Mr.T Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 Having just got my Herald after a number of years thinking about it I am at last ready to tinker with it in my garage at the weekend. First thing I would like to do is upgrade the front static seatbelts which are a pain when you stop to look at junctions etc. I have seen a number of articles on fitting to a convertible but my little Herald is a saloon. I don't want to go through the trim panel and fit to the rear arch if I can help it. The cars existing belt fits just behind the front seat. This however is not perpendicular above the floor mount so unsure if the inertia belt would work. I would be very grateful from the forum for advice on this. Hopefully have posted this correctly as it's the 1st of many questions I have Many Thanks Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 inertia reel can be very self tightening due to the choppy ride of the car so staic have some advantages you really need to try a car with them fitted before you jump I contemplated reverting mine but sold her . some belt reels have adjustable pendulum position to aid the vertical alignment not all do that yes its much easier to get at the ignition switch but the shoulder might suffer from the ongoing re tentioning action you can get strap clamps to restrict the reeling in which can help there will be a lot of answers on this subject with lots of preferences good luck Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 15 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: inertia reel can be very self tightening due to the choppy ride of the car Yes, indeed, and this has always been a big problem on my GT6, which is why the Spitfire and Vitesse still have static belts. 15 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: yes its much easier to get at the ignition switch No, it makes it impossible because the belt has tightened and locked you into your seat - see above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 1 hour ago, Mr.T said: Having just got my Herald after a number of years thinking about it I am at last ready to tinker with it in my garage at the weekend. First thing I would like to do is upgrade the front static seatbelts which are a pain when you stop to look at junctions etc. I have seen a number of articles on fitting to a convertible but my little Herald is a saloon. I don't want to go through the trim panel and fit to the rear arch if I can help it. The cars existing belt fits just behind the front seat. This however is not perpendicular above the floor mount so unsure if the inertia belt would work. I would be very grateful from the forum for advice on this. Hopefully have posted this correctly as it's the 1st of many questions I have Many Thanks Martin Welcome. And please avoid putting in that huge amount of blank space under your post, I thought the page had crashed or something. Did your cat sit on the "enter" key? Anyway, I think, but check, there is space to put an inertial reel at the bottom of the B post, making sure the metal is sound and use reinforcing plates. Then a guide where your existing belt is fitted. I have inertia belts in my spitfire, and very rarely have an issue with them locking. Beware buying belts with teh "wire" attachment for the receiver, they get in the way, the ones with a short bit of metal are much better and stay in one place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 Martin, Welcome! I had static belts on my GT6, you can't reach the ignition switch with it on, doubly embarrassing if you stall. I replaced them with inertia reel and I've never had the locking problems outlined above. How "not perpendicular" are they? Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 I removed the inertia reel belts from my GT6 and replaced them with statics - as per original fitment. Never had a problem with the ignition switch - just slip the belt off your shoulder! I found the inertia reel belts tightened and locked as others have outlined above, but were actually quite difficult to get to lock with a sudden tug (MOT test / accident scenario) owing to the drag in the system. All round, I've never regretted the reversion to statics. Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 My most recent Herald being a late 13/60 would have had inertia reel belts fitted to the wheelarches and threaded through the oval holes in the side panels on either side of the rear seat, but the PO has instead fitted inertia reels vertically to the flat panel under the rear seat - see photo. These are reinforced in behind with fairly sturdy metal plates. The weak point is the fitting at the top of the b-post; here they're fitted to the front face and any force will probably rip them out, despite his adding strengthening in behind. Originally on the Herald convertible they used a two-point fixing behind the b-post so that any pull was sideways, not directly forward, and I'll revert to this once I get the correct brackets. Saloons had the static point on the inner rail of the rear wing, below the window. QuickfitSBS are the best I've dealt with for belts, and can supply the original brackets in a variety of finishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 the tug test is not going to work as the inertia pendulum has to move to lock the reel pulling the belt on many wont prove anything . Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 Have a look Here,:- https://forum.tssc.org.uk/topic/7037-vitesse-16006-convertable-seat-belts/page/3/ Down the 3rd page is how I evetually fitted them on my 13/60. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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