Mark Hubley

Last weekend I installed 3-point belts for the rear seats of my 1986 944. I purchased the belts from Pepbelts:

<a href="http://www.peparts.com/pepbelts.html" target="_blank">http://www.peparts.com/pepbelts.html</a>

They are part #KT120-3.

<img src="http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/~mhubley/Porsche/seatbelts.jpg" alt=" - " />

I don't think they were specifically intended for a 944, but they work quite well. The only problem from a functional point-of-view is that the retractors, which are bolted into the C-pillars, prevent the rear seat-back from folding forward. From an aesthetic point-of-view, the retractors bulging out from the C-pillars are a bit awkward. However, I doubt anyone not familiar with 944's would notice they aren't stock. Besides, I don't think they look any worse that the awkward lap-belt retractors that used to sit on the rear seats.

The merits of the back seat of a 944 are debatable. However, my reality is that I have a wife and a 4-year-old kid. Up to this point any family outing meant driving our Suburban. Call me a tree-hugger, but I hate driving a Suburban at 13 MPG just to carry a 4-year-old. When we are hauling horses, the Suburban is great. I can now drive the car to work, I can drive it on the track, and I can drive it with the wife and kid to church or dinner out. In my opinion, that versatility adds to the greatness of the 944.

<img src="http://academic.pg.cc.md.us/~mhubley/Porsche/nickbelts.jpg" alt=" - " />

With only the lap belts, I simply did not feel safe putting Nicolas in the back seat. The new 3-point rig makes me completely comfortable with having Nick in the back. Right now he needs a booster seat, but it won't be long before he will fit perfectly in that back seat without the booster.

Installation took less than an hour, including the time it took to get my tools and clean up. All necessary hardware was included, and service from Pepbelts was very good. Cost was $300 for the pair of belts.

Cheers,

Mark

Matt O.

Wish my dad would have known about that back in 88 when he sold the 924 because of no seat belts in the back (not a family car, etc)! Good job.

ringo951

You said that you can't fold the back seat down now. Would turning the retractor up a little allow it to go down, or no adjustment would let the seat go down.

avainio

Mark-

Very nice! I had looked into that at one point, but didn't know how they would look or how bad the installation would be. I was actually trying to find a set of 1987 or later belts and installing everything. So far I haven't been able to find a set. I also have a 4 year old son and worry about him in the back. Thanks for the pictures.

Arne.

Joel's_84_944

Does anybody know if this could be done to an 84 944?. I have two small kids that love to ride with Daddy, but I want better restraints in the car instead of the lap belts.

Dave

Thanks for posting this Mark!
My son is just about ready to go from the (forward facing) baby seat to a booster seat and I've been dreading the change due to the lap belts. Actually, he's been 38 lbs for about 6 months now getting taller and thinner but those 2 pounds will come sooner or later .
I'm gonna go wake up my wife and tell her were getting new seatbelts.

Darren

Nice!

How do his legs fit in there though?? From my experience, with a car seat/booster seat, the kids' legs don't fit! The only option is to put the passenger seat way up (not good for the passenger!).

I considered removing the rear seat and then putting the car seats in, not sure whether that will work out.

jason952

do those belts rachet back when you pull them all the way out? this makes it appropriate for car seats and the like? thanks,

J

Probesport

GREAT info!! I will probably be looking into these very soon. I haev a 2 year old that I would fit perfectly back in the factory "child seats"

Mark Hubley

Ringo: Unless you rotate the retractors so that the belt comes out going upward, it won't really allow the rear seat to fold down. As you can see from the first pic, I already have the retractor aligned almost horizontally. I think I would have to rotate upward at least another 45 degrees to get enough room to fold the seat down.

Joel: The 1986 cars have mounting points in the C-pillars; I believe they are intended for the shoulder loops of seat belts, like the ones in the B-pillars. My car had plastic "dummy" bolts (with phillips head) in the holes. I'm not sure if 1984 cars have these mounting points in the C-pillars.

Darren: The passenger seat definitely has to be moved forward. My wife is about 5'8", and this is not a problem for her. In fact, the first thing she does when she gets in the car is pull the seat forward anyway. She says it feels weird to sit with the passenger seat so far from the dash. I'm 6'4", so my seat is always all the way back. The booster seat does cut down on rear leg room for the little man, but it's not too bad with the passenger seat pulled forward just a few notches.

Jason: I'm not quite sure what you mean. Pull out the belts, and they will attempt to retract. I haven't tried pulling them out all the way though.

Cheers,

Mark

Mark Hubley

Arnie: I also looked into the magnitude of the task of installing stock belts into my 944. When I got to the part about having to weld brackets (for the retractors) into the cargo area I said to myself, "No way!" There is also the issue of getting new carpet in the back (with bulges and slots for the retractors and belts).

This was much easier! And, if I ever want to go back to stock, it will only take about half an hour to put the old belts back in.

Mark

jason952

I mean will they work like ones on a new car in the back seat. pull the belt out to its max and the belt will retract and reel itself in such that no slack can be pulled back out. Once the belt is all the way returned, it is normal pull/retract back and forth until you max it out again. hard to describe....

Jason

jason952

bizo

Mark Hubley

Jason,

When I pull the belt all the way out, it tries to retract, but you can pull it right back out again. In other words, pulling the belt all the way out does nothing any different than pulling the belt out half way. Does this make any sense? This is very hard to put into words.

Mark

James86-951

I think Mark is saying no, it does not function the way a newer sedan with the car seat friendly seat belts. You would have to use the H clip.