And some pics, if possible? I've got a regular child seat in there now, but it doesn't sit as well as I'd like.

Thanks!

healeykit · healeykit's Garage

I bought - on evilbay - the 964 'child booster kit'. It has two seat cushions that alloww regular boosters to sit properly. I just need to figure out how to anchor the 3rd point - back to the original question thread jackers

Christien · Christien's Garage

Right, original question: I have a 2 1/2 year girl who's 30 lbs, and I don't think I'd put her in just the back seat with a 3 or 5 point child harness. It could just be because we have really strict laws and education campaigns here about kids being strapped safely into child seats, properly installed in the car, so maybe I'm brainwashed from hearing it so much. But I do know mortality rates for young kids in car accidents has dropped significantly over the last 10 or 20 years.

dan79brooklyn · 03-12-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christien

Right, original question: I have a 2 1/2 year girl who's 30 lbs, and I don't think I'd put her in just the back seat with a 3 or 5 point child harness. It could just be because we have really strict laws and education campaigns here about kids being strapped safely into child seats, properly installed in the car, so maybe I'm brainwashed from hearing it so much. But I do know mortality rates for young kids in car accidents has dropped significantly over the last 10 or 20 years.

Why are you not comfortable putting her in the back if she is properly secured in an age/size appropriate seat?

Christien · Christien's Garage

I'd be concerned about such things as lateral head protection in the car's seat, as opposed to a child seat which has cushions holding the head in place in the event of a side impact. Things like that. Child seats were designed to protect small kids in a crash - the rear seat of a 911 was not. But I haven't yet tried to just sit her in the backseat with no car seat to see how she fits. If she's big enough for that, it might be fine, with an appropriate restraint (current just lap belts, though removed so I could install the carseat).

Head416 · Head416's Garage

I did quite a bit of reading on this topic - lot's of good information on Pelican if you take the time to read through it.

Two car seats I saw recommended (but haven't used yet myself):
-Graco Comfort Sport
-Cosco Scenera

Apparently they have narrow bases and fit into the rear seats of a 911.

Some guys modified for a 3-point harness, others said they got a secure install with just a lap belt. Following one of those threads, I went out and bought a $10 lap belt and installed it in the back seat (old school, non-retractable)... now I just need to pick up a car seat. (I'm an uncle, not a father!)

Christien · Christien's Garage

I fail to see how you could ever get a secure install with just a lap belt, in any car. You need a top tether to hold the seatback in place for a head-on collision. With just a lap belt, a strong enough force would break the chair and then there's nothing holding the top half back. Very dangerous.

jpl500 · 03-13-2009, 05:10 AM

I mounted three point belts in my 1980 targa. Pretty easy actually, just be careful when you drill through the deck so as not to put a hole in something vital in the engine compartment.

Pat

gsmith660 · 03-13-2009, 07:13 AM

Too bad you dont have a cab. I did this to get a 3 point harness in my car for my daughters safety. 993 usa cab. seats.

crater64 · 03-13-2009, 10:28 AM

Good timing for this. I just bought a pair of three-point belts from Peparts to install in the rear of my '70T. My son is 5 but will still need a booster seat. Will check to see if Graco, Cosco, Romer seats will work for one who is no longer an infant or toddler but still small (~ 40 lb).