Hello All:

1967 Volvo 122S Wagon. Sorry to have been away so long. Virginia continues to run well - I have been neglecting her much less than you guys.

Quite a bit has happened since I last visited, namely that my girls have each grown about a foot. The oldest has been in a booster seat but we are not comfortable with the way the chest belt crosses her body. She is tall but pretty lanky and so the position where the top bolt is mounted to the C-pillar just does not give her great security - it is too far forward to really hold her in.

We thought about putting her back in a regular car seat but she is only four inches shorter than capacity and at this rate will be out of it by Christmas.

We also feel the need for headrests all around. Now you know I am all about original (hydraulic brake switch, brights foot dimmer switch, etc.) so I am looking for an elegant way to do this without gumming up the works but the health of my family comes first.

Any suggestions or observations would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Pooch

Jeff;

...the question is: How do YOU define "original"...your vehicle as having come from the factory OR factory available for your vehicle's model year?

If you insist on the former, you are probably limiting yourself to the "Alternate" option shown here: http://sw-em.com/headrest_upgrading_notes.htm
...if the later, you have other options...

Regarding childseat safety...I centrally located a (2point) seatbelt (from a 140) under the back seat and used it to secure a boosterseat back there...that worked very well (required holes in the floor obviously) but I only had to accomodate a single young occupant...until they are of a size where the normal seatbelts work with their bodies correctly, kids belong in the back for maximum safety anyway (strapped in, which requires mods)...if the boosterseat in the front brings the oe belt across the chest then you should be OK, otherwise you might consider installing two setups in the backseat...

Cheers

Oye Pooch!
How are things in New York?
One elegant thing you could do on the headrests is to get some 123GT seats.
I have a pair in my 66 Celery Wagon.
They have headrests and reclining backs that are adjustable to quite a wide range of backward lean.
I think the later models' seats have the sockets in the frame to mount the headrests but not sure what years.
I'll bet 67s do though.
These seats may have been used in some of the 1800s also, I'd guess 67-70 or so.
They bolt right in and parts are totally interchangeable with 122 seats.
The hinges (joint between seat and back) are chromed on these.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

Hey George, not to be a wet blanket, but 1800 seats are a little narrower than 122 seats.

I know from experience that the headrests and tubes from an 1971 1800E will fit right into the seatback of a 66 or newer (probably older too) amazon seat back, and that the recaros will bolt right onto the sides of the 122's original frames. You need to use some 3/8" square tube stock to make a new connector to keep the recaros in sync but otherwise it is an excellent upgrade and still 100% volvo.

I put a set of these into my 67 220, but eventually robbed them for my 130 daily driver where the folding aspect is far handier.

I thought the issue was with the back seats?

The headrests and their fitting tubes are the same on the very late Amazons, and 1800/140 models from about '69-71. Amazons apparently have the internal adaptation for the tubes from about '66. Beware that the head rests from the later 140's are narrower with the rods closer together.
123GT seats differ from the standard ones only by the chrome reclining hinges. The hinges just swap over with the standard 3 position ones. The recliner hinges were already being offered as an accessory extra for any 2 and 4 door Amazon.

Well now I can't get that damn song out of *my* head!!!

I know the problem you're looking at. My kiddo's just 3 and pretty petite so it won't be an issue for some time.

I'd suggested checking out how the early 245s and 145s did it. I remember my 140 had a long metal bar perpendicular to the cargo window and the rear belts were 3-pointed to that. I had been thinking of adding the same to my own 220, but I'm not driving it at the moment.

Also check out the 240 arrangement. I'm all about being 100% volvo, but being 100% original to the model year equipment (inferior brakes, brake light, brake light switch, original seat belts) is a risk I'm not going to take with my family.

Glad to see you back! I only just got back on the board a couple weeks ago.

Weridly, I was thinking about you and your sudden ball-joint failure when I was working on my car yesterday.

Hi Pooch and welcome back .... I am currently on the lookout for a set of AUSTI headrests that were available for the 122 and 544 at least in Canada ... they have a set of forks that go over the top of the seat and the combination of the upholstered forks and your back pressure lock them in place. I think the headrests were manufactured either in Belgium or Denmark. There were a set went through E-Bay and I missed them by 30 seconds ... had the top bid with 30 seconds to go then someone blew me out of the water. Ole Reliable, my 122 Canadian, has a set of 240 seats with the ladder type headrests. They JUST fit into the 122 and are very comfortable. The floor mounts have to be modified to bolt them down but not a big job.

regards

Brett

--
Brett Sutherland & the 1.5 million mile 122 CANADIAN --- and has been Joined by a 1990 780 BERTONE TURBO Coupe -- WINDSOR, Nova Scotia the birthplace of HOCKEY

That C pillar bolt you are using was not designed for seat belts. You will notice it is even higher than the B pillar mount for the front seats. Unfortunately, your car came with optional lap belts for the rear seat and not 3 point belts.
You will need to move the upper mount about 2-3 inches above the rear seat. Or take a look at how the 145/245 belts are mounted for wagons.

Klaus
--
The more I learn, the more I forget. So why learn?