Spitfire Rear Cockpit - How to Cut Seat Belt Opening in Panel

[Neil Clark]

When I got it my car it only had lap belts (which is legal for a 1964 car) but I am fitting shoulder straps.  The threaded fixing mounting is there on the rear wheel arch and this means the shoulder part of the strap has to come through the board trim panel in the kit that I bought from Newton Commercial.  Has anybody cut such a hole and can you give me any hints please?

[NonMember]

I thought the seat belt mounting was inboard of the trim panels on Spitfires. It certainly is on mine. The belt passes through the trim panel on Herald/Vitesse convertible but the Spitfire trim panels are a fair way outboard so the wheel arch is very visible.

[DanMi]

Yes the belt normally bolts to the inner edge of the wheel arch well inside the trim panel on all spitfires. The threaded plate on the arch was not factory fitted. something like this

https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/fitting-new-3-point-seat-belts-to-our-triumph-spitfire/

[Josef]

However, as Neil’s car is a 1964 Mk1 it may well have a non factory third mount point? Or of course have been repaired over it’s lifetime. Photo should give you an idea of where they were fitted on the Mk3 and later.

[Neil Clark]

It's been fitted just aft of the vertical bracket supporting the rear deck.  It would be by far the easiest solution to just leave the mounts that do exist and fit new ones on the arches as suggested above.   I've a sneaking feeling that I've got spare plates somewhere to go on the underside of the arch.  I can't weld and I don't have access to a welder but if the plate is under the arch and the bolt holds it firmly to the belt fitting above do I need to weld the plate itself?  It will be firm and will spread the belt load won't it?

[DanMi]

mine were never welded and they can easily be obtained from race car places  eg  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173487968666?hash=item2864b0519a:g:IhoAAOSwO2lbfV2s  as they are galvanised they aren't designed to be welded. Mine are a bit too far back and catch when you pull the rear panel forward to get at the roof.

[Neil Clark]

Thanks Dan.  I have these plates with captive nuts.  I could put them behind the flatter part of the wheel arch, ahead of the trim.  The current ones can be seen tucked beside the vertical. 

[DanMi]

The later cars had them factory fitted on the flatter part further forward on the near vertical section parallel to the outside of the car, so forward and down a bit

[Josef]

The factory reinforcement plates are slightly curved so you’ll probably have to put yours a bit lower on the inner face of the wheel arch. I’ve used similar plates to those you have to mount my reels with a pop rivet through the small hole to hold them in place. 

[Neil Clark]

Thank you.  Hopefully I'll get some time tomorrow.

[Neil Clark]

All done as suggested and thanks.