can I mount rear seat belt re-tractors on my 88 camaro's tonneau cover?
because my 88 only has waist belts. I can get my hands on the parts just wondering if its just a bolt on or big project.

 

Can I mount rear seat belt retractors (shoulder strap) in my 88 camaro? I can get my hands on the parts. Just wondering will they fit under my tonneau or will I have to reinforce and modify it. Reason is the kids go in the back and the 88 only came with lap belts.
Thanks

 

The late 91-92 'verts have shoulder belt retractors. You can add that style if you can find them. It would also require either swapping the tonneau cover or modifying it as the 91-92 are notched for the shoulder belt retractors which are mounted on posts. I suspect you'd need to reinforce the base where the posts mount too.

Lon

 

I've noticed the belts on the 91 are not the same as 92.
Must have been a mid year change in 91

 

Here's a few pics of mine on my '89. Should help to give you an idea.




Do you have the '89+ lap belt male buckle? I'm not sure about the pre'89's, but it has an additional notch in it for the shoulder belt buckle to clip into. After that then the male buckle clips into the female lap buckle. It's like a two piece system.

You'll also need the lap belt's mounting hardware to the tonneu cover. This may also involve peeling back the tonneu cover's vinyl to fasten it.

 

One thing you will notice... Look at the tonneau when it is up, on Iroctopless' picture next to the Black hinge on either side there is a reinforcement that looks like a Door latch bolt (directly behind the seat belt housing). That goes into the black bracket below it so that when in an accident the tonneau does not come forward...

I am not sure if it is that simple, to simply replace the tonneau and install the brackets, or if there is some structural modifications that need to be done to make it work...

I know that you will have to replace the back seat lower belts as well...

John

 

thanks guys. looks like it would be a big job. And if I did it wrong it would probably be more dangerous. Don't need the cover flying forward.

 

I've never really noticed that before. I kind'a thought that the tonneau cover was kind'a light to handle a shoulder belt impact. Thanks for pointing that out.