Has any of you XJ heads out there ever added rear shoulder belts to a Cherokee that did not already have them?

I am in the process of doing so and would sure like to talk to someone who has been there before so I don't have to re-invent the wheel.

TGISSEL...are you on line? I believe you said you had done this before.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Chime in and I can ask my questions. :confused:

Thanks
Zeek

Here is a link for an install on an FSJ. Hey it is a start.

http://www.ifsja.org/tech/interior/rearseatbelts.shtml

this is the best advise I have found yet for you.

http://www.carseat.org/Technical/640_RetroSB.pdf

BW

Thanks for your help, dude. Unfortunatly I have explored these two options with little results. I have contacted every Jeep specialty shop and their brother trying to find that Retro-fit kit w/ no luck. Chrylser quit making it in 91 when they started adding the belts from the factory. None are left.

I have a lead on a Jeep 'Junk' guy not to far from here. My plans are to go crawl around in some of his torn down stuff to see if I can either a) get the parts I need or b) at least see how they are mounted so I know what parts to make. I'll keep you posted. Poke me if you find any other info.

Much thanks
Zeek

Part number for the kit is 4636414 "BLT PKG" should anyone be interested or advise where I can find one.

Thanks
Zeek

I just went through the hell you are going through now..... I know this is long winded, but hey, it's concerning seatbelts, I don't want to leave anything out. I retrofitted a set of '91 Cherokee rear shoulder belts into my '88 for the kids car seats. Tell you the truth, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. The hardest part was trying to find (which I didn't) an 11mm nut for the upper mount. If you can get your hands on a set of the belts with the 2 rubber spacers and plastics washers, then you are on your way....the nut I used btw, was a 7/16-20, all I did was run a tap over the seatbelt bolt to clean it up. Fits perfect, just make sure you use a grade 8 nut.
As far as mounting the upper half, remove the upper side trim and lift the headliner up (2-3" should be fine). You will see an oval hole about 1.5" long with 2 small holes on either side. This should be directly above where the belt would exit on the lower panel. Weld the nut to a 1/4" thick washer which you can cut to an oval shape (about 2.5" long, 1.25" in hieght), drill 1 small hole near the edge of the washer on both ends, you can now tie mechanics wire onto the washer....again, on both ends, (2 - 12" lengths will be fine), if you look toward the rear of the upper rail, you will find another oval hole, larger than the one used to mount the belt, feed the wire in that hole, and out the small hole forward of the mounting point, you can now pull the nut/washer through to proper position. Make sure the nut is outside, not protruding from the hole. Tack weld the nut through the 2 hole on either side on the mounting poin, this will hold the nut/washer in place. Punch a hole in the headliner for the bolt, reassemble the trim......insert the bolt, rubber spacer, and plastice washer, tighen...and vola! As far as the mid point (recoil assembely), when you remove the seatbelts from the doner jeep, you will notice where the mounting point is, it's also in your jeep. As far as the lower mount, you may use the original belt bolt location without worry. One more thing, save yourself some trouble, get the rear trim (which has the cut-outs for belts) from the doner vehicle. When you assemble the belt, feed it through from the inside of the recoil space.

Great! Thanks, CanadianJeep! I knew I'd fine one of you guys out there that has "been there, done that!"

I was able to go to a "jeep" junk yard the other day and found exactly what you described...that there is a nut tack welded on the inside of the frame on newer models equiped with rear shoulder restraints that mine does not have. My plan was do exactly...in some similar fashion... what you described in order to get the nut on the back side.

I went the a local fastner / hardware shop the other day that specializes in unique, hard to find parts. They were closed when I got there and have been closed for the holidays ever since. I did not know the size so I was just going to take the bolt and tell them to get me a grade 8 nut and washer to fit. Now that I know the size I can call around.

I'm a little foggy on the the rubber spacers and plastic washers. I purchased some belts that have the bolts but I don't remember seeing any rubber washers and spacers. I'll check. Any idea where to get these if I don't have them? I should be able to get them from this Jeep junk yard I found but in case I cannot...... Can I make them? (pvc pipe for spacers and hand cut lexan for washers...or nylon washers?) What purpose do they server?

Thanks a million for your help.
Zeek

Zeek

As far as the rubber spacers and washers.....You need 1 spacer and 1 plastic washer per side at the upper mount. Check out a set of belts in a newer cherokee...you'll see exactly what I mean. The assembly order is as follows.....once you have the nut welded behind the upper rail, put the headliner back into place, (you can put all the trim pieces back at this point if you wish) punch the hole in the headliner for the bolt, the plastic washer sits on the headliner, the rubber spacer is sandwiched between the plastic washer and the seatbelt itself. Torque to 55ft/lbs......

Youn must usethe rubber spacer....it keep the belt away from the headliner. The plastic washer is just used to prtect the headliner friom the rubber.




Good Luck