In a message dated 4/5/2005 12:05:13 PM Pacific Standard Time,
gabeross@ORO.NET writes:

Is there  a way to R/R the driver's seat belt without removing the
sink/stove  cabinet? If I do have to remove the cabinet, is there an easy
way to do it  and/or can someone point me to step-by-step  instructions?

I can't give you step by step at this point and it's kind of dark out to  see
the set up. But I have replaced the driver's seat belt in my 83.5 Westy and
did not take out the kitchen. I think you can get at the big bolt that holds
the  retractor for the belt at the bottom with a regular old box wrench. Same
goes  for the top loop and the anchor toward the front.

I put later model seatbelts into my Westy--again it's an 83.5. You need the
full monty: that is belts and buckles. The driver's side is wired for the
idiot  light and buzzer so costs a bit more than the passenger buckle.

Here's where the later belts are noticably different in performance in the
earlier Westies. Drum roll:

The later model upper loop for the belt is bulkier than the belts  originally
in the 83. As a result you have to pivot the loop out of the way  when you
open the kitchen top. This is absolutaly no big deal--monor as could  be.
Literally you're just pivoting the thing the way it's designed to  pivot for normal
use.

I think the later model Westies had the front of the kitchen lid
reconfigured so it could pass the slightly bulkier loop.

The new seatbelts work great and I trust them more than I was trusting the
sometimes working 20-some year old belts.

Lemme know if you need a step-bystep and I'll check after work tomorrow and
remeber how it went. But suffice to say it was pretty easy as I remember. And
Rennie at Pacific VW here in LA gave me a nice list discount.
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA