Need help removing seat belt

[TheNeedForZ]

Hi, all.

I am currently trying to remove my seat belt assemblies. I've looked up Factory Service Manual, Haynes book, and "How to restore your Datsun Z-car", but none of them shows exactly how to remove the assembly that bolts on the floor. The factory service manual shows how to remove the part on the strut tower and the belt lock near the console, but said nothing about removing the part that's on the floor. I've got the two small screws on the plastic cover off, and the big bolt(thru floor) off, but looks like there is still a bolt deep in the plastic cover that is out of reach.

The car is a 1976 Datsun 280Z.

Thanks in advance

[EScanlon]

Don't recall another bolt there, but do a couple of things.

Look at the cup that holds the seat belt roll into the body from below. If there is a bolt hole, it will let you know where it is. Then again, it might be a bolt hole going in from the outside.

The other is pull out the belt as far as possible, and then look inside the cup. If there is one in there, you might have to use 1/4" ratchet or a nut driver.

Good Luck

Enrique

[webdawg1]

The second bolt that you are looking for is hidden under the vinyl that is glued to the inner sill. Open up either door (driver or passenger) and find the door latch assembly for the door. If you look straight down you should be looking at the selt belt retraction assembly. What you have to do is peel it (the vinyl) from the front to the rear after removing the inside scuff plate (Should have about three or four screws holding the scuff plate down) I'm going on the assumption that you will be replacing the vinyl trim with new trim anyway. Once you get the vinyl trim off you shoulf be able to get at the bolt with a socket or wrench (bolt size should be 16mm) I found a reference picture that I found that shows the right inner sill. (if you follow the seam in the floor that's right behind the rear seat mount across it almost points right at the bolt location)

Hope this helps...

webdawg1

[TheNeedForZ]

I don't know man....Is "vinyl" the soft leather-like padding that is attached to the walls? On my car they are attached using studs. I didn't find any bolt after I peel off the padding . I am pretty sure the bolt is inside the plastic "chimney" cuz I can see it by shining light into the slot.

This is how things look like if you are on passenger side facing forward.

...........d

..........|.|

..........|.|

........./.c|==

.a..b./....|

||-|------

"a" is a big bolt going thru the floor

"b" are two tiny screws holding the plastic chimney

"d" is where seat belt comes out.

"c" is another bolt that is 3" inside the chimney, this is where my problem is : can't get to it.

Man I wonder how they put that thing in there in the first place.....

[TheNeedForZ]

I decided to destroy the plastic chimney thing on passenger side just to see what's really going on. I cracked it open with a rubber mallet. Here's what I discovered :

By design, the plastic chimney can be lifted away in only one direction after the two small screws are removed. There are clearance on the chimney wall so that it prevents the plastic chimney from being torqued down between steel plates---IF clearance area is positioned right.

On my assembly, part of the plastic chimney wall got into the torque down area and is torqued down along with the steel parts. That made it stuck.

The solution for this kind of problem is to keep wiggling(and pull) the chimney until it comes out, even if it takes a long time. That's the only way if you don't want to destroy it.

Thanks for the help.

[webdawg1]

Bolt "C" in your diagram is the one that screws into the inner sill. (Which is hidden from sight because it's inside the plastic cover) Unscrew that one and it should come right on out. I think what you had been looking at when looking down the plastic cover was the seatbelt retraction assembly itself.

Hope this helps...

webdawg1