Manual seatbelt conversion question

[TominMO]

Converting my 90 Festy to 88 seatbelts. For those of you who have done this already, I notice that the little hook at the top of the spool that should fit into the body has no place to go, if you use the bottom bolt on the spool. Do we not worry about it, or what? Or did I need to grab a little mounting piece for the hook at the JY that I didn't notice was important?

[bravekozak]

It will have a place to go if you saw through the auto tracks and trim, to expose the screw hole on the B-pillar. You will need a piece of 88 B-pillar trim to cover the exposed pillar.

[TominMO]

I'm talking about the belt spool that lives at the bottom of the B-pillar, near the floor behind the bottom of the door. The '90 spool is held on by three screws. The 88-89 spool is held on by one large bolt at the bottom, and has a hook that fits into the body at the top. But that is not possible on the 90. The hook is in mid-air, not fitting into a hole in the body as on the 88. The large bolt hole is on the 90, like the earlier cars.

[Dragonhealer]

I just mounted a strip of sheet metal across to give it something to screw to.

[TominMO]

I just mounted a strip of sheet metal across to give it something to screw to.

I expected this would be the answer. Thanks. Saves me a trip back to the JY to see what part I missed.

[bravekozak]

There are two types of manual belts. Long tabs and short tabs. I used the long tabs on my 1993 Festiva. It looks like you need them too. I have seen some members just ziptie the short ones to hang without a screw.

[TominMO]

There are two types of manual belts. Long tabs and short tabs. I used the long tabs on my 1993 Festiva. It looks like you need them too. I have seen some members just ziptie the short ones to hang without a screw.

Good pic! Yeah I have the short tabs. Why are there two types? 88 vs 89? Auto trans vs. manual?

I'll just do what Dragonhealer suggested. I'll go buy a couple of mending plates or something and drill appropriately. I can use two of the three 10mm screws that held the 90 spool on, then drill a small hole for the tab/hook.

Edit: went out there to look at the situation. The top hole on the short tab is within 1/2" of the hole in the body. Ended up using two zipties on the driver's side. I'll see how that goes. Looks like a short, straight bracket/mending plate would do the job more permanently/professionally.

[Dragonhealer]

It won't be good, that mass vibrating, use something more ridged than a nytie !
My first conversion I made and welded parts to make the mounting longer, (facepalm)

[bravekozak]

The long tabs are clinched onto the seat belt cage with a set of fingers.
I threw one out due to a slight tear on the edge of the belt. They refused to pass safety with it.
I will try and remove the other one from the cage. To see if it is possible to remove without damage. I think a better solution would be to cut off the short tab and weld the long tab plate onto the short tab plate. I will mail it to you. You are lucky I did an experiment to see if the seat belt retractors could be taken apart and put back together again (They can't).

[TominMO]

I had one short straight bracket with two holes in it from the bigbox hardware store, about 1.5" - 2" long, which was perfect to secure the top of the pass. side belt spool with a machine screw and nylock nut. didn't even have to oval out either of the holes. To attach it to the body I had a standard Festiva sheet metal screw, where there was a little hole already there.

On the driver side I just used two zipties, since I ran out of brackets. Should be fine; I think it just needs to be held in position, with no load-bearing function. But if it fails, I already know the solution.

Both belts work properly. Now all my cars are manual belt! :-)

Last night at 12:47am I figured out that the long tabs are probably for the 90+ years, since IIRC Canada never got the auto belts.

[bravekozak]

Who knows what are these Festiva part numbers are for?

E8BZ-61611A72-B
E8BZ-61611A73-A

F0BZ-61611B08-F
F0BZ-61611B09-E

I am only guessing left and right, short and long tab front seat belt assemblies?
Can someone find out?

[bravekozak]

I have Jim Carpenter from Collector's Auto Supply in Oroville, Washington checking into the pre-tensioner part numbers. I will give the local Ford dealership a call on Monday to see what the manual seat belt part number was for the 1993 Canadian Festiva. I will let everyone know. I do know that seat belt retractor assemblies aren't cheap.
If these guys in Washington bought Canadian surplus, then we might have to do a group buy for 22 pairs. I will find out Monday.

[bravekozak]

What a piece of work!

I was quoted $195 CAD by the Ford parts department to import the part from the U.S. including 25% exchange and shipping
Carpenter in Washington responded:

"Our system shows a price of $200.00 for this part plus shipping, but the price is subject to change once the part is pulled and looked at. If you would like to place an order for this, please call 1-800-476-9653 with part number and they can take your order."

Thank You,

Dennis Carpenter Restoration Parts
Carpenter Industries, Inc.
(704) 786-8139
http://www.dennis-carpenter.com


The part number for the 1993 manual drivers seat belt pretensioner assembly
is F0BZ-61611B09-F, B08 for the right hand assembly.

Is there any interest in a group buy? I would need buyers for 22 pairs. What do you think they would let 1990-1993 manual belts go at? $200 a pair (half price)? shipping included?
Brand new belts would be rather nice.

F3BZ, is the "E" engineering change level gray? or sandalwood?

I would ensure that these are the long tab rectractor cages + the belts are gray before placing any order.

[sketchman]

They show up on fourgreen. Are they not really available? Cause they were something like $30 last time I looked. I'm sure with a group buy from them it would be cheaper than $200/pair.

[bravekozak]

What part number? KK1045763004 ?