Seat Belt Guide Modification

jstanton · 04-10-2023, 07:24 PM

My wife complains about the seat belt being too far back for her, she is only 5' tall, when her seat is adjusted forward. I've never really noticed it but she has complained enough so I went looking for a solution. I didn't find anything specific for the camaro or the recaro seats for that matter but after doing some measuring on the headrest posts I found these that are made for the mustang.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36407313856...3ABFBM4un22e1h

The hole spacing and diameter fit perfectly for the Recaro headrest. The only issue is the loop doesn't clear the shoulder of the seat so the body of the guide under the headrest rides at an angle on the posts. I think I'm going to take them back off and use a heat gun to either slightly angle the loop forward or up so that the body of the guide will lay flush on the seat under the headrest.

Overall I think it works well and fits with the style of the Recaro seats, even if it is for a Mustang!

On a side note the release mechanism for the Recaro headrest is different from what I've read on here. I found it best to slide the rear seat all the way forward and sit in the back with the seat leaned back toward you. With the headrest fully extended, twist the plastic cover around the base of the post counterclockwise to remove. There is a release pin in the 11 o'clock position, when viewed from the back seat. It is at the base of the black plastic piece that is around the headrest post inside the seat. Use a small flat heat screwdriver to push the foam and leather out of the way, and you should be able to see the metallic pin. Use the flat head screwdriver to lift up on the pin while pulling up on the headrest. This will release that post. Repeat for the second post while keeping tension on the headrest so the first post dosen't lock back into position. The pin can be stubborn so it may take a few attempts. Also using a headlamp really helped since your trying to hold the headrest and release the pin simultaneously.

Hope this helps someone in the future!

jstanton · 04-10-2023, 07:28 PM

Not sure why that photo loaded upside down.

jstanton · 04-10-2023, 07:28 PM

Dang it! Did it again! Oh well, you get!

SS_Don · 04-10-2023, 08:56 PM

What if you turn it upside down (not the pics)?

jstanton · 04-10-2023, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Don

What if you turn it upside down (not the pics)?

It's hard to tell in the pictures but the body of the guide has a slight curve to it also. So when you turn it upside down, it curves to the back and blocks the seat release lever.

ember1205 · 04-11-2023, 08:41 AM

Before the Camaro, I always grabbed the seat belt the same way - when driving, I reached back with my right hand over my left shoulder. With the convertible Camaro, that's not an option even with the seat all the way back. I simply changed to where I reach back with my left hand along the seat/floor. This works in all of my cars, so it was easy to make the change stick even though I don't drive the Camaro anywhere near as often as the other vehicles.

sspddmn · 04-25-2023, 10:23 AM

I did the same mod using a different seat belt guide for a BMW. You can click below to see what i did. Only thing i would change is to add some kind of hinge underneath at the same time you put in the epoxy because the hinge does come off from time to time and it gets annoying.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582916

MANNAXMAN · 04-25-2023, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ember1205

Before the Camaro, I always grabbed the seat belt the same way - when driving, I reached back with my right hand over my left shoulder. With the convertible Camaro, that's not an option even with the seat all the way back. I simply changed to where I reach back with my left hand along the seat/floor. This works in all of my cars, so it was easy to make the change stick even though I don't drive the Camaro anywhere near as often as the other vehicles.

Pretty sure I've been doing it this way since I had my 1986 IROC. Prior to that, my daily driver was a 1964 VW Bug with lap belts only, so I was already in the habit of reaching down to the floor with my left hand to grab the seat belt.

ember1205 · 04-25-2023, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MANNAXMAN

Pretty sure I've been doing it this way since I had my 1986 IROC. Prior to that, my daily driver was a 1964 VW Bug with lap belts only, so I was already in the habit of reaching down to the floor with my left hand to grab the seat belt.

That would make sense since your habitual method would work right off the bat... No need to adapt anything. I definitely had to make a big change because there is really no way of grabbing the shoulder belt in the convertible by reaching across your body unless you're a bit of a contortionist.

04-10-2023, 07:24 PM	#1
jstanton Drives: 2022 Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Chandler, TX Posts: 40	Seat Belt Guide Modification My wife complains about the seat belt being too far back for her, she is only 5' tall, when her seat is adjusted forward. I've never really noticed it but she has complained enough so I went looking for a solution. I didn't find anything specific for the camaro or the recaro seats for that matter but after doing some measuring on the headrest posts I found these that are made for the mustang. https://www.ebay.com/itm/36407313856...3ABFBM4un22e1h The hole spacing and diameter fit perfectly for the Recaro headrest. The only issue is the loop doesn't clear the shoulder of the seat so the body of the guide under the headrest rides at an angle on the posts. I think I'm going to take them back off and use a heat gun to either slightly angle the loop forward or up so that the body of the guide will lay flush on the seat under the headrest. Overall I think it works well and fits with the style of the Recaro seats, even if it is for a Mustang! On a side note the release mechanism for the Recaro headrest is different from what I've read on here. I found it best to slide the rear seat all the way forward and sit in the back with the seat leaned back toward you. With the headrest fully extended, twist the plastic cover around the base of the post counterclockwise to remove. There is a release pin in the 11 o'clock position, when viewed from the back seat. It is at the base of the black plastic piece that is around the headrest post inside the seat. Use a small flat heat screwdriver to push the foam and leather out of the way, and you should be able to see the metallic pin. Use the flat head screwdriver to lift up on the pin while pulling up on the headrest. This will release that post. Repeat for the second post while keeping tension on the headrest so the first post dosen't lock back into position. The pin can be stubborn so it may take a few attempts. Also using a headlamp really helped since your trying to hold the headrest and release the pin simultaneously. Hope this helps someone in the future! Attached Images

04-10-2023, 07:28 PM	#2
jstanton Drives: 2022 Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Chandler, TX Posts: 40	Not sure why that photo loaded upside down. Attached Images

04-10-2023, 08:56 PM	#4
SS_Don Drives: '22 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,043 View My Garage	What if you turn it upside down (not the pics)? __________________ '22 2SS \| Wild Cherry Tintcoat \| Design Package 3 \| NPP \| MRC \| A10 \| NAV \| Ceramic Coating \| Full Frontal PPF \| New Hood and Side Stripes \| Michelin PS AS 4 Range AFM Disabler \| Mishimoto Catch Can \| Diode Dynamics side markers \| Cold Air Inductions CAI \| LLoyd Velourtex front/trunk mats with Camaro SS logo ZL1addons Deluxe Rock Guards, Stealth Lift Pads, and Tow Hook \| Escort MAXcam360c \| Footwell Lighting \| Banks gauges in ZZPerformance pillar pod \| Paddle shifter extensions

04-25-2023, 10:23 AM	#7
sspddmn Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE and 1991 Z28 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SF Bay but from the 808 Posts: 1,078	I did the same mod using a different seat belt guide for a BMW. You can click below to see what i did. Only thing i would change is to add some kind of hinge underneath at the same time you put in the epoxy because the hinge does come off from time to time and it gets annoying. https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582916 __________________ In the garage: 2018 HBM ZL1 1LE // 2013 ZL1 (sold) // 1991 Camaro Z28 5.7L // 2016 Audi A6 Prestige Supercharged 3.0 V6 // 2002 Camaro SS (sold)

04-11-2023, 08:41 AM	#6
ember1205 Hot Camaro Drives: '20 2SS Convertible 6MT Join Date: May 2020 Location: CT Posts: 3,534	Before the Camaro, I always grabbed the seat belt the same way - when driving, I reached back with my right hand over my left shoulder. With the convertible Camaro, that's not an option even with the seat all the way back. I simply changed to where I reach back with my left hand along the seat/floor. This works in all of my cars, so it was easy to make the change stick even though I don't drive the Camaro anywhere near as often as the other vehicles.

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