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MG MGA - Seat Belt fittings

I fitted the seat belt bracket per the instructions to the inside Tunnel housing. While reading the WK/Shop Manual I realized I fitted the pan headed screws the wrong way round. The Manual states you must fit the pan head screws inside the tunnel and the spring washers and nuts inside the car. I have done the opposite. My question is how does the seat belt location fit with all the screws and nuts looking at you inside the car. I've checked all the items that came with the seat belts and I don't see there's nothing to cover neatly over them. I'm sure I have all the parts but there's something I'm not getting? Help. Clive....
c allen

Clive, This is how I fitted my seat belt pieces to the tunnel. All bits ex Todd Clarke. After the photo I shortened the screws a bit inside the tunnel....................Mike

m.j. moore

Thank you Mike..
c allen

Mike I have just been able to look at your picture and according to the WK/Shop Manual the pan head screws should be inside the tunnel with there washers and nuts outside the tunnel inside the car's interior. I'm trying to determine the finished look with how the carpet fitts over them. Obviously you can cut holes for the nuts but there still protruding through the carpet . Is this how its supposed to be??? Clive
c allen

Todd Clarke's installation instructions show the screws being installed with the screw head on the seat side.
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/interior/int124.htm
(double click on the third image)
I have installed this way and seems fine to me.
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/interior/int123.htm
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Clive, Here is a picture inside the car of the tunnel fixing point. When the seat's back there's not much you can see.
When I did mine I didn't refer to the W.Manual....................Mike

m.j. moore

There is more fixings hold the seatbelt to the tunnel than there is fixings holding the tunnel to the car.

We welded a cleat to the chassis for the belt end.

David
David Lake

Clive when I fitted the seat belts to my coupe I did exactly the same as Mike did on the tunnel and had the screws facing in and cut off the excess thread. On the bracket that fits on the top of the chasis I would recommnd that the do a trail fit with the seat in the car before welding the bracket onto the chassis. I moved my bracket backwards by around 1" from Todd Clarkes sketch so that the seat wouldn't touch it.

andy
Andy Preston 1

Thanks Andy. I get the picture. Still can't see why the WKSM reads you must fit with the nuts and washers inside the car. It seems to make more sense the way you guys have fitted them as this makes the carpet a smoother fit over the belt fitting point. Clive..
c allen

Clive, I've just had a look at the WM section SS2 and in the bottom inset diagram of Fig. SS1 it shows the head of the 7/16" bolt inside the car and not the nuts i.e. same as TC's diagram. In order it goes bolt head,washer,belt bracket, washer and stepped spacer. These five are inside the car and the spring washer plus nut are put on from the tunnel outside. Don't forget there is also a fixed nut welded to the circular dished bracket which also goes on from the tunnel outside.
There is a slight confusion in that Fig. SS2 doesn't show the first washer after the bolt head.

I would echo Andy's advice about positioning the chassis bracket if you haven't welded it already. Todd Clarke suggests that the closest distance from the chassis bracket to the start of the battery pressout panels should be 4.5". I put mine at 2" but even this seems to be too close to the seat with the seat pushed right back. If I were to do the welding again I would try and position the bracket another inch to the rear making it 3.5" further back than TC's position. The removable seat belt bracket when fixed has quite sharp edges and with the pointed quick release pin it would be easy to tear the seat vinyl......................................Mike
m.j. moore

Thanks Mike, I have already welded the seat bracket a long time ago but the restoration is far from fitting seats etc... so I'll cross that bridge regarding how close to the seat it turns out when I get to that point. Clive..
c allen

This thread was discussed between 09/04/2013 and 12/04/2013

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