I am installing a set of 2000 Firebird seats in my 87 Formula and would like to know the best way to get the seatbelt in my car to work with the seatbelt guides on the 2000 seats. For those that don't know they are not split like 3rd gen seat belt guides...so I am sure I need to unhook the seatbelts and run them through somehow. I haven't experimented yet, but I figured this issue has came up before and someone will know the answer!

 

I would recomend to install the seatbelts from the 4th gen also. They are so much better and look cleaner. But if you are still going to use the 3rd gen seatbelts. You will have to make the guide split. Just cut it in half between the 2 bolt holes. You can also use the 3rg gen guides on the 4th gen seats. Adam :-)

 

All u have to do is cut a little slit in the bottom of the guide. then slide ur seatbelt in it and it dosen't even look like u did anything. That's how i did it, mine looks pretty darn good too.

 

I used my third gen seat belt guides!

 

Will 4th Gen seatbelts install fairly easy? Mine in the car now tend to not retract like they should when you unbuckle them, so an upgrade would be great.

 

I believe there is a thread about it somewhere here, if you type in the search box it will pop up. I have never done it but I remember seeing it.

 

Yes. They pretty much bolt right in. The part that gose in the roof are a direct swap. But the part that anchors to the floor requires you to unbolt the bracket that the retractor bolts to. You well see what I am talking about. Then the anchor part of the belt bolts to an existing hole. The only downside is you will have a hole in the sill plate. You just have to get a set out of a 82 f-body. And the buckle part gose in the stock location. Adam :-)

 

IMO, i would take the stock third gen cover and drill the rivot out off the factory seatbelt mechanism and put the tan cover back over the sill plate in some fashion. or grind the lil tabs off the sills and hide the speaker wire. would look much better. just an observation.
looks unfinished,but nice touch with the new belts.

 

GM did make some 4th gen seat belt guides (00-02 I believe) that already have slats cut in them to slide the belts in and out. I bought some ebony ones for my 01 TA seats. Sorry, no part number though...

 

It is unfinished. I need to get me a set of sill plates from a 82 car. That's the only year that didn't have the retractor there. So it will be all smothe with no hole. I just haven't gotten around to finding a set yet. Adam :-)

 

ah sweet. helps to ask. are they available from the dealer?
id like to have a set for a project im working on.
thanks for the tip.

 

Not sure if it's the same with the Birds, but on the Camaros there were some years in the late '80's that had belt retainers with splits from the factory, and when you inserted the screws through the retainers and into the seat, the split was then closed - that's what I used on my 4th gen seat swap, and kept my 3rd gen seatbelts for now.

 

Your exactly right...they are that way on my 02 convertible WS6! I would asume that all convertibles are that way since you would have to unhook the seatbelt to get into the back.

 

there is a LARGE(UGLY) version and a small version as well.
check the pics in the GM catalog.

 

I just installed seats and belts out of an 00 Firebird this weekend, the rear belts bolt right in, the only problem I had was observed above. Same deal, I tried it that way but did not like the way it looked. I also though about removing the cover off the third gen belts and putting it on the 4th...I ended up just leaving my front belts alone for now...I like that sill plate idea, I was unaware the 82's came that way. Gonna have to find a set of those.

Also I cut the guides between the two bolt holes with a hacksaw...They look fine once installed.