Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods Shoulder belt in rear center position

Hadn't read about this before; didn't see it in search:

My '95 GL has rear shoulder belts in the outboard positions; only a lap belt in the center. I've seen later models that include a shoulder belt in the rear center position. I don't know what year started including a rear-center shoulder belt.

I haven't cared until recently: My three kids are now in booster seats (as opposed to child safety seats that couldn't fit three across in a Contour anyway) and I'd like to have an alternative to moving them in my Windstar minivan.

Has anyone looked at retrofitting the belt assembly from a later rear-center position shoulder belt into an earlier model car (like my '95)? Does the deck above and behind the seats on these models have reinforcements that may not exist on my car?

I know the rear deck on my car is rated for child safety seat tethers: The holes exist, and I got the dealer-supplied tether retrofit kit to add the mounts to my car.

Any input appreciated. I'd particularly like to hear from someone who has attempted or successfully completed this retrofit.

Phil

the cars with the third shoulder belt have a slightly different deck then those without

to put one in you would have to cut it out of a car with one and weld it into your car

What differences are there? Can you be more specific?

Thanks!

Phil

the rear deck in a pre 98 is flat

the deck in a post 98 has a triangular releif in the deck that allows the seatbelt reel and machanism to sit just below the level of the deck

you would also need to get the plastic cover and cut an opening in the carpet for the shelf

note the area of the red circle, pre 98 first has the flat deck and the second, post 98 has the center seat belt

brapple -

Thanks for the pictures. Good comparison!

It wouldn't bug me much to do some cutting or drilling to make this work. I'm more concerned that the pre 98 rear deck has the structural strenth to handle the stresses from a shoulder belt during an accident.

I'll have to take a closer look at the hardware and mounting. I should find a wrecking yard with a post 98, both as a source for the needed parts and a comparison of the deck structure.

Thanks again for the pics!

Phil