For those of you who have a 73’ 2+2 and want replacement seat belts here’s a bit of my experience and opinion. It appears to me that finding replacement seat belts will be quite a chore. After getting mine out and checking out seat belts available in the marketplace I have found that replacement belts that fit correctly are pretty much unobtainable. The leading manufacturer apparently (according to my favorite spares supplier) does not provide replacements with the upper mounting bracket on the correct side for a 73’ 2+2. To use the available replacements I would have to twist the belt between the retractor and the upper mount. Not something I prefer to do. You can guess why. I suspect the latching tongue would also be on the wrong side too. Mental visualation of this is difficult for my old brain. I was not able to special order belts with the upper mounting bracket (& latching tongue) on the correct (opposite) side for my 2+2. I do suppose I could buy them, send them off to get the bracket and tongue reversed. But then I could also send my originals off for restoration and avoid the cost of new belts while taking on the (apparently high) cost of restoration. Nothing seems easy here. Anyway, I disassembled and repaired the originals and everything works fine. But they are still old. And, I’m replacing the old radio speakers too. And, I’m driving the 2+2 instead of waiting for belts to go back and forth.
Have you explored the offerings from Ssnake Oyl?
https://www.ssnake-oyl.com/
They tend to specialize in US makes/models with a rather extensive stock of original webbing and fixtures – and they can be very expen$ive BUT they do amazing work.
They may have something in stock that will be close to what you need.
This is what they did for my seat belts - 1965 Riviera Gran Sport with a one-year clasp style:
The white labels are year-specific replacements.
The webbing is the original color and style.
Craig, Yes, I checked them out. In my case everything on my belts was
very good. They just needed spring tightening and a spring cover
repair to allow spring tightening. My original webbing was in great
condition too. I was just letting other 73’ E-type 2+2 owners the
challenges ahead dealing with seat belts. Thanks for the reply. Bill
Bill;
I had my belts (70 2+2) so I think different then yours done by Ssnake-Oyl, and they did a great job. I can not sort out what is the problem you are having is, whether cost, position of belts in car or the belts are not put together correctly.
I am a retired physician from a small town in western Nebraska. I think we all hope none of us ever have to use our seat belts for the purpose intended but if you have to, make sure they fit well and are tight and in good repair.
Fixing a face and or neck after an accident is far more expensive then the belt ever would be. Good luck.
Regards, Joel…
Hi Joel, My belts mount under the rear arm rests, behind the arm rest
upholstery squab, with the retractor reel facing the outside of the E.
The retractor is not seen from inside the E behind the squab as they are
hidden. This necessitates that the upper mount bracket and the latch
tongue be on the opposite side of the belt from where then are mounted
on the Securon belts. This may be hard to visualize but this is what
presents the problem in acquiring new belts. They are really a PITA to
remove and re-install. I had to tighten the springs in my belts and
repair a spring cover on my Kangol Reflex belts, they work very well and
the belts themselves are in very good condition. Our low mileage E was
acquired from my brother-in-law’s wife’s family 18 years ago and we are
second owners. This un-restored E has always been garaged and hardly
driven in inclement weather it’s whole life. Thanks for the response.
Regards… Bill
Bill;
I have never looked at a v 12 that carefullyand was unaware they had arm rests. My car 70 s 2 does not, My back seat has two lap belts, Kangol positive locks and the front seats have a lap/shoulder combo with a positive lock and it can be cinched up tight and and it has no give in it. I do like the feeling of being contained and pray I never find out if they will keep me in place. I would like to see some photos of your belts if you have any, thanks.
Regards, Joel…
Joel – Bill was being more than a little generous in calling them arm rests
The detail of the the part in question is from SNG Barratt’s site and are up-side-down
As the name implies, the parts are speaker covers and are all black plastic. They also serve the function of being a dress piece to cover the rear of the interior. The “arm rest” is all of 1-2" deep.
Joel, Here’s a photo of the seat belt as installed where the retractor
is hidden. And yes there is an armrest there. It’s runs from 2" to 3"
wide as it goes to the rear. And, Craig the link you referred to SNG
Barratt US | Keeping your Jaguar on the road
https://www.sngbarratt.com/English(US)/#/US/parts/117f3f5c-5bf9-4633-8d7f-6734c5d2c76c?fromList=XKE%20%2F%20E-Type(3)%20>%20E-Type%20S3%20Roadster(13)%20>%20TRIM%20Assembly(18085)&fromCategory=Node%20Speaker%20Panel,%20L.H.(Node%20Id%201944122)
has nothing to do with my 73’ E-type 2+2. I have found that the 73’ 2+2
is sometimes very different than earlier 2+2’s. Regards… Bill
You’re correct – I missed that yours is a 2+2
The parts I linked are for the OTS
Oooppps
Bill;
Your arm rest is the ‘same’ as mine in my 2+2. The area of the arm rest is made of foam rubber and the area below is a piece of 20 or22 ga steel that is screwed to the metal under it
My belt ends are like a ‘J’ and the other end fits in the crook of the “J” and is held tightly by magnets. The shoulder belt portion goes back to fasten to the area under the rear quarter window. I thought you had a arm rest in the center, dumb me. Interesting how we interpret material that is written.
Good Luck, Joel----
Hello,
I have a 73 XKE Series 3 Roadster and am struggling with the seatbelts.
My “belts” are fine, the problem is with the retraction mechanism, which is bolted to the back of car above the “storage bench” area. The belt is to come forward over shoulder and across lap.
In reading your topic, posts, I wondered if you may offer advice on repair steps to the retraction piece. How or where suitable one may be found?
Thank you for any info you may offer!
Kindly,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
If your belts are Kangol Reflex belts then you can try tightening up
the belt retraction spring. To do this you will need to remove two
screws from the smaller black cover and rotate the cover counter
clockwise. In the photo, Seat Belts
I am referring to the cover in the photo on the right. BEAR IN MIND
DO NOT LIFT THE COVER UP! - HOLD THE COVER WITH ONE THUMB WHILE ROTATING
THE COVER! IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE AD LET THE COVER LIFT, THE SPRING
WILL JUMP OUT AND WILL UNWIND AND YOU WILL HAVE A PROBLEM ON YOUR
HANDS. SEE THIS Rewinding a Seat Belt Return Spring and What NOT To Do - YouTube AND
YOU’LL UNDERSTAND. You will not have to hold the spring cover down
with too much force but just keep it down. You will have to remove the
seat belts from the car to do this. There are two bolts holding the
belts in - one by the retractors and one by the seats (outboard side).
Now, rotate the cover a few turns and repace the screws and test the
returning of the belt until satisfactory. You really shouldn’t get too
crazy with too many turns as you can possibly break the insides of the
cover and then you will have a real problem. These things are old and
can break easily. Mine was broken and I was able to fix it with great
effort. Now if you can’t tighten the spring then the cover is probably
broken. In your case replacement belts are available from SNG Barratt
and they are at
SNG Barratt UK | Keeping your Jaguar on the road
. In my case with my E-type 2+2 the retractors were hidden behind an
panel and the design was such that the securing parts would be on the
wrong side of the belt. Also you can consider cleaning the belts. Do
some internet searching on seat belt cleaning. I do know that you know
that you want to use soap and water.
Gook Luck… Bill
Oh, Thank you so much for the reply! Will give it a try!
You are very welcome.