They didn't change the pillar at all, they just moved the mounting point for the retractor into the storage pocket. So it uses the same exact same structure as the earlier cars.

Woops!

I'm thinking of my Vans....

Time for me to go back to sleep I see!

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68 Deluxe.... it's shiny..... I like shiny!!

OK, now I'm confused. On both the '66 and the '70, there is a threaded hole just forward of the rear pocket. The retractors that I have bolt up to that hole, with a bolt that is just below the rolled-up seatbelt webbing.

Why would the structure of the car need to be any different for a retractable seatbelt than for a static one? Wouldn't the forces applied to the mount hole be the same, i.e. my fat a$$ moving forward at 60mph while the car is stopping when it hits something?

tx,
bmc

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Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
1970 ex-police mk2 Cooper S

bmacpiper sorry we hijacked your thread, you say you have a 66 and 70 Cooper S and you want to mount rear child restraints, you will have to reinforce the rear window shelf and contact the manufacturer of the child restraints you want to get there recommended mounting system so as to not void the warranty.

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my 75 clubby has retractable front seat belts. if this helps or not.

didnt leyland change the design. eg. seats, door trim and seatbelts? halfway through '75. my mini was delivered 11/75. so it may have been built just after the changes took place?

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1975 Leyland Mini: 1060cc - resto/ ex-hsc project.

Hey no worries at all! I hijacked the crap out of a thread the other day...I think this has been a useful discussion.

I'm not wanting to put in child restraints--I'm wanting to put in rear seat belts for my kids (and adults, if ever needed) to use. I'd prefer lap/sash, but would do lap only if that was the only option.

So I'm still looking for ideas there. Like I said, the previous thread mentioned above makes it sound possible. I would love to see any photos of installed rear seat belts, factory or not, and the reinforcement work it took to put them in.

Thanks again,
bmc

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Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
1970 ex-police mk2 Cooper S

OK lets start with the 66 here is a photo of a 66 Cooper S the owner fitted rear lap belts by welding spreader plates on to the rear firewall , because he is in England this had to be engineer approved for the MOT. By having the belts fitted that way he could tuck the belts under the rear squab for car displays and club rallys.

[img][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3773/rearseats66cooperstf0.jpg[/img][/img]

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OK, that's a start, thanks.

You mentioned a spreader plate being welded; the thread above mentions one being riveted. I suppose since the load is pulling against the spreader plate, it wouldn't much matter whether you welded or riveted, yes? Once crash forces were applied, the plate would do its job. My thinking is that with rivets, it would be a lot easier for someone to revert the car to its non-seatbelt-state if they wanted to for shows, etc.?

tx,
bmc

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Ben McCafferty
Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
1970 ex-police mk2 Cooper S

If your Mini has the hole in the bulk head and a hole in the rear seat brace, the ones used for rota dipping, you can be fairly sure it was not fitted with inertia seat belts, I am talking about Australian built Minis

There has been some discussion on this forum about the need for stronger mounting points to accept inertia selt belts, but I am too dumb to follow the principles of physics that were cited. Your front inertia belts are not factory-fitted, or at least they weren't in Oz as far as I know. I have a similar set-up, and the rego authorities have passed it OK, if that is any consolation.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

I got retractables front and rear, they keep the interior of the car neat and tidy and they are far more comfortable to wear. I have also fitted a 4 point harness over the top of the original fittings and they have been passed by Vic Roads Engineer, so I have both available to front seat passengers. Trip along the Great Ocean road, caused the wife to Put on both belts, looked funny but it kept her mouth shut long enough for me to have a sh-t load of fun.

If you connect the back of the front belt inside the rear magazine compartment, it must be fitted as low as possible to the front face of the pocket with a large washer inside and out ( about 2 inch in Diam.) As the force applied in a collision will cause the connection to be pulled up towards the roof, there should be enough negative force applied to keep the connection in position as it will be trying to pull the bolt and washers through about 8 inches of metal. That sounds O.K. in theory, but its been passed by an engineer at Vic Roads as well as the rear connection points.

Pics available if you PM me.

My wife's car had the front belts screwed to the pockets, but on the side.
Not anymore, I don't trust our lives to a row of little spotwelds holding the pocket onto the floor.. engineer happy or not.
BTW among other things, I am an engineer...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Engineer? Isn't that American for "Train Driver" (runs for cover)

Nah that's Injineer.... they wear a blue peaked cap...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

apparently not a very good one!

[url][/url]

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.