can diagonal seat belts be fitted to the rear seats, will they still be able to swivel?
if so does anyone know the make etc

- (#12492) lisa, 3 Aug 04 07:41

In Australia, the Tarago was sold with them as standard, so I am betting the Spacie in England was too, so Toyota will sell them.

But any auto spares shop should sell suitable belts, and the mounting points will be hidden under some of the trim. At least I am pretty sure it will be!

- (#12492) DaveW, 3 Aug 04 07:52

Sorry to have to contradict you Dave but the Spacie doen't have the inertia-reel belts in the rear. However, there are a few contributers to the site that have retro fitted them to their Townies and claim that some of the mountings exist to take them. Check in the archives for suppliers and costs.

- (#12492) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 3 Aug 04 08:24

Yes three point belts can be fitted - see Ace Answers for details.
Yes they were fitted to the Spacecruiser but that had different interior trim, there are no captive nuts in the Town/lite Ace.
And no they will not swivel just keep the lap belts in place.

- (#12492) Clive (Bristol), 3 Aug 04 08:24

Well my Spacie didn't have rear belts but it was the earlier model than yours Clive. Think it had a dynamo and starter handle as well :-)

- (#12492) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 3 Aug 04 08:27

Just seen Ian's post.
Later Spacecruisers had three point inertia belts on all seats, bar the two center seats of each of the rear rows, that had lap belts only.

- (#12492) Clive (Bristol), 3 Aug 04 08:28

Hey don't knock the starting handle, could have done with one of those a few times in recent years!
Had a dynamo on my push bike.

- (#12492) Clive (Bristol), 3 Aug 04 08:31

starter handle !!!!!!!!
now why the hell haven't we got that on here as the cure for the voltage drop to the starter we have all experienced.

at least i could start her up again after the kids have flattened the battery watching dvds.

lol,

regards rob.

- (#12492) Rob Drinkwater, 3 Aug 04 08:42

Hmm. I remember using a starting handle on one of my father's old Ladas. Not to start it mind, just to turn it over to set the tappets. Somehow I don't thing you'd turn over a 2C so easily. Could you imagine the length of a townie's anyway?...

- (#12492) David Miller, 3 Aug 04 09:18

useful tool for knocking 7 bells out of it when you lose your rag ........

- (#12492) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 3 Aug 04 09:29

Thank goodness, I am not the only one to remember that most useful tool, the starting handle. Perhaps, after all, I am not the only ancient Ace driver who benefits from the wisdom of this forum.

- (#12492) John Davis(Leics), 3 Aug 04 12:14

I had 2 cars with said handle, a Ford Pop and a Viva HA. My friend had a Bond 3 wheeler that you could kick start if you slipped inside the bonnet, now that was needed most winter days!

- (#12492) Clive (Bristol), 3 Aug 04 12:55

my first car was a ford pop the guy who sold me the car sold me the staring handle as extra

- (#12492) jon, 3 Aug 04 13:09

Ian said "Sorry to have to contradict you Dave but the Spacie doen't have the inertia-reel belts in the rear. However, there are a few contributers to the site that have retro fitted them to their Townies and claim that some of the mountings exist to take them. Check in the archives for suppliers and costs."

Ian - don't be sorry - I am happy to be contradicted on this. It was implied in my post that this was speculation, so I am glad that someone has put in the facts!

It is also good to know that it can be done "fairly easily" - although not as easy as a simple bolt in a hole I guess.
I am getting really close to doing this myself, and was soon to start investigations.


- (#12492) DaveW, 4 Aug 04 09:18

Dave, the length of the startyer handle on a Townie would mean that it would need to be stored along the chassis rails indeed, as regards turning over the beast, if memory serves correctly, many such vehicles used to have a decompression lever, that used to lift the exhaust valves slightly as you reached TDC, to allow you to turn it over & get it to somewhere near ignition point.
I also had a Honda 750fourK that had a decompression lever, when you kicked it over (no electric starter) it pulled the valves open just to overcome the hign compression.

Now how to we add that to the complicated head arrangement of the IDI engine in the Townie.

Regards Rob.

- (#12492) Rob Drinkwater, 4 Aug 04 15:37