Happy Holidays everyone!

You know how the old 240s had the seatbelt clasps in the hand brake console rather than on stalks that break everything? Why did Volvo make the change? Are the new-style stalks safer?

I hate the new style, the "stalk-style" clasps break the hand brake cover and scratch up the seats. I have a parts car with the old style belts and I think I can just swap over the bracket and belts, but is it a less safe design? I'd hate to think I was swapping over inferior seat belts.

Thanks,
Sean

I have not heard about any safety differences. My guess the change was more for ease of use, and for an extra storage bin in car that has very few to start with. You have to twist and drop down a bit more to latch/release the old ones, and people that had never been in a 240 before could never find them (same for the door release levers). The new type are more like most cars. Also, if you have a center arm rest, the new ones are more acessable with the rest down.

It should be an easy swap assuming the mounts are there for the older type seatbelt clips. I have checked the other way to see if older 240s have the mounting points for the newer seatbelt clips(some do), since I like that exta storage storage bin.

If you console is broken it is more likely rotten plastic (I am guessing your interior is beige). The blue and black consoles don't seem to crack like the beige.

Yep - beige plastic and broken several times. That's why I made my hardwood low-profile brake cover last year, i.e. I haven't had a storage bin in a long time and don't miss it one bit.

BUT, the parts car I have also had an uncracked black e-brake cover, but without the bin from my car (which broke) it would look stupid. I've actually always liked the center seat belts so I thought about a change.

As an alternative, does anyone have the part number for the storage bin? I'd buy a new one from Volvo if they still have them.
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'93 244: 'A' cam 4 deg. advanced, 25/22 sways, custom heim endlinks, poly bushings, and a lot more styling customization than I care to recount.