Belt up!

[23e Heure]

Before it arrived, I thought I had the MOT covered with my 914, as it has the usual US import challenges ticked off:
Euro turn signals front and rear already fitted, as well as a proper handbrake.
Just fit some RHD headlights handoff to my friendly MOT man...

However the inertia reels for the seatbelts are the original ones that came with the car in 1974.
Great for originality and all that, but basically on their last legs.

Has anyone replaced theirs in a 914? In a 911 they are a piece of p1ss to get to. On a 914 they are behind the backpad and:

a) I haven't worked out how to remove the backpad yet. Its in mint (refurbed) condition and I'm afraid of damaging it by yanking its around blindly.

b) Until I remove that, I can't see how the reels are mounted. Presumably bolted to the firewall? If so, how/where? I've looked from the engine bay and there is the noise/heat insulation pad attached to that side. It has been bonded/glued on so - again - I don't want to remove it if I don't have to and/or risk removing the bonding in the wrong area/section.

At the same time, an MOT question for the DDK brain:
How bad do inertia reels have to have got before they are an MOT fail?
If I can get away with it, I'd rather get the car MOTed and registered first, and then be free to decide who and where to use for the seatbelt replacement.
Either way, they'll be first on the list of 'fixes', as its an obvious investment in health and safety for the future!

Help?

[DustyM]

If they lock when pulled hard, retract freely and don't show signs of fraying then they should pass.

[23e Heure]

They only score 1 1/2 out of your list of 3! Even my Very friendly MOT guy may find it hard to overlook this, I fear!

[butzsi]

James,

A quick how-to can be found here:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=71844

Chris

[Mr Pharmacist]

I believe 924/944 belts are a suitable replacement. You need to remove the back pad and the inertia reels are housed in recesses on the fire wall

[Tosh]

Or if you want, have a chat with Sue at FDTS and she'll see you right on both software and any hardware that needs looking at - keeping your hardware (serviced) and new belt bits should be very possible. Though once you put on the 70s flares, you may want a harness!
http://www.fdts-seatbelts.co.uk/

[Robster]

Hi James,
I maystill have the belts off my car when I swapped to harnesses. I am a horder so I can't believe I don't still have them.
I will have a look.

For some 914 Karma, you are welcome to have them for price of postage, or pick them up if you are ever passing Wokingham.

I will get the thermals on and have a look in the garage!
regards
Rob

[Robster]

yep- found 'em

send me a PM with your details if you want them

[23e Heure]

Rob:
You da man. PM coming.

All:
From Chris' link to 914world, it looks like belt replacement is a seats out job... is that right?
Also, are the reels secured through the firewall? IE will I need to remove the engine pad that's bonded on that side?

[gridgway]

The belts in my SC are shockingly frayed and passed an MoT without comment.

Depending on the effort involved James, it may be worth trying an MoT in case there's anything else you haven't spotted yet.

Graham

[23e Heure]

The belts themselves are OKish. It's the retractor reels that are the problem...
I'd love to just get it thru an MOT locally, so I can register and drive it..: and then be free to go where I like to have new belts fitted

Edit to say: I guess having a pre-booked MOT (even if I think it is likely to fail) does at least make it legal for me to go for a short distance burn in the thing! Good idea Mr Ridgway!

[Mr Pharmacist]

I'm pretty sure you'll have to take the seats out, the interior back pad will have to come out as a minimum I think. I'm pretty sure you shouldn't have to remove the engine bay sound deadening pad. I think it is just a bolt on the inside into a captive thread in the fire wall.

The recess for the retracter housing units are in the top corners of the firewall - if you look on this photo of a car that has had the back pad removed you can just about see them.

[Darren C]

James,

If the webbing is ok on your belts, is it that they wont retract?

If so, pop off the triangular plastic trim that covers the bolt head on the guide bolted to the inside of the roll bar sail. (The highest guide for the seat belts either side of your head rests)
These plastic parts expand over the years with heat and drag on the belt as it passes through the metal guide.

With these off the belts should retract without resistance. (you can get new plastic covers from VW heritage (non REMA or VW branded) they're the same as MkI Golf.

If the belts stiil wont reel in quickly you can add a few turns to the coil springs. Let me know how you get on.
If you need a turn on the springs again let me know as you need to be uber careful and I'll do you a step by step guide.

[jackstowers]

Removing the seats and back pad is only a 20 minute job. Seats slide fully forward then there is a sprung steel tab under the runner to release the seat and let it slide right of the runner and lift out. The back pad is screwed along the bottom edge so after removing the interior light and unscrewing the engine cover release knob and bezel the pad will lift up of the clips at the top of the firewall.

[23e Heure]

Thanks David.

I know most peeps would do a search on 914world anyway, but I thought I'd post these links while I have them, in case helpful for DDK searchers of the future:

914 seat removal: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php? ... 231430&hl=

Removing backpad: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php? ... ad+removal

Removing backpad to change seatbelts: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php? ... ve+backpad