LM 3-Point Retractable Seat Belts

[JP_REX]

Hi Everyone,
I just posted this on CC, so you'll see the same posting there, but I think this is useful info, so I'm posting it on CF as well...

I want to share about the 3-point retractable seat belts that I installed on the front seats of my 67 coupe recently. The belts are made by Morris Classics (http://morrisclassicconcepts.com), and this is the first set they have made for a Corvair.

The set consists of a retractor/belt assembly, a custom floor mounting plate, female buckle, a roof mount cap, and hardware. Morris offers many belt color choices to match your interior. The retractor cover and the roof mount cap are black plastic, but you could paint or dye them if you would like.

The 1/8" thick stainless steel mounting plate is designed to fit the floor of the Corvair and bolts to the original floor seatbelt mounting hole. The plate has a vertical tab to which the retractor assembly bolts. Although I left the plate sitting on top of the carpet, it could be installed directly against the floor with the carpet on top, though a slit would have to be cut in the carpet for the vertical tab to stick through.

The upper mount bolts directly to the factory shoulder harness mounting holes that were installed in 66 1/2 - 69 Corvairs. There is a plastic cap that covers the fasteners.

The inboard buckle mounts to the floor in the same fashion as a regular lap belt. Since the floor mounting location is fixed but the seat can slide back-and-forth, Morris custom makes this belt to the length that fits where you position the seat.

The retractor locks when the belt is extended quickly and, in my opinion, the belt speed at which it locks is a good compromise. It locks up at a speed that is faster than you would typically move your upper body but slow enough that it doesn't get aggravating.

I've attached some pictures which show the set installed. I think they look nice installed, and I like the added safety benefit.

Billy at Morris was great to deal with. If you want to get a set, contact him through the website.

John

Side View

[SyntheticBlnkerFluid]

Looks good.

My question is have you tried to get anyone into the back seat? It looks like it will easily move out of the way, but I was curious. Also, you said they are the first for a Corvair, but I do not see them labelled on their site. I imagine they will add it.

I like the setup. The fact that it uses the factory mounting holes is good.

[SyntheticBlnkerFluid]

Any updates? You kinda posted and bailed. I'm interested in these and they still don't have them up on their website.

[Allan Lacki]

Back when I installed shoulder harnesses in my 1966 Corvair, Morris Classic Concepts was not yet offering belts for Corvairs. And so, I was on my own. My set-up is a 3-point inertia reel system much like the ones installed by GM in cars starting in the mid-1970s. It is very similar to the Morris Classic Concepts set-up. Because my Corvair was manufactured after April, 1966, it already had anchors for shoulder belts mounted in the roof from the factory.

Here are the major parts that I purchased and installed in my 1966 Corvair coupe, which is equipped with factory anchor points in the roof for shoulder harnesses. For the shoulder harnesses, I chose a "conversion van" style that has long sashes that mount to the anchors in the roof of the car.

In addition to the parts listed below, I also purchased and installed bolts, washers, nuts and a piece of steel channel. I used the steel channel to relocate the inboard floor anchor points for the front belts.

Two front shoulder harnesses. Conversion-van style. With inertia-locking reels. GM buckles. Ordered from Wesco Performance.
GM Buckle 3 Point welr-L-sbs-gm 1 96.90 29 Colors = Black - #1000
Retractable Seat Belt Add Mounting Hardware = Yes(+$6.95)
with Long Sash Guide Bucket or Bench Seat = Bucket
Seat-11 inch Sleeve (Regular Seat)
#402-6
Subtotal 96.90 (each)
Shipping 12.64 (each)
Tax 0.00 (each)
Total 109.54 (each)

Two rear seat belts. No retractors. GM buckles. Ordered from Wesco Performance.
Lap Belts - Choose 1205 1 29.95 29 Colors = Black - #1000
Seatbelt Buckle Style: Add 212 Bolt kit = No Thanks
Lap Belts with Genuine Length = 60 inch #120560
Vintage GM Buckle
Subtotal 29.95 (each)
Shipping 10.75 (each)
Tax 0.00 (each)
Total 40.70 (each)

Two direct fit kits for 66-73 GM cars and 67-70 Mustang/Cougar. (Roof anchors). Ordered from Julianos Hot Rod Parts.
These are the roof anchor adapters.
JU010960. $20 each.

[JP_REX]

Rob,
Sorry, I didn't see your post until reading Allan's response. It's tougher to get in the back seat with the belts installed but it's just a matter of pushing the belts aside slightly and stepping a little higher to avoid the retractor. It's not as bad as my memory of some 80s coupes with the seat belts attached to the front seat where you have to maneuver around the belts to get into the back. Really, anyone sitting in the back seat of a Corvair coupe should probably be fairly small and nimble anyway.

I don't know why Morris hasn't updated their website, but if you give them a call, I'm sure they will be responsive.
http://morrisclassicconcepts.com/contact.html

John

[SyntheticBlnkerFluid]

Thanks for the reply John. Are these belts fairly long? I ask because my wife has a large chest and older shoulder straps are not long enough to be comfortable for her.

[BobWitt]

Thanks to each of you for your postings, I am trying to decide what to do on this same subject...

I like the retractor at the bottom of the lock pillar, like Allan's set up. How comfortable are the belts, in each case?

Allan Lacki - what wheels are those? AR Salt Flats or other? Is your car Marina Blue? Love the wheels...

[terribleted]

The Morris belt look nearly identical to belt units I have gotten from other sources sans the nice upper mounting cover. I have moved the retractor back right to the base of the rear seat by welding a new mounting point into the rocker panel back farther than the original. This leave the belt back out of the way for rear seat access.

[Allan Lacki]

Hi Bob Witt,

Thanks for your compliments about my 3-point safety belts and about my wheels.

Yes, my 3-point belts are reasonably comfortable. The long sash guide, which hangs from the stock mounting point in the roof, is key to locating the shoulder belt. You'll notice that the Morris Classic Concepts kit includes a long sash guide, too. With the sash guide, the shoulder belt rides just a little bit high, at the top of my collar bone. Without the sash guide, the shoulder belt cuts right across the neck, which is extremely uncomfortable. (That is the problem with the stock factory shoulder belts).

The shoulder belt retractor is mounted on the floor with a hardened 1/4" L-bracket, which in turn, is bolted through a hole I drilled through the floor. Of course, there is a nut and and washers on the bottom side of the floor. The washers came with the Wesco belt kits and are extra-thick fender washers to prevent pull-through. The other ends of the belts are bolted either directly or indirectly to the factory seat belt and shoulder belt anchor points. All hardware is Grade 5 & Grade 8.

The wheels are Rocket Igniter wheels. 15"x6". The centers are painted argent silver to match the cove panel in the rear of the car. The rest of the car is Marina Blue. It's an old paint job, done about 25 years ago, in RM lacquer with clear coat. http://www.rocketracingwheels.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Normally, these would be lug-centric wheels, but I wanted them to be hub-centric, like the original Corvair steel wheels. So, to mount them properly, I had a set of aluminum hub-centric rings made for them by MotorSport Tech. 70.9 millimeters ID, 78.23 millimeters OD. (These metric measurements are equivalent to the necessary inch measurements and provide a nice snug fit).
http://www.motorsport-tech.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tires are Yokohama S-drive 205/55Rx15. These are summer tires that, in my opinion, ride well and provide excellent grip on the track when I'm running with NECC.

Al Lacki

[JP_REX]

Rob,
The belts are pretty long. I pulled the shoulder portion of the belt out until the top touched the top of the steering wheel, so I think it should fit most anyone.

Bob,
Regarding comfort, it sounds like Allan's setup and the Morris setup are probably similar. Like Allan, the shoulder belt rides just a little higher that I would prefer, but it is OK. I doubt the location of the retractor mount makes much difference in where the shoulder belt rides. I prefer using the factory floor mount, but Allan's floor mount is certainly a less-noticeable way to integrate the retractor.

Overall I think comfort is acceptable, but you have to temper your comfort expectations with the fact that this is a retrofit. I think we are all used to the 3 point belts that were baked into the design of modern cars from the get-go with comfort features such as adjustable height shoulder mounts and lower latches that move with the seats. The integrated design of a modern car also makes the belts fit a wider range of body shapes/sizes. Short of Sebring seats or some massive modification, I don't think you can achieve modern-car seat belt comfort or fit in a Corvair. Lap belts are certainly more comfortable that 3 point belts, but I do get some comfort from knowing that my head is less likely to hit the steering wheel in an accident.

Maybe we need to organize a seat belt round-up so that folks can try out the different configurations! I know it's impossible to shop-around without having something to try out.

John