Type 44 seat belt swapping problem

[LL - NY]

To the best of my knowledge, the ProConTen in the
type 44 started with the 1989 100/200's. It predated
the airbag availibility, but still earned a top frontal
crash rating. It makes up most of the difference between
5K's and 1C/2C crashworthiness. Guess this
kind of kills your hope of an easy conversion.

LL - NY

On 9/19/06, DeWitt Harrison <six-rs at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Some years back, I acquired new factory front seat belts
> for my '88 5kcs. Just recently, I installed them only to
> find that they are somewhat different than the originals.
> The upper b-pillar mounting shackle, the piece of
> hardware the belt slides through, was shaped differently.
> For example, the plastic over-molding was too fat to
> pass through the access slot in the b-pillar trim panel
> without a little modification. Additionally, the small
> plastic trim cover that covers the exposed metal part
> on the 5k's seat belt shackle doesn't fit quite correctly.
>
> I suspect my new seat belt set are upgraded parts to
> be compatible with later model type 44s such as the
> '89-'91 200s or the V8s. Investigating the upper b-pillar
> seat belt attachment point arrangement of the newer
> cars showed that the seat belt emerges from behind
> the b-pillar trim panel much higher on the pillar
> via a more streamlined looking height adjustment
> mechanism than that of my 5kcs.
>
> My thought was to obtain b-pillar trim parts and
> mounting hardware from a newer car and do a conversion.
> A q-lister who is parting out a V8 tried to help me out
> but the Procon belt tensioning cables foiled his attempt
> to remove stuff. I've also noticed in the family album
> that there seems to have been various stages of evolution
> in the front seat belt system. I'm feeling I may be better
> off trying to make a conversion to a belt system closer in
> model year to my own. Perhaps a '89 200.
>
> What was the first model year that Audi made front
> seat belt tensioning part of the Procon system in the
> type 44 cars? This and any other helpful type 44 seat
> belt wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
>
> DeWitt Harrison
> '88 5kcstq
>
>
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