Front seat belt options

74 Thing · Post by **74 Thing** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:14 pm

What are you guys using for your front seat belts-I would like to continue to use the orig female part of the seatbelt that bolts to the tunnel, but I want to get a new belt since I think the originals could use replacing due to safety.

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:31 pm

You are exactly correct about safety. The National Traffic and Safety Board recently did an extensive stress test on safety restraints in classic cars. They determined that no safety belt part was serviceable after a ten year span. There are a number of good solutions to solve your issue.

YOu can purchase a complete two point ( or better yet) three point safety belt system for your Thing that will be new, and provide increased passenger safety. I would suggest that you do not use your original belt latch that hooks to the tunnel as it is beyoned it service life. If you wnat a full set of original Thing belt sis great condition Pmail me I will sell a set to you a a very fair price. At the same time, I would try ot convince you to buy a 21st century safety solution. Go to various web sites and you will notice you can buy modern stuff that will fit in the Thing for around $30 per seat. That is three point retractable seat belts for all vour passengers for under $150 including shipping. If you have trouble finding the stuff or figuring out wher to attach the third point pmail me and I will show you what others have done to solve this issue. K-mann

74 Thing · Post by **74 Thing** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:18 am

Thanks for the info-can you post a pic on how to attach a 3 point system in a Thing?

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:00 pm

There are three choices on the issue of a stock Thing with three point seat belts. Two involve using the roll cage to attach the third point. The third option is to attach it to the door post between the front adn rear doors in the bolt hole that connects the middle hard top support bar to the door post. The roll cage options include drilling and tapping the roll cage to hold a stock seat belt bolt. My prefered option is to purchase a high strength clamp that bolts to the roll cage that has a mounting hole that will hold a grade 10 or better bolt that secures the third point to the roll cage. K-mann