[Rumi Faizer]

Recently bought a roundtail and wanted to install three point belts. I think that this is the single biggest safety installation that can be done. Available belts are, frankly, ugly. I just wanted to show off how I integrated the sweet lap belt system of the roundtail cars with a three point system:

1. I bought three point belts for "alfa romeo spider" from ebay carpartswholoesale. The belts come as a pair for $79.
2. I detached the stitching at the lower (lap belt) anchor point.
3. I removed the anchor, removed the buckle, and removed the b pillar anchor (useless on a spider!).
4. I inserted my original lap belt buckle.
5. Replaced the lower anchor and had See's Automotive sew it back on.
6. drilled hole in the usual spot (comes out the inside of the rear wheel well as other have shown), primered, and bolted the shoulder belt reel into place.
7. placed a vinyl strap around the outer headrest bar through which I passed the shoulder belt.
8. secured the lower anchor in the usual lap belt anchor position.

I'm pretty proud of this, so please, hardcore alfisti among you, go easy on the change from original. The belts really seam to work great, and I think that they will offer some additional protection in a head on collision, as the stress is really at the rear anchor, not at the seat.

I'm going to attach some pics. Tell me what you guys think.

 

[john.harrill]

Rumi,
Thanks for the write-up and pictures. I am pondering the replacement of the lap belts in my daughter's '78 and the vinyl loop solves the problem of how to locate the shoulder belt.

 

[rafael]

Rumi,

Looks good. Just one remark: I do not know how strong the trim piece is that connects the belt to the headrest. I have seen a thread on this bb in which a piece of metal was used for this (actually, a piece used for securing ropes when doing rock climbing). I'd feel more comfortable in this case, knowing that the belt will not slip off the shoulder.

 

[Rumi Faizer]

Rumi,

Looks good. Just one remark: I do not know how strong the trim piece is that connects the belt to the headrest. I have seen a thread on this bb in which a piece of metal was used for this (actually, a piece used for securing ropes when doing rock climbing). I'd feel more comfortable in this case, knowing that the belt will not slip off the shoulder.

I thought of that. Actually others have brought up that these entire seatbacks are not structurally designed for a shoulder belt, so the clip used is moot. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but it seems to me that the tension on the belt on a frontal impact is essentially all on the rear attachment, so hwo it's mounted to the seat is largely unimportant. I find the vinyl black straps just meld with the interior better than a carrabiner.