Date:         Tue, 26 Apr 2005 16:33:49 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Installed GO Westy's rear shoulder belt
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

This morning I installed GO Westy's Rear passenger side shoulder/lap
seatbelt, in my '85 Westy, and it was quick and easy.  I'm really happy
with it.

http://www.gowesty.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=KT-122&Category_Code=

I started by removing all the phillips head screws from the rear panel
(2 really small ones, one holding the curtain holddown cord, and one
holding the curtain strap/snap.  The 2 rearmost snaps in that panel are
riveted in and I just left them.

I pulled the forward edge of the panel out far enough to see the white
plastic phillips head plug that was fastened to the stock seatbelt pivot
point mounting.  I wedged one of those phillips "Tips" (the kind that is
only about an inch long and inserts into a screwdriver that accepts
various tips) between the plastic plug and the panel.  I placed a 13mm
socket over the spot where the screwdriver tip was wedged and tapped it
with my rubber hammer.  This caused the blunt end of the screwdriver tip
to poke through the panel and the socket kept it from splitting away
from the hole. I was able to remove the plastic plug with a phillips stubby.

I then cut the hole a bit larger with a #11 exact-o knife.  When I could
see the threaded mounting clearly, I held the mounting spacer, that
comes with the Go Westy kit, up to the mounting point and drew around it
with a pencil.  I finished enlarging the hole with the exact-o so that
the spacer would go through the panel.

Next I put all the little screws back in the panel except for the one
where the curtain tie back snap was because the Go Westy inertia reel
was going to cover it.  I bolted the inertia reel to the mounting point
without tightening it all the way so I could be sure of the angle that
the belt needed to take.  BTW, the bolt head in the inertia reel takes a
5/8" wrench (go figure).

Using a 17mm wrench, I removed the old lap belt and bolted Go Westy's
belt in its place.  I sat in the seat ... attached the belt to the
receiver and positioned the inertia reel then finished tightening the
reel down.

I went back to the rear and, with curtain strap in hand ... decided to
take out the tiny screw that was just above where the strap used to
attach and screw the strap/snap there.  Works great ... looks good.

Mike
Houlton, Maine