71 240z seatbelt replacements

[jayz240z]

Ok, I've tried grabbing some off of ebay a couple of times, I keep getting beat. The price keeps going over 100.00, which I know I can buy a replacement set for that price from datsunzparts.com.

I guess my question is:

Is there any other sources out there?

What if I want a lap belt that retracts, is there some out of a different year that will work?

Currently I have no seat belts in my car, the set that came with it were worn too much for use.

thanks

Jason

[MikeW]

What if I want a lap belt that retracts, is there some out of a different year that will work?

Unfortunately, to use the retracting seatbelts out cars made after about January of 1972 you need to already have the pockets in the floor that the restractors fit into. These started appearing around Sept of 1971 even though cars made then still used non-retracting seat belts.

[Go240Zags]

Here is a great site that tells you how to get both retractable lap and shoulder belts for the earliest Zs, by using parts from 260/280Z and a 2+2 no less.

http://www.automedic.org/smzcc/tech_tips.htm

This is the way I'm going to outfit my 1971 (12/70 build date). It took me just a few minutes in a small wrecking yard to put together the right pieces, now I just need to figure out the best way to rejoin the two halves. The nut & bolt idea seems a bit bulky, anyone have a better idea? Some sort of new rivit with the proper strength?

I hope this helps, Gary

[26th-Z]

I encourage you guys to think about what you are doing. A seat belt is a safety device and is used only to protect your life. Otherwise, it's fairly useless. Now let me ask you. How much is your life worth? You say you have no belts currently? Would you ride a motorcycle without a helmet?

I have a nice set of '71 belts I would sell for $150 and I don't think they need to be restored. But what if I sold them to you, you got into a car accident, and the belt tore. Would you sue me? Pulling belts out of a junk yard wreck and using them is idiocy in my opinion. Have your old, unreliable belts restored. http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/ About $125 per side.

[Walter Moore]

Indeed a seat belt is a very important safey device, but as with jayz240z, my car came without ANY seat belts. (It isn't the first car from that era that came into my possession without them.)

I have still not aquired any belts for it, but then it doesn't run yet either.

I still plan on buying standard aftermarket three point belt setups and trying to adapt them to the Z car's mounting locations. But if you know of a source who will make something better let me know.

(The link you gave didn't actually look like they would do this, but I haven't called them either...)

[26th-Z]

Ok, quick search on the internet...wow! What an easy and economical solution to my fatherly rant (excuse me) www.wescoperformance.com

[Inf]

Thanks for the link. I really need to get my 72 driver side retractor rebuilt. I took it out and put a non-retractable lab belt in last year since the retractor coil broke. Should probably have the passenger side rebuilt too. Whenever people get in for a ride it seems to give them trouble? It locks up fairly easily while it is being pulled out. Drivers side never gave that much trouble before it broke.

[Walter Moore]

Indeed thankyou for that link. It is one that I had not found.

I agree that pulling 30 year old seat belts out of a junk yard isn't a good idea.

Now back in 1980 when my first car (a 72 model) didn't have seat belts I was able to get a nice set for it from a wrecking yard, but that was different in at least 2 ways.

1. The car was only 8 years old, so I knew that the wrecked car hadn't been in the junk yard for long.

2. That was before manditory seat belt laws, and less than 20% of the population EVER actually used a seat belt, so there was a 80% chance that the belts in the junk yard had never been used. :cheeky:

[Bambikiller240]

Walter, when were seatbelts REQUIRED to be in cars? Were shoulder belts required at the same time, or at a later date?

[Walter Moore]

I really don't know when they first REQUIRED seat belts in cars in the U.S.

I THINK that they were optional until the 1967 model year, but I could be wrong. I know that the first shoulder belts that I ever saw were in a 1971 model. (Maybe they were required for the 1970 model year?)

The 1968 Ford Fairlane my parents had only had lap belts.

The early shoulder belts were really uncomfortable, and they were separate from the lap belt. Normally they were also non-retractable.

The first three point lap and shoulder belt fully retractable setup I ever saw was in a 1974 model. That was also the model year that the U.S. government snuck in some un-announced requirement that the car makers had to disable the ignition unless someone first sat in the drivers seat and then buckled the seat belt. :mad:

That lasted all of about 6 months before Congress got the message that there was going to be a backlash at the polls and the requirement was suddenly repealed.

I don't think the N.H.T.S.A. even existed in 74, wasn't that a Jimmy Carter era creation? Well whomever it was they got their hand slapped. :devious: