On the Gen1 4Runner - down low on the forward bar (aka right near the seat back) there is a flat metal plate and a large-ish threaded insert on the bar.

There's one on each side of the bar.

Whats that for?

The upper threaded insert is for the rear shoulder belt.

I used to think the lower one was related to the seats, but I just installed rear seats and the plate has nothing to do with the seats...

 

Ditto, I've always wondered that too. Though the runner I have now doesn't have the plates, it just has holes where those plates usually are. The 87 runner I used to have did have those plates, so I know what you're talkin about...

 

shoulder belt retractor bolts there and the upper hole is for the belt hanger. i know that the factory shoulder belts were not retractable but the roll bar is set up perfect for the retractable housing units from single cab pickups where the retractor has a housing.

 

Got pics of the single cab shoulder belt retractor?

I would have thought that the retractor would have been "inside" the wall cavity, not "outside" on the wall (for seat clearance issues).

I'll have to go to a junkyard and take a look see?

 

Here's a bad pic of one (sorry but as you can see the seatbelt was not the purpose of the pic)... You can see it at the bottom of the pic. It has one bolt through a tab on the bottom of the retractor:



That's an 88 single cab BTW. After this revelation I'm tempted to grab a set from the junkyard too for the 4Runner..

 

Oh YEAH...

Those sure DO look like they will work.

Why Toyota also sold the "non retracting" kind of shoulder belt is beyond me...

 

Some of the DLX 4runners were shipped to the states stripped. I have been told Toyota did this for importation tax reasons. These trucks received rear bench seats instead of the split rear seats. The two holes in the role bar are to bolt on a bracket that the bench seat latches to.

 

2 seater = truck = cheap taxes
4 seater = car = more taxes (if I recall about $2000)

The tax rate changed in 1990 to add in a "door" factor.
Thus the 2 door Gen2 4Runners were $2000 MORE than the 4 door Gen2 4Runner. Thats why they are so rare... they were so $$$.

Those early port added bench seats were FUGLY btw....

 

here are some pics


and some more
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...6/DSC08057.jpg


http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...6/DSC08056.jpg


http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...6/DSC08055.jpg

 

Here some I found on pirate.

 

Is there a specific retractable belt for the back or can you use a front seat belt? I would like to do this mod to my truck and I know where I can get front belts in the right colour ( I am a Canadian and the spelling is correct).

 

ZOMBIE

RE READ THE ENTIRE THREAD

The answer is if you want the "cover" as shown in Toyaholic's post, you need a non extended cab front seat belt (drivers and passenger side)... This assumes you already have the buckles from a standard rear seat setup. Im sure the front seat ones could be easily adapted...

 

Hey - Found NEW belts that should work

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/resebe.html