which seat belts are better?

[KAL7467]

I have searched around a bit on the net and found the black dragon retractable belts for about $110 shipped and the ones on zparts.com for about $180 shipped. anyone have experience with these sets. I want to upgrade the non-retractible ones that came in my 240...Install ease and reliability are my two top factors...thanks in advance

[SteveJ]

Search is your friend...

[ta240]

I like the Roadster Retractable Seat Belt from http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/resebe.html with the 11" sleeve end

I hope to have pictures online soon but I used a spacer and a couple washers on the retractor to hold it out away from the interior so it wouldn't crush anything when I tighten it down. Took all of 10 minutes to install each side.

It is so nice now. When I want to I can reach over to the passenger door without undoing the seat belt now (at a stop of course)

Trevor

http://www.240z.me

Edited November 15, 2010 by ta240

[KAL7467]

thanks man did you order the hardware kit with it for the extra $10?

[SteveJ]

Yes, I did. It makes the inboard portion easier to mount.

[SteveJ]

If I get my 260Z back in time, I hope to take it to the next club meeting. That way you could take a look at how I mounted the belts.

[KAL7467]

I found this pair that has a nice retro look to them with the chrome latch style...about the same price think I may try them. I will just need to bang that L bracket flat and install should be a snap

http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product/WSCH300.html

[SteveJ]

You could just buy a piece of flat steel and drill a couple of holes it in. That would give you better strength than a piece of metal that has been bent and straightened.

By the way, check your existing mounting holes. A 1971 240Z with non-retracting seatbelts may not have two threaded holes on the floor for mounting a seatbelt like the one you linked. The WESCO roadster style that Trevor and I used would not have that problem.

Also, one of the drawbacks of the style you linked is that it tends to bind easily. I mounted WESCO seatbelts similar to that one in my 240Z. I don't like those nearly as much as I like the ones I mounted in the 260Z.

Feel free to send me a PM with your phone number if you'd like to talk about seatbelts some more.

[KAL7467]

good idea with the steel I have a ton of scraps at my shop. I believe there is only one hole at that point but I was planning on mounting the adjuster and strap from the same point. With the straight bracket wouldnt they mount the same as the wesco one or am I not seeing this correctly?

[SteveJ]

The roadster style belts from WESCO (part WELR-N) have two mounting points. You mount the retractor on the ceiling behind the seat, and the other end mounts on the floor. It extends easily with little-to-no binding, yet the inertia locks will grab quickly in panic stops to minimize the chances of you eating your steering wheel.

As Trevor mentioned, you'll need a couple of washers or a flat metal spacer to allow the retractor to swivel without tearing up your interior plastic. Mounting is very easy, too.

If you do decide to go this route, I recommend the 11 inch inboard belts and mounting hardware.

[KAL7467]

i see guess i need to think this over ...u say the wesco ones are more functional?.. mabye ill go the rout of modernizing up the z instead of worrying about keeping it 70" style

[spotty]

I just finished installing a set of Wesco WELR belts in my 240 last weekend. Comfortable, easy to install, and most importantly, upped the safety factor from the near 40 year old originals.