seatbelts on an early B

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Helge Tielker
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seatbelts on an early B

#1 Post by Helge Tielker »

Hello all,

here I am with the next "dumb" question ...

our car came with 2 point seatbelts (no Porsche logo on it)... so we really do not know being originals or not. The are fixed "between" the seat mounts with shown material.
We would love to have seatbelts in the car as driving in Europe is different to the USA. Preferably 3 point belts.
Any idea's how to install belts (without restoring the car - it is still a driver ;)) and can we re-use the two points of fixation?

any lead is highly appreciated :).

cheers from Holland ...

Foto 1: holes where the seat belts were fixated , foto 2, 3, 4 the used material.
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IMG_1950.JPG
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IMG_1949.JPG
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IMG_1948.JPG
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IMG_1947.JPG
356 B Coupe 12/59 ruby red/ black
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356 C Coupe 64 BaliBlue
(under restoration)

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David Jones
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#2 Post by David Jones »

Helge, there are more than a few articles on seat belt installation. Search the forum. I have 3 point retractable belts in my A cars. Move those bottom mounts, very bad location no real strength.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
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Helge Tielker
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#3 Post by Helge Tielker »

David Jones wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 10:19 am Helge, there are more than a few articles on seat belt installation. Search the forum. I have 3 point retractable belts in my A cars. Move those bottom mounts, very bad location no real strength.
Thanks, David, will use the search once more ...
356 B Coupe 12/59 ruby red/ black
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Peter Silten
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#4 Post by Peter Silten »

I did a search on the Registry and, if I am not mistaken, you asked the same question several years ago. In any event, if you do a search you will find a number of posts on the subject, and in technical section you will find an article written by Gordon Maltby. Good luck.

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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#5 Post by Dave Erickson »

David Jones wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 10:19 am Helge, there are more than a few articles on seat belt installation. Search the forum. I have 3 point retractable belts in my A cars. Move those bottom mounts, very bad location no real strength.
David, where did you install the third point to get good retraction? Any photos?

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David Jones
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#6 Post by David Jones »

Pictures are out there in past threads Dave. One was in February of 2021.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
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Brian R Adams
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#7 Post by Brian R Adams »

FWIW I believe this is where T2 (as mine are) and probably early T5 lap belts were anchored. Diagram from Autobooks manual by Kenneth Ball. However, on my car (w/ lap belts listed in the COA) the reinforcing plate on the outside of the floor pan is flat, and only as wide as the 45-deg "corner" of the pan.
Lap_Belts-1.png
As noted later cars changed the U-bolts ("loops" in this manual) to eye bolts, so the metal (anchor) end of the belts different from mine as well.
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Jim Clement
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#8 Post by Jim Clement »

P4190349.JPG
I used a version of that detail
I welded a nut onto a small plate - about 3" x 3" then welded that to the exterior of the car at the 90 degree junction of the floor pan behind the seats, with the corresponding hole into the car for the seat anchor to screw into, then seam sealed it, and sprayed it with bottom of the car, simple and I think very safe.
 

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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#9 Post by Brian R Adams »

Jim,

When was your car built? It has a simple radiused corner there, rather than a flat 45-deg transition as shown in the diagram.
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Martin Benade
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#10 Post by Martin Benade »

I think the 45 degree one is the T6 design which also had built in threaded inserts, like diagram A-A but without separate nuts.
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#11 Post by Brian R Adams »

Martin Benade wrote: Fri May 13, 2022 7:28 pm I think the 45 degree one is the T6 design which also had built in threaded inserts, like diagram A-A but without separate nuts.
My late T2 came with lap belts and has the 45-deg. facet.
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#12 Post by Martin Benade »

Then I don’t know. Factory installed belts? Does it have threaded inserts welded in too, or just holes drilled?
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#13 Post by Brian R Adams »

Martin Benade wrote: Fri May 13, 2022 8:44 pm Then I don’t know. Factory installed belts? Does it have threaded inserts welded in too, or just holes drilled?
They're all gunked over with undercoating, so I can't be sure. Lap belts are listed in my COA, but it's not unlikely they were installed by the US dealer.
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anchors_3.png
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#14 Post by Martin Benade »

I think I might see nuts. I agree that dealer installed is most likely, but then would they have gotten on the COA?
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Re: seatbelts on an early B

#15 Post by Jim Clement »

Brian R Adams wrote: Fri May 13, 2022 5:41 pm Jim,

When was your car built? It has a simple radiused corner there, rather than a flat 45-deg transition as shown in the diagram.
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Mine was / is a early T1 -1957 - early A - the same type of detail could be used for either, it is nice and clean.
 

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