280Z seatbelts into a series one 240Z?

[zcar70]

How difficult is it to put a set of retractable seatbelts from a 1977 280Z into a series one 240Z? Are the mount points the same? I realize that the retractors will take up space, but I do not want to drill any new holes for mounting.

Have any of you done this before? Thanks in advance.

[SteveJ]

Okay, I'll bite. Why do you want to put 30+ year old seatbelts into your car? The webbing suffers over the years and can't stretch like it could when new.

You can find aftermarket belts with new webbing and retractors that will fit better than seatbelts from a 280Z. These seatbelts require absolutely NO drilling, tapping, cutting, slicing, dicing, etc. It doesn't take long to replace the belts, either. Just search this site. I've replace the belts in both of my Z cars, the last time was only a couple of months ago.

Steve

[zcar70]

I've got a NOS still-in-the box set. Just wondering if it able to be done.

[SteveJ]

Cool. That is different (provided the belts were stored well). Unfortunately, I think you'll find that the retractor mechanisms for the 280Z belts won't work for the anchor points in the 70. (I'm assuming you're talking about your 70.) While the aftermarket belts won't have the Nissan logos, they are a drop-in replacement.

If you don't need the belts for your 280Z, you might try to sell them here or on E-bay to finance some aftermarket belts.

[MikeW]

I'm fairly sure the answer is no. The retracting lap belt was added for the 1972 model year. The retracting mechanism itself is installed in a pocket that was added to the floor behind the seats which has two threaded bolt holes per side. My 9/71 car came with the pockets but without the retracting belts themselves since it was a transition time of the year. There was a factory rubber plug on each side in the unused bolt hole. I was able to add retracting belts later. I could be completely wrong about this if the 280Z design was changed back to no pocket and only one hole per side. Didn't the 280Z also have retracting shoulder belts?

[ezzzzzzz]

Two problems come to mind. Your 70 won't have the recesses in the floorboard for the lower retractors and the rear strut towers are different so the retractors won't fit as stock either.

[cbudvet]

I was looking at Motorsport auto at the reproduction retracting seatbelts to see what they were like. They do say that for 70 and 71 models, you have to drill a hole in the floor. Bummer.

carl

[zcar70]

Thanks for the info guys. I suspected that because my '70 doesn't have the pockets in the floor for the retractor, that a surface mount would interfere with the seat.

I've been searching on the aftermarket, and there appears to be a couple of good options that have a much smaller retractor that I think would fit on the floor without any interference problems. I believe this is the way that the MSA kit fits, but is necessary to drill a second mounting hole (which I do not want to do!).

The search continues.... for now.

[geezer]

That was one benefit of replacing my floors. The new ones came with the indentations for the retractable belts. What I lost in originality, I gained in practicality.

[SteveJ]

I was looking at Motorsport auto at the reproduction retracting seatbelts to see what they were like. They do say that for 70 and 71 models, you have to drill a hole in the floor. Bummer.

carl

That's even more reason to go with the belts I put into my 74. One end mounts to the floor, and the end with the retractor mounts at the shoulder position. The belts pull out more easily than the ones sold by MSA. (I have that type in my 73.)

[GreenZZZ]

The retracting lap belt was added for the 1972 model year.

The shoulder strap on the '72 was static, not retracting. Retracting shoulder belts bolt in to the same mount point as the static strap however.

[ZCCOR#109]

OK!

In summery,.....

Who has the best retractable set that will go into my 1972 Z?

I want the short belt to have a "sleave" to keep it off the floor, and the retractable to hook up on the roof like the existing fixed belt.

I'm all ears folks.