348 seatbelts

This may be a silly answer (it isn't intended to be) but are you aware that there are anchors on the seats for that purpose, as illustrated in the Owners Handbook? Just move the shoulder belt attachment "G" from motor mouse "E" to permanent seat anchor "F". You have to hook up your belts manually each time you get into the car. So what? I've been driving my 348 that way since I bought it.
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A 355 (same body/frame as 348) with "normal" 3 point seat belts is pictured in a new Crystal Cove event thread here on Fchat.

I haven't paid enough attention to 355's to know if they all came with 3 point seat belts after a certain year, or if it was just that particular car that was outfitted that way (perhaps via aftermarket).

But if a 355 can do it, so too can a 348.

 

Actually... the 348 mouse belts anchor from the center of the car outward; the 355 belts anchor behind the quarter windows and buckle in the center. Very different systems. One works, the other blows goats.


The brotherhood got shafted on this one.

 

Euro 348's have the three point belts like 355. So I would think you could convert them. The parts cat. list the parts. I don't know how easy or economical it would be. It was some silly US reg. The Testarossa also has the mouse track.

 

Daniel @ Jack Russell Racing, thanks to Richard above there appears to be a Euro parts solution. Any idea of the cost/effort??

 

Just to delve into this question a bit further.

The main diagram here is the Euro version of the drivers seat and belt. Instead of having two separate belts (lap belt and shoulder belt) as in the USA version, the Euro version uses a single belt. The inertia reel is mounted to the outside, by the quarter window, as Daniel said. The bottom of the belt is bolted to the bracket on the seat track/frame. The single latch is secured at the inside, same as the recepticle for the lap belt on the USA version.

If you look at the closeup of the frame bracket on the USA version, you see that it is in two pieces, "sandwiched" together. And it APPEARS that there is a blank hole in the same position as the belt attaching bolt in the Euro version.

So it looks to me like you could mount a Euro inertia reel and bracket on the shelf behind the seat (IMPORTANT: It would have to be suitably reinforced), and you could mount the belt bolt onto the existing USA outer frame bracket, and you could mount a Euro center belt recepticle onto the existing USA inner frame bracket, and you have a perfectly usable active restraint system with a single belt.

What do you think?
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I think that would work. An even simpler (fewer parts) system would be to have the green-circled male belt-connector added to the existing center-mounted U.S. belt.

You'd just have to swap the passenger and driver's seat locations, and then...The existing U.S. belt would connect straight down (at that point, you'd be replicating the Euro system, except that you'd have a center-mounted 3 point belt instead of one 3 point belt mounted outside by the rear quarter window area).

The green circled male belt-connector would then pull the belt over the driver and click into the outside female seat belt receiver.

 

I think that may work. Daniel , Parts prices please

 

Mes amis... c'est n'est pas possible.

The green circled buckle is not sold as a distinct spare from Ferrari because they consider the belts to be a fully integrated system. The only way to get that buckle is to also buy the belts and retractor reel. ~ $1K

 

Nawwww....A decent 3 point, retracting seat belt is only $90 at JCWhitney.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/showCustom-0/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2006835/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2006835/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=seat%20belt
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Guys, I don't know if this information helps you but Canadian spec 348's also have the same system as found in the 355 or the 1989 348.

 

Personal preference #1 - use the factory belts, eliminate the motor mouse, use the backup bracket provided by Ferrari (same as an '89 USA car? Don't really know).

Personal preference #2 - remove 100% of the factory seat belt system, remove the seats and carpets, weld in brackets for a proper competition-style belt system that is not attached to the seat.

Personal preference #3 - modify to Euro system, or variation of same.

Personal preference #.....0? - use the factory motor mouse system.

 

This is the solution on my Speciale. The kevlar seats are a plus when it comes to doing a clean 4-point conversion. I'd still like to remove the mouse track to clean it up a bit more.
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Greg did you use existing holes or did you have to drill holes, could we get some better pics of the mounting points???

 

Hey Greg, where did you find the driving gloves?

 

Here are detailed pics - It looks like an original mounting point based on the diagram for the Competezione but I haven't seen it apart. Karrosserie / Carrozzeria in Philly did the conversion a few years ago for my brother.
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Hey man , your 348's interior is awsome. Could you tell me something more about it (are these original seats , did you restored it or is it just perfect condition)? Please, post some more pics of this interior from another angle , to see it all ...and maybe some exerior ?

 

No restoration - just excellent condition at 12K miles. Usual gummy bits here and there inside will make some good winter projects. (yes - these are the original Speciale seats that were standard - some Speciales optioned out - I figure they make a great weight loss incentive...otherwise you won't fit.)
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Big thanks , I really like it !!!