seat belts

[madkaw]

Is there a late model shoulder harness seat belt system that will bolt into my 240 z. I'd like to find a retractable type.

[hls30.com]

One of the other Z sites(HybridZ if memory serves) has an article about adapting 76/77/78 retractable seatbelts to the 240Z, but be aware that the strut towers in a 240Z are not as tall as those from the later cars(the reason the quarter window trim is different), so the upper belt will be coming from behind at a substantially lower angle than intended.

Will

[alordzot]

The 73 240 came with shoulder harness'es but they are not the retractable type. Or at least mine did.

[Go240Zags]

Here's a site with an article on use of seatbelts from a variety of Zs to get retractable lap and shoulder belts for the early Z cars. http://www.automedic.org/smzcc/tech_tips.htm.

I put together such a combo and mentioned it and was criticized for using parts from a wrecker. They seem as good a shape as the belts from my 1992 Chevy pickup and are all Nissan parts. First time I heard anyone get razzed for recommending using OEM parts to restore/modify their car. The choice is yours as there are manufactures that make brand new aftermarket lap and shoulder belts that can be adapted. I'm sticking with the set I put together. Of course it doesn't matter much until I get my car running. Gary

[AChev]

Hmm, alordzot, my 73 240Z did not come with shoulder harness. I do not believe they were stock, option possibly??? I am sure someone here can answer that

[matria]

My '73 had non-retracting shoulder belts. Very stock California car.

[LanceM]

My 73 also had the non retracting seperate shoulder belt, definitly not an option piece on this particular car.

[Inf]

Hmm, alordzot, my 73 240Z did not come with shoulder harness. I do not believe they were stock, option possibly??? I am sure someone here can answer that

There are bolt holes above and behind the quarter windows. This is where your shoulder harness is supposed to be bolted in. Some retard took it out apparently.

[Bambikiller240]

I put together such a combo and mentioned it and was criticized for using parts from a wrecker. They seem as good a shape as the belts from my 1992 Chevy pickup and are all Nissan parts. First time I heard anyone get razzed for recommending using OEM parts to restore/modify their car. The choice is yours as there are manufactures that make brand new aftermarket lap and shoulder belts that can be adapted. I'm sticking with the set I put together. Of course it doesn't matter much until I get my car running. Gary

Hi Gary:

I remember that thread.

My car is a early 72, it has the pockets for retractable lap belts, but did came with the old style non retracting belts. Anyway, I bought some nice retractable lapbelts on eBay a year ago.

Just a few months a go I was at a Pick N Pull and spotted a 73 240Z with what looked like a nice set of lap and shoulder belts, so I snatched up the shoulder belts an brought them home. I started cleaning them and the more I fiddled with them it became apparent that the webbing was severely deteriorated and somewhat brittle. In one place that I bent the material over double, it cracked. Not completely into 2 pieces, but enough to demonstrate that these belts would provide no safety benefit at all in the event of a sudden stop.

The sun has done it's damage to these otherwise nice belts. The hardware is in very nice condition, so I'm saving them and will have them rebuilt by that place (in TX IIRC) that 26th-Z mentioned.

If someone can find JY belts that are in good shape, use them. Just make sure you examine them carefully before putting your life into them.

[Go240Zags]

Hi Gary:

I remember that thread.

My car is a early 72, it has the pockets for retractable lap belts, but did came with the old style non retracting belts. Anyway, I bought some nice retractable lapbelts on eBay a year ago.

Just a few months a go I was at a Pick N Pull and spotted a 73 240Z with what looked like a nice set of lap and shoulder belts, so I snatched up the shoulder belts an brought them home. I started cleaning them and the more I fiddled with them it became apparent that the webbing was severely deteriorated and somewhat brittle. In one place that I bent the material over double, it cracked. Not completely into 2 pieces, but enough to demonstrate that these belts would provide no safety benefit at all in the event of a sudden stop.

The sun has done it's damage to these otherwise nice belts. The hardware is in very nice condition, so I'm saving them and will have them rebuilt by that place (in TX IIRC) that 26th-Z mentioned.

If someone can find JY belts that are in good shape, use them. Just make sure you examine them carefully before putting your life into them.

Like any used part, especially one that involves your personal safety or that of your passenger's, you have to take precautions to make sure it will work in the way it was designed. I found a nice combination of belts and altho they're not new, they are certainly in good shape. I got my retractable lap belts out of a 280Z 2+2 and they are definately in better shape than my late 70 build car has. I got the shoulder belt from a 75 280Z two-seater and it bolts right where the non-retractable belt was and the difference in strut towers doesn't make any change, because they don't connect there. I only recommend going this route to someone who can find nice parts. Like any used part we put on our Zs, the nicer the better. For a 1970/71 car with non-retracting belts all around and no pockets behind the seat this is a good solution, but everyone needs to make up their own mind as to what works for them. My old '64 Chevelle SS only had lap belts. There was this weird chrome cylindrical thing with springs that would retract the belts (sort of wind the belt around itself). It worked well, but I'm sure it was an aftermarket add on. I think they still sell them, but not as neat as original Nissan retractable belts. Like I said, I was just a bit surprised at the reaction to my post in the other thread. Oh yeah, and I changed my screen name, because I never cared for the other one. Just something I chose because I couldn't think of anything else when I signed up. Go Zags, darned SF Dons anyhow . Gary

[Bambikiller240]

Oh yeah, and I changed my screen name, because I never cared for the other one. Just something I chose because I couldn't think of anything else when I signed up. Go Zags, darned SF Dons anyhow . Gary

Ah, when I got the notice of a reply to this thread I was wondering who the heck "Go240Zags" was. It'll take me a while to get used to the new ID. I'm not into college sports, what are Zags?

BTW, how do you use 280Z retractable lap belts in a car that doesn't have the pockets for the retractors? Do the retractors for the shoulder belts mount on the strut towers?

[Go240Zags]

Ah, when I got the notice of a reply to this thread I was wondering who the heck "Go240Zags" was. It'll take me a while to get used to the new ID. I'm not into college sports, what are Zags?

BTW, how do you use 280Z retractable lap belts in a car that doesn't have the pockets for the retractors? Do the retractors for the shoulder belts mount on the strut towers?

Carl, It's getting late. I had a big a$$ reply, but then the browser crashed. So God or someone must be telling me to keep it short. Zags=Gonzaga, a small Catholic Univ. in Spokane, WA. My Alma Matre, as well as John Stockton's who went on to play for the Utah Jazz. They've been going to the NCAA playoffs for the past several years. Unfortunately they lost their basketball game to long time rivals and former powerhouse SF the other day. Pronounced gone-zag-a, not gone-zog-a. P.S. Not to be confused with Gonzaga H.S. in DC area where Bill Bennet and Pat Buchanan went to high school, at least that's what I've been told.

If you read the link I supplied it might explain it better, but the retractable lap belts from the 2+2s mounted in the same area as the 70/71 non-retractables did. This, I believe is because the 2+2 had no pockets to put them in because they would be at the feet of any passenger small enough to fit in the back seat. The 74/75 couple shoulder belts bolted in same location high up behind the quarter windows, just like the 240Z ones did, but they had retractors. The seat belt mechanism didn't involve the strut towers until 76 on, at least as far as the link is concerned and my observations. I haven't tried to actually bolt them up yet, but there seems to be no reason they wouldn't work. However, I need to figure a way to rivit the two together, just using a bolt and nut doesn't sound very attractive. I believe when I am done, you won't be able to tell the car didn't come equipped that way to begin with.