installing a baby seat in my 72 2002 tii

[ckeen74]

Hi all,

I've got a 10-month old girl, and now she's out of the super-fragile infant stage, I'm starting to think about how to mount her baby seat in the back (rear-facing). There are two ways to mount the current crop of baby seats: via the LATCH system found in modern cars, or using a lap belt (the non-retracting type you used to find in the center seats of cars). Have you all either mounted LATCH brackets in your older car, or installed a center lap belt?

Ideally she'd be in the center position, if the seat isn't too bulky to allow the driver to sit in a safe position.

Thanks,

Chris

PS - If for some odd reason you've done this in a '79 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT, I'd be interested to hear about that too.

[eastsidebimmer]

If your child is still in a rear facing seat, you could probably use a non-inertia reel rear seatbelt out of a Pre 71 model, and install it using the two center most mounting bolts where the stock seatbelts bolt to the pan. I think this would be best, but you could also fabricate some brackets/plates to allow you to use the LATCH system. If you are using a front facing seat (you will someday anyway) you could drill a hole in the rear window shelf and add a bracket with lots of big washers underneath for the tether. I had a Honda Accord once that came with a special bolt/bracket that could be installed in one of three positions in the rear shelf (in reinforced nuts) for this purpose. If you install the seat in on either side there is a reinforced mounting nut on both the right and left side you could also use.

I'm to the point now where my kids are still in backless boosters but I have no rear shoulder belt. BlueDevils AL here on the FAQ sold me a kit to add rear inertia sholder belts but I haven't installed them yet.

[bluedevils]

I wouldn't carry small kids in a 2002 (younger than 12-14), even best seats/ belts may not help in the case of an accident. But, if you must, there are aftermarket lap belts available at very reasonable prices that can be installed on the existing anchors. I would use the center buckle anchors (left and right) to install the end fittings and use 8 (or metric equivalent) grade or higher grade bolts on the factory anchors (seat belt bolts are of universal 7/16-20 SAE threads, not metric but the hex heads can be different, metric or SAE, usually 17MM-11/16" or 16MM- 5/8"). Best option is to install retractable 2 or 3 point shoulder belts with child-safety lock feature (or with a locking plate on the webbing if they don't have the child safety lock) from a late model bimmer (e.g., e39) but it will need some fabrication, or install on the parcel shelf with supports underneath to spread the load. Unfortunately, 2002s are not very good to retrofit safety belts to rear seats due to their weak design unless you want to start from scratch.

I also have some other ideas, shoot me an email if you are interested.

[M3M3M3]

I wouldn't carry small kids in a 2002 (younger than 12-14), even best seats/ belts may not help in the case of an accident. .......... Unfortunately, 2002s are not very good to retrofit safety belts to rear seats due to their weak design unless you want to start from scratch.

+10

2002's are tin cans. i would not put my (if i had any) or anyone else's kids in my 2002. not safe. there are too many idiots in SAV's, SUV's, P/U's and minivans out there waiting to accidentally crush a poorly lit 2002 that lacks any modern safety features to defend itself...

only place i feel safe driving a 2002 is on a race track....;-)

[mikeb]

I have a recaro start seat installed in the rear of my pre 71 using the factory lap belt. It is in there every bit as securely as my modern cars. If you want to use the latch system with the child seat, I would suggest getting racing harness eye-bolts and putting those in the factory seatbelt bolt holes.

[ckeen74]

Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like the options are well-covered, but keep them coming!

To address the safety question, the only use for this would be weekend getaways and club drives on roads where there isn't a lot of traffic in the first place... appreciate and understand the concern, which is why she normally rides in our 2010 Jetta Wagon TDI (the daily driver). It's a hobby I want to share with her as much as she's willing

[Dtepe]

Also, if you can make sure the tii is not running rich or any nasty fumes coming into the cabin (which is common for a 2002 or a tii. I have both). It is impossible to ride in the back seat for long without feeling nauseated, let alone for a 10 month old who can't express all her feelings.

But hey, if you feel your car is in top notch running shape like when it was new then go for it!

[ckeen74]

Well, it's a good thing we're teaching her baby sign language then!

More seriously, my wife will most likely sit back there with her, so she'll be the first to let us know if something's amiss. So far we haven't noticed any fumy business.

[Guest_anonymous]

I know the post was a "how to", and not a "should I". So I assume you are going to mount a baby seat in your older classic auto. Ask yourself if the answer is worth finding out.

Daron