Rear seat belt retractors

[Wallington]

I was just looking over some old photos of parts I've owned and mostly sold, when noticed that the rear seatbelt retractors changed. Most of my pics are from 2 sets of 1978 belts vs 2 sets of 1980 belts. The 78 set uses a centred belt retractor with matching covers, the 80 is offset with the covers matching.

The 1980 version also changes the way it wraps over the mechanism and also has more of a cut-out for anchor bolt and tool use. The 1980 version also has a reinforced belt opening, likely an improvement. I'm not sure if any cast part numbers but the 78 version has PP cast into it for the material used. They would likely not swap easily. I have just been lucky with swapping samples, it seems.

I could add pics perhaps, better wait until morning and even drag a sample or three out. Has anyone else noticed this or knows when the changes occurred? Or perhaps there were several used as being different suppliers of belts. I could look up model numbers for each year but hours quickly go by. These are only the chrome deluxe belts, I have never owned any other type, or looked before typing this.

OK looked at a few used items on ebay. Looks like 79 also has a 3rd version between the 2, centered but with reinforced belt opening on one side only. It would still fit the 78 version fine, but likely not the offset 1980+, unless the offset cover is larger on one end and retains the other end to fit either. Will check tomorrow, I have both, somewhere.

[Warren Seale]

In 79, there were two belt suppliers (may be other years as well).  One supplied Van Nuys and the other Norwood.  Does this come into play as well with regards to fitment variations?

[Wallington]

I took heaps of pics but not going to fill up yet another photo collection so here's just a couple.

Looking online I found a slightly different 77 Firebird version, still deluxe belts. Then same but using regular belts.

Here's some pics for sake of chat. 78 in camel tan and centred retractor and cover. 80 in the caramel with offset retractor and cover.
The 'centred' cover on the left is still slightly offset, has a round-end and a flatter end, but is nearly symmetrical compared to later version.

Firebird 78 centred vs 80 offset rear seatbelt retractors (6) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 78 centred vs 80 offset rear seatbelt retractors ( by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 78 centred vs 80 offset rear seatbelt retractors (7) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 78 centred vs 80 offset rear seatbelt retractors (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 78 centred vs 80 offset rear seatbelt retractors (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird 78 centred vs 80 offset rear seatbelt retractors (4) by Ben, on Flickr

And no, they don't swap. The offset 80 cover had no chance and I didn't try it. The 78 cover only got one lug clipped out of four and was very distorted.

Firebird trying to fit 78 rear seatbelt retractor cover to offset 80 belt (2) by Ben, on Flickr

And to add another version, here's a Morris replacement belt set and what I saved as a 79 set. Not my pics. You can see the new belts are offset the other way. I don't know what they did to use, turned them around and clipped one side only perhaps. Is the owner on here?

Morris seatbelt set 1979 TA (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Morris seatbelt set 1979 TA (11) by Ben, on Flickr

[Warren Seale]

I haven't seen it recently but I recall that either the parts book or the service manual had a full page showing photos of all of the variations of belts used.

[FormTA]

This is the first I have seen this thread.  It is interesting but not to the masses. The mirror gasket post is very interesting to all because it is a problem for anyone restoring one. The belts can be swapped with no ill effect so there lies the reason for lack of interest/posting. It's interesting for information purposes for me at least but I have nothing to add to your post.

[Wallington]

If you had to ship a set of replacement covers around the world, complete with heavy retractors you didn't want, you'd want to know they fit. The masses have it too easy. Those brand new belts, do the covers fit? I guess you lot already know. You missed the point, the belts can be swapped, the covers can't.