Retrofitting Seat-belts. : Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 4, 2012 3:31 p.m. wearymicrobe HalfDork

Yet another odd question. Has anybody here ever retrofitted 3 point seat belts to a car that did not come with them. Or even know where I can get proper quality 3 universal belts that do not retract.

I have nothing the Caddi right now, its legal but I keep feeling like I am going to fly across the bench at any second. Two point belts I can just order from summit but I feel like a three pointer would hold me down better in case of a crash or just general driving.

Also is there any way that I can fit the shoulder belt attachment to the floor and then over the bench. I don't have anything above the top of the seat that I can attach the upper belt mount to.
Jan. 4, 2012 3:42 p.m. Greg Voth HalfDork

+1

This interests me for the 54 Ford Truck. There is nothing there currently and I would like a three point. Lap belts at a minimum.

I get the same feeling that I am going to slide out and the door will pop open. I also get mental images of head butting the windshield. Doesn't help I recently saw an old Studebaker truck with front end damage and the windshield bashed outwards.
Jan. 4, 2012 3:59 p.m. LopRacer Reader

I know it doesn't really help much unless you have a cage or roll bar, but I retorfitted a set of 3points from a LeCar into my 1974 Thing in HS, bolted the shoulder strap to the roll bar where the main hoop and rear down bars bolted together. Not sure what you can use to mount the shouder belt if there was no provision for a re-enforced mounting point on the piller. Lap belts would be fairly easy if you don't mind drilling holes through the floor and using re-enforcing plates or really big washers on the bolts.
Jan. 4, 2012 4:02 p.m. LopRacer Reader

What about one of the several cars that had integrated shoulder belts built into the seat, maybe a 80's cutlass supreme convertable I think they might have had them or a 240sx convertable, would require a seat swap though. Turns out with a little looking that some F150's had them as well as some M3's presume maybe convertables.
Jan. 4, 2012 4:50 p.m. Woody SuperDork

You might want to ask these guys:

http://www.peparts.com/StoreFront.bok
Jan. 4, 2012 4:58 p.m. Rob_Mopar Dork

I have a set of Juliano's 3-point retractable belts for my Barracuda. Haven't had time to do the installation yet. My car is a hard top that had an option for a 2-piece 3-point belt from the factory. Without a roof is a little more difficult.

Juliano's will work with you on custom configurations. Don't know if they can put a non-retractor set together or not. But all the early OE 3-point belts were that way.

There are some aftermarket seats in the street rod world that have 3-point belts built into them. As far as I know they only make buckets. Pic on their site of seat with 3-point belt

I've pondered modifying some original seats for a convertible project here and integrating the 3-point belts into them like the street rod seats.
Jan. 4, 2012 6:14 p.m. chaparral Reader

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HFM-SB3PRBK/ are decent 3-point belts.
Jan. 5, 2012 1:45 p.m. GTwannaB Reader

Three Point Seatbelts

I ran across this article a while ago about installing Sebring convertible seats in Corvairs.
Jan. 5, 2012 1:58 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

IIRC, 94+ Rams had in seat 3pt belts.
Jan. 5, 2012 2:49 p.m. wearymicrobe HalfDork

I bought a set of non retractile 3 points today on Amazon, they were the only ones long enough to actually let me sit in the boat without being pulled towards the door, plus they were made to federal standards.. I will take some photos when they get in.

My plan is to make a big mount on the mill at work and use the upper door support as my mounting place. If I have to reinforce it I will. The lower's will just go straight into the seat mounting bolts which are tapped into 1/4 inch steel in the frame. Then lower retaining nuts with flared washers.
Jan. 5, 2012 3:04 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

I am using these in the back of the 2002. seem to be well made:

http://www.retrobeltusa.com/products/category/id/2/type/belt