Ideas to safely secure seat belt to inverted bracket on Salvage

[GuyW09BlackCorolla]

I bought a salvage corolla that was hit on the side and the folks who fixed it put the bottom bolt bracket backwards. I found this little treasure during the install of a new belt since the seat belt itself didn't retract well. This means the two prongs that stick out are pointing toward the inside of the car, and since the bracket itself is L-shaped, and facing the wrong way I can't even put the bolt through. I assume the incorrect bracket was welded like this and hard/expensive to access. The only thing attaching the bottom retractor portion of the belt assembly is a single screw, whose diameter is pretty thin compared to the bolt. I am afraid it could shear during an accident.

Does anyone think that some garage could make some sort of extension bracket/coupling that would be better than nothing?

I've attached a pic of the issue. Thanks in advance

 

[echarleswhyte]

Can't really tell by the pic. How was it fixed? What side was hit? If it can't be turn "over" then it would seem to me it was fixed with the bracket from the other side of the donor vehicle. Have you look at the good side to see what it should be? They may have even used a bracket from a completely different vehicle and yes your concerns are very valid.

 

[GuyW09BlackCorolla]

Thanks for getting back to me. I bought this as a "repaired" Corolla on Craigslist. It was hit on the passenger side, so they put new doors and welded on a new section of door frame (that seems to be an OK job).
Looking at the youtube video below, the bracket may actually point the right way "as-is". Maybe I should just try it and see. It just doesn't look like it'll fit between the bottom bracket and door frame..

(minute 2:59 or so)

 

[echarleswhyte]

Maybe it is right, I would question who did the repair. Cutting and welding sections is not a good thing, even if it "looks" good. Compromises integrity. I once saw a show from England and a lady bought a convertible mid 90's Ford. She complained the top did not close right and other things. When a mechanic look at the car it was found out it was two cars welded together, good rear end and good front end joined. The car crumbled in a crash test and had she been in it she would have not survived. Another show here in Canada revealed a corolla sold in Toronto had half of the rear end replaced by another vehicle and welded in and was not certified to be on the road yet was being sold on the corner. In your case, was the section welded from same type of car or another? Many questions I would ask.