Modern seatbelts, yay or nay

[Jiimmy 0]

Hi all. I'm considering installing modern tension seatbelts in my 1976 Mk.3 pickup. I drive it about once a week, which is enough for me to consider safety.

So I came here to be talked out of it if it's a bad idea. With the original static seatbelts if I fasten it fully it's very uncomfortable and I can't even come close to reaching the dash handbrake without having to loosen it, and therein comes the safety concern. These things will be near useless in a collision unless I've by chance properly tensioned it pre-collision.

I know some may want to keep it in original condition. This Mk.3 - while in very good condition - isn't such that it's fully original to the last detail and I don't consider it a "classic" to that extent that it needs to be kept 100% original.

So yay or nay? Did you all keep it original, or have some installed modern seatbelts? Best option I thought would be if modern seatbelts could be installed into the current setup so that it could be changed back to the static belts in the future.

 

And then if it's not considered profanity to do so, where would I have such a retrofit done? Since it's about safety I'm not considering doing it myself.

 

 

[LagoonBlue 141]

Mark my vote as yay, if you feel that you need good belts then you need them. No one should give you hard time for such a mod. Also remember that seat belts technically have a limited service life and if your's are original they would have degraded quite a bit by now, especially in your climate.

Also MK3 seem like a stout design of which overall occupant safety would surely benefit from a set of good belts, unlike my MK2 which is in all honesty a rolling coffin..

 

Sorry, I am not familiar with anything beyond MK2's but I would think that aftermarket inertial belt kits should be available? Perhaps later models will bolt straight in. Someone with better knowledge please chime in.

[John Mack 315]

I would think the inertia type from a newer Cortina/P100 would bolt in ??

 

I'm sure you'd feel a bit safer and more comfortable........ Yay  

[sheffieldcortinacentre 669]

The main problem will be finding stalks long enough., I  fitted mine with  inertia square buckle ford with MK4 zephyr/zodiac stalks ( MK1 early MK2 transit would've worked).

If not P100 cortina will be easiest swap.

I've a set I've needed.

[Kenworth W900 39]

Could you share some pics of the interior? And of the belts as they are currently?

[Jiimmy 0]

Thanks all for replying , I guess I need to start looking for some seatbelts.

I've found these which don't seem terribly expensive, but import cost might double the price. Stalks seem pretty long?
https://www.burtonpower.com/securon-retractable-front-seatbelt-black-sec500-45bk.html

 

I'm open to good second-hand belts as well.

 

On 9/18/2024 at 2:02 AM, Kenworth W900 said:

Could you share some pics of the interior? And of the belts as they are currently?

 

Can do! Will take some pics.

[sheffieldcortinacentre 669]

From Burton power they will be.

MK4/5 bakkie ones will be a straight swap.

[Kenworth W900 39]

On 9/19/2024 at 7:44 AM, Jiimmy said:

Thanks all for replying , I guess I need to start looking for some seatbelts.

I've found these which don't seem terribly expensive, but import cost might double the price. Stalks seem pretty long?
https://www.burtonpower.com/securon-retractable-front-seatbelt-black-sec500-45bk.html

 

I'm open to good second-hand belts as well.

 

 

Can do! Will take some pics.

 

The reason why I was asking about your current set up is because I was going to suggest Securon belts, these are go-to modern replacement belts for classics here in the UK. They have many different designs to suit all applications. Burton's always apply a considerable price mark-up so you may be best trying to find a seller on eBay who will ship internationally, or a local Securon stockist?

 

I haven't yet seen your interior but I will say that you may need the long stalks because of the mounting location and seat adjustability? But the version with the webbing buckles may be better suited as you can adjust the length of them:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261734420694?_skw=securon+500%2FW&itmmeta=01J8K1TCH5TM32FW6SRK4TZCPC&hash=item3cf09650d6:g:sXcAAOSw2gxY06ci&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnfcuRgqPh%2FnF%2FqgN%2FuIlg71JdnshJkri0M91UJp7POiR7ISAWS7qveYrS%2BJ66wkGxpiVA9PO1fGMwpivYXKqmZXm1y3YyCBeuhl1pqXhLTsRh%2BKflKiK1mC7kFM7elq%2BJiL8n%2BabsNKCPAT41IWUjm78f%2Bo%2Bw01Dvq2zwp3oJoP%2BmB0skF2%2F2HkBx0shkmO0YymaxPSU8P5ciBgnXA2Yw%2BHoCgCGEYR3zG0GlTQ%2FHb43cpPs%2BEmxucPdWNemnwCoSqHH%2F4EiVfJouUzs20D89XbmL9rdYq9AYcXz13rnIzng%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9bI6eHEZA

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320457995869?_skw=securon+500%2F45&epid=9016999203&itmmeta=01J8K1R2D769VMXDZZDTKDN2B8&hash=item4a9cc8f65d:g:tEwAAOSwAKxWXYXm&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlNgJTwaUiFceJttJl8NSFXnuD%2BPqO0V19%2BWFzVdlQgZ8vNwGotCz0S4OVFkGzfxQnBctAumWDWLOR1NsT2G4EXogisL2JDui5Km8PMxVrVNQjVe5RgQ4i0RkzqGP18BjGkO8x0DsP357sPlp7YtiJm8DQw%2B%2Fmzl6yDRWBu3aLcH1kE5Y%2BAug%2FXP%2Ba8IZHvdzPaeiVvuiFrNnofQ5Vb1d0zJS6izODs0ig8B8UilwmRd8QALAEMT%2FeffdNHG%2BefI5Yh52zwQFANYPx0Ice4jrmrfzT8huOOl6CbBomTHvaszA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9am4OHEZA

Edited September 24, 2024 by Kenworth W900

[Jiimmy 0]

 

On 9/18/2024 at 2:02 AM, Kenworth W900 said:

Could you share some pics of the interior? And of the belts as they are currently?

 

See attached. The seatbelt is anchored at 3 points, behind the seat on the floor to the left, and right of the seat below and behind the door, and at the roof above and behind the seat.
I can see why the stalks would need to be quite long coming from the back behind the seats and through the seats, it's quite some distance.

 

Edited September 25, 2024 by Jiimmy
added photos