93 Festiva - Changing from automatic seatbelts to manual?

[michaelmiller85]

I've got a 93 festiva L. How much work is required to change my seat belts from the automatic style to the manual ones?

Michael

[lanemeyer14]

Depends how good you want it to look. I have 93 Honda prelude manual belts in my 92 feisty and it looks good IMO

[michaelmiller85]

Is is much work? I need all new belts for everything, front and back. Just don't want to start a project and get into and realize I made a mistake trying to convert the front seats to manual.

[Safety Guy]

I have some pics and info in my build thread here:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31934&highlight=aquamutt+build

I recommend either trying out new generic three point belts or getting some old ones rewebbed. Our manual belts are now over 21 years old! Time to replace 'em.

I'm also going to check out the Rio belts from a '01 to '05 model. Maybe they'll fit?

Karl

[lanemeyer14]

Ok, I put the 93 prelude seatbelts in my festy and it was almost a direct swap. I took the festiva auto belt stuff completely out. All I had to do to mount the belts was enlarge one hole and cut part of the pillar trim to make room for the upper belt mount. I also have different seats so I'm not positive the festiva buckle will accept the prelude belt, but it should. I can take some pics if you want

[michaelmiller85]

that would be great if you could take some pics.