[DeTomaso] Seat Belts

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/21/07 12:13:21 PM, jmontero at fcmat.org writes:

<<...  My question is, can I convert my car to the more modern single belt 
setup with the retractors?  Has anyone done this conversion and, if so, what is 
involved?  >>

Major problem unless you're good at interior work; my daughter-in-law did 
this one. What's involved is to find a set of stock late-'73-up belts in good 
condition. The lap belts swap right into your car. The integral shoulder 
harnesses are the problem since they are attached to their own retractors sunk into 
the firewall on later cars. Your early firewall likely has no depressions built 
into the steel, and the upholstered surrounding is not made to accept the 
shoulder harness retractors, either. 
Your choices: spend a ton of money to mod your car, sell your car & buy a 
late '73-up Pantera, or stay satisfied with the arguably handier detachable 
shoulder harness of the early setup. Or go to a bolt-in aftermarket system which is 
probably safer anyway and certainly will be much less effort. And you can 
always unbolt racing harnesses & reinstall the stock ones for shows. Good luck- J 
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