Seat Belt Latch Question

[Lefty]

Yet another question, dear members.

I have successfully installed a new Subaru bucket seat on the passenger side of my single cab. The seat came from a Subaru. The only problem is that the seat belt won't buckle. It will not latch closed on the Subaru receiver. It will not latch closed on the middle seat Ford receiver either.

Isn't there a different receiver somewhere out there? One that bolts to the floor? Maybe one from an extended cab? Maybe a mazda?

Once again, thanks!

Neither of these will latch.

 

[franklin2]

The Ford system will not latch? That meaning both ends are the original Ford pieces?

 

[Lefty]

The Ford system will not latch? That meaning both ends are the original Ford pieces?

That is correct. There are two receivers in the photo. The plastic one with the red button is Subaru. The silver/chrome is the original Ford meant to be used in case a third passenger wants to sit in the middle of the old 60/40 bench. It is on a short strap which bolts directly to the floor. The trouble is that it will not latch to the shoulder strap belt.

My hope is to find a Ford receiver on a short strap that will bolt to the floor, one that is compatible with the shoulder strap. Is there such a thing maybe in an xlt or a Mazda?

 

[19Walt93]

Be careful mixing seat belt parts, you want them to stay buckled if they're needed. Why not reuse the original part? If you need one with a sleeve over it to hold it up they're available from Mustang parts vendors- I used a couple Mustang sleeves over mine to hold them up around the Explorer seats.
By the way, your truck is a regular cab, not a single cab.

 

[Lefty]

Be careful mixing seat belt parts, you want them to stay buckled if they're needed. Why not reuse the original part? If you need one with a sleeve over it to hold it up they're available from Mustang parts vendors- I used a couple Mustang sleeves over mine to hold them up around the Explorer seats.
By the way, your truck is a regular cab, not a single cab.

I'm thinking I need something like this except that it would mount to the floor

 

[19Walt93]

I'm thinking I need something like this except that it would mount to the floor

Just make darn sure it latches securely and you can't pull it apart. A sleeved Mustang buckle of the same vintage would probably latch with your belt.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Not that you should ever mess with seat belts... and anything you do from this point forward to ensure safety will be squarely on the installers shoulders...

An appropriate 90 degree bracket bolted to the floor with a bolt hole to accept the belt latch would work.

 

[Roert42]

The seat belt would buckle with the latch that is for the center seat. Is it possible you are trying to put it together upside down?

 

[Lefty]

Well I solved the problem in a totally different way.

it turns out that the Subaru seat will accept the original Ranger seat belt receiver/latch. It is actually a direct bolt-on. So I removed it from the old Ford seat along with the wiring. It worked!

The photo shows the whole works plugged in and ready to be tested before final assembly.

Here's a couple more photos of the swap.

I cut the "feet," the floor mounts, off the Ranger seat and welded them to the Subaru. The leather Subaru bucket seat is more comfortable and looks like it belongs inside the Ranger.

The driver's side is next.

 

[superj]

thats how i mount seats too, when they are not stock. cut old mounts off original and weld to the new one

 

[Lefty]

thats how i mount seats too, when they are not stock. cut old mounts off original and weld to the new one

This is all new to me. I've got a lot to learn from pros like you.