early 914 seatbelt change

jjemg · 10-05-2005, 06:28 AM

Boy, I love my 914 but I really hate my early fixed seatbelt set-up. I understand George, the man, the head honcho, the king cheese has cataloged a fix for the early cars but I would rather slash my wrists than call Atlanta. It would be great if somebody knows what parts I would need to make this work without any modification to the car.

Jimmy

philinjax · 10-05-2005, 05:41 PM

Jimmy,

Check out Professtionally Engineered Products

http://www.peparts.com/StoreFront.bok

Phil

PCA7GGR · 10-05-2005, 07:54 PM

You could just use the new style reel 914 belts. Just check out how they are mounted on a newer tub and do the same. I did this with my '70.

jjemg · 10-06-2005, 06:04 AM

Sergio
I looked at this some time ago and noticed to my surprise that they changed the firewall tin to have a recess for the reel.How did you get past this?

Phil
I love Jax,lived in Baymeadows many years ago for a short time.Great 914 city.I look at the site and they did not have a quick fix,Do you know anybody that has done this?

Thanks to you both! You guys let me know.
Jimmy

goose2 · 10-06-2005, 08:00 AM

someone told me that 924/944 belts will bolt in...heven't tried it myself

philinjax · 10-06-2005, 08:08 AM

Jimmy,
Yeah, Jax is a great place to live. Jags not doing too good.

I have 3 good 914s. Going to Brumos Swap Meet this Saturday, try to sell a bunch of excess parts.

Sorry, I have no additional advice regarding your belts problem.

Phil

PCA7GGR · 10-06-2005, 09:33 AM

Jimmy,

The recess is not really required. A newer interior backpad, with the seat belt cutouts helps a bit but is also not required. Just position the seatbelt reel where the newer 914s have them. mark the hole and drill through the bulkhead. You should also use some big, heavy washers on the engine side as well as nylock nuts.

jjemg · 10-07-2005, 04:27 AM

Phil
You have surprised me with a term I am not familiar with, "excess parts"? Is this something I need to keep in mind?
Sergio
I was hoping for a solution without drilling the hole. This is an original 914-6 but in order to maximize the driving experience I need a solution. BTW I'm going to pump it up to a 3.0L to fix the original power issue without making drastic modifications. I was hoping for a way to have the reel fixed and mounted at the top left corner in the original fixed position. It wouldn't be the best looking set-up but could be put back without leaving holes. I'm stabbing in the dark. This might not be possible. What the heck do I know? I'll take any suggestions I can get.

Jimmy

philinjax · 10-07-2005, 05:25 AM

Jimmy,
Yes, "excess parts", a misnomer I'm afraid, perhaps even a Freudian slip. What I really meant by that term is parts that would have to be pried from my cold dead hands for excessive cash. I never saw a spare part that I didn't really want to keep. A couple of years ago, in a weak moment, I put my prized set of NOS early seat belts on eBay for $500.00 opening bid, thinking that no one would ever pay that kind of money. Damned if a Canadian 94teen sixer bought them. I tried to back out but the buyer insisted. Now I only have three complete sets of early belts, bummer.

But, at this time in my life and considering my health, I've got to unload tons of stuff. I don't want my wife to be saddled with the stuff when I'm under the grass. So I'm selling cheap, well, not too cheap. You name it, I probably have it.

Phil

jjemg · 10-07-2005, 07:02 AM

Phil,
Phew, now I understand. Wish you luck with your sale.

Don't suppose you have a couple of gasburners, do you?

Jimmy

philinjax · 10-07-2005, 04:32 PM

Jimmy,

Wish I had them, they are big bucks. I checked with a parts guy aquaintance who had a pair. He sold them a year or two back, sorry.

Later,

Phil

jjemg · 10-11-2005, 01:36 PM

Oh well, Thanks Talk later
Jimmy

philinjax · 10-11-2005, 01:48 PM

Jimmy,
I have a lead on one, or a couple of gas burners. Will let you know in due course.
Phil

P.S. I took about $4K in parts to the Brumos swap meet Saturday, I sold about $35.00 in a few small parts, I bought one part for $75.00. Am I getting ahead in this game or not. I should have "stood in bed".

jjemg · 10-12-2005, 05:06 AM

Phil,

Yeah buddy...lead on one true gasburner or two would be great! This is something I really need to complete my car. Drop me a line on one or two. I'll take whatever I can get as long as it is straight, true and decent.

The swap meet...I'm just pleased that I can walk over to the computer and call my wife and say "See honey, See, Huh? Huh? It's not just me!" I have done the best I've ever done in 25+ years cutting it down to at least one car type, being the 914-6 but truthfully that made it a lot worse on the spare parts / debt ratio. Oh, well.You can't take it with you. Well, maybe just one greasy part in a pine box.

Jimmy

kumaaz · 10-27-2005, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PCA7GGR
You could just use the new style reel 914 belts. Just check out how they are mounted on a newer tub and do the same. I did this with my '70.

Sergio,
I'm about to put later model retractables in my '70. I have a later model backpad but it doesn't have the cutouts for the belts and I'm not sure if it will go over them ok.
Did your backpad fit over the retractors ok?
How did you trim the cutout for the belt? Any pics?
Thanks,

philinjax · 10-27-2005, 12:41 PM

Jimmy, Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. My gas burner leads petered out in both Orlando and Jacksonville.

Phil

PCA7GGR · 10-27-2005, 04:34 PM

kumaaz,

You should be able to mount the retactors behine the backpad with out the cutout. As for pics - sold my 914-6 a oouple of years ago.

jjemg · 10-28-2005, 07:01 AM

Phil
Thanks for checking! Let me know at jjemg@bellsouth.net if you here something.I really need one to complete a set ,will take two so I can have a spare.....and on to the seamingly unending search.
Jimmy

kumaaz · 10-28-2005, 10:13 AM

Maybe I'm missing something. I thought the belt actually has to come through the backpad from the retractor, hangs down in front of it and has one attachment at the floor and the male piece that then snaps into the buckle.

A=F/M · 11-15-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCA7GGR

Jimmy,

The recess is not really required. A newer interior backpad, with the seat belt cutouts helps a bit but is also not required. Just position the seatbelt reel where the newer 914s have them. mark the hole and drill through the bulkhead. You should also use some big, heavy washers on the engine side as well as nylock nuts.

Sergio,

If you've done this already, do you have any photos of it?

I have a 71 914 with a newer style backpad and seats and want to install some 944 seat belts I have. I'm trying to determine where on the firewall is the best place to bolt these suckers!

Let me know!

Thanks.
Tony