Buddy seat seatbelts in a 1970 BAY

froggy · 05-06-2008, 06:15 PM

I've got a buddy seat to go in my bay behind the drivers seat, its a wooden box type that screws through the floor.
My question is how do i fit a seat belt to this seat to enable it to be used as an extra passenger carrying seat?
I have a 3 point static belt that i intend to fit, using the drivers top mounting for the one part, there is already a seatbelt mounting on the walkthrough part for the catch section but what do i use for the 3rd point? Would i just need to drill through the bulkhead into the wheel arch and nut and bolt it? Would this be strong enough?

P.S. I drive a converted walk through panel van if this makes any difference

rapidresto · 06-06-2008, 10:22 AM

you can buy seatbelt anchor plates, ie a thick plate with a captive nut which you could weld in to the appropriate area, but the area must be strong enough itself, so you might need to add some reinforcement.

You also need to ensure that the seatbelt will actually sit in the correct position so it wont harm the passenger in an accident.

You dont of course actually require seatbelts in the back by law, but its a good idea!

froggy · 06-06-2008, 11:54 AM

Were going to the in-laws in the bay on Sunday (deva on Saturday) but with myself, the wife,the daughter and both the Mother and father in-law there wont be enough seats.
The buddy seat isn't yet fitted as i dont want to fit it until i have sorted out the seatbelt mounts. I know that you say that you dont need a seatbelt in the back but not sure the family would be keen to sit i the back without the seatbelt.
Would the bulkhead behind the drivers seat be strong enough? this would mean that the mounting on that side would be in the wheel arch. There is already a mounting on the walkthrough section so its only really the bulkhead side thats the problem?
Is there any other way of fitting another seat?
Think i vaguely remember someone fitted a seat across the walkthrough section of there bay, this would be better or though not ideal, maybe ok for odd occasions as i dont see us having more than me the wife and the daughter in the van most of the time (although if you see my other thread i intend to change the front seats anyway and am not sure how bridging seats fit)

froggy · 06-06-2008, 12:07 PM

Managed to find what i was talking about

http://www.bluebird-type2.co.uk/Spli...20interior.htm

Its about a third of the way down the page called' Middle Seat for walk through Bay window vans'

The only problem i can see is as i said above i intend to change the front seats at some time so not sure if this would work (also quite expanxive for only occasional useage)

rapidresto · 06-06-2008, 12:50 PM

that was the one i was going to suggest, then you could fit a lap belt to it. The beauty of that kit is that it uses the existing mountings.

froggy · 06-06-2008, 12:58 PM

Think its going to be the best way forward, will still look at fitting different front seats though, might have to modify things slightly to get it all to fit

rapidresto · 06-06-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggy

Think its going to be the best way forward, will still look at fitting different front seats though, might have to modify things slightly to get it all to fit

wouldn't imagine you would have much problems with different front seat to be honest.