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Seat Belt Installation - Inertia Type 1980 Model MGB GT

Original Inertia Spool

Related posts ==> Other Repairs

My MGB GT LE is a 1980 model and 40 years old.

Recently the plastic cover over the original drivers side seat belt latch broke, resulting in the release button falling out and the seat belt latch no longer able to clip together with the buckle.
Looking online in Australia, there was no inertia seat belt parts available from the regular MG parts suppliers. I also checked the local auto parts stores and no luck. I then found a local seat belt supplier company who were able to supply a suitable inertia type replacement seat belt unit. The new unit was supplied with the seat belt unit, mounting plate, a sleeve washer, all bolts and spring washers.

Following is a summary of buying and installing tips:


Original Complete Unit with Broken Latch
Original Seat Belt
unit with broken 
plastic casing
on the latch  

  

1. The online search offered two types of seat belts - a simple lap strap and latch unit or a lap/sash inertia unit. Given the year of production (1980) my MGB GT had factory fitted inertia units.

2. After looking closer it was revealed the passenger side seat belt unit was after market and the driver side unit was the original factory fitted unit - that was the first time I noticed that.

3. The mounting plate - Installing the after market unit was fairly simple but offered a couple of small challengers. The first being the mounting plate. The original mounting plate/metal bar was shaped to maintain a level release spool 

 

Original Mounting Plate which
has a twist to position the spool
at the correct level
in order for the strap to release when pulled which, if not relatively level, will not release. I first fitted

the spool unit with the flat metal mounting plate supplied with the new unit. Given the position of the mounting nut, which is slightly to the rear and to the side from the top of the wheel arch, the spool unit was not level and the belt did not release. I then noticed the original mounting plate had a slight twist which allowed the spool unit to sit relatively level. I re-installed the spool unit with the original mounting plate and all work properly.

4. The second challenge was the wiring on the original latch component that sends a signal to the SEAT BELT warning light on the console of my 1980 

 

New Mounting Plate Supplied
 with the new unit. Being flat
it didn't position the spool
at the correct level

model MGB. I decided to cut the wires and leave them unconnected, making the SEAT BELT warning light inactive.

5. The original spring washers seemed to have less spring than the new spring washers supplied with the new unit so I replaced the old with the new.

New Latch Fitted to base of tunnel.
Warning light wires were left
disconnected 

6. A couple of the new bolts were a little long so I used the original bolts. I also used the sleeve washer to mount the new spool unit on the wheel arch, lifting it a little higher.

7. The new spool unit was supplied with a hard plastic cover which does not clip in anywhere and moves around. I plan to cut that cover off.

The installation of the new seat belt was fairly quick and simple and would have been quicker if I used the original mounting plate first time around (see photo). The new unit works well and the car is now ready to obtain a Road Worth Certificate for registration.



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