Working down the punch list, I'm getting close to installing a "new" seat from an early 90s F150, in the 1970 F-100. Thinking about upgrading the seat belts to shoulder belts while the seat is out of the truck. I thought it might be a good thing to do to improve safety and the seat belts need replacing even if I keep them as lap belts. Anyway, I reviewed some YouTube videos and at least the videos I saw seemed to be of the 71 or 72 Trucks that had a steel stud covered by a rubber plug on the "B" Pillar that was drilled out to install the shoulder belt retractor. My 1970 Truck does not have this covered stud on the "B" Pillar. Has anyone with a the more vintage truck (70 or earlier) installed one of the Retro-belt kits or similar kits? Is it necessary to cut and weld the stud plate into the "B" Pillar or is there another less intensive solution? Also, any experience with the Retro-belt shoulder belt kit positive or negative? The wisdom and experience of this group has been really great and the info has been a big help, just reading the posts as you help folks think through whatever challenge their old truck served up that day.

 

My 68 had the nut welded in the “B” pillar. I ordered my set of belts from Juliano’s . The retractor fits close to the seat and will take some patience to mount them if you have to keep the seat all the way back but I finally got them mounted with the seat all the way back.

 

in my 71 the B-pilar wasn't threaded, just a rubber gasket. I ended up using my nephew with skinny arms to hold a washer and nut in place as we threaded the bolt through. once it was threaded he held the wrench and once it was tight enough I didn't need his arms. Got the should sections in and the floor wasn't bad at all, just a little tinkering to get them in place. In the picture below, you can see how the B-pilar sits on the passenger side and down on the floor. The lower portion is really close to the door, but there is no interference. Here is how it sits now after my nephew helped install the bucket seats.


Nephew after installing the bucket seats
Also, seats are from Seatbelts Plus. They were pretty quick on their end and came with all necessary hardware.

 

My truck had the attachment point but it was not threaded. I ended up tapping the opening and attached the shoulder belt. It worked, just had to do a little work.

 

That's interesting... My 70 has the threaded holes ready to accept shoulder bolts, weird that some older models have them while some newer ones don't. I wonder if it's a difference of which factory the truck came from?

 

Its possible, my truck was made in San Jose, California

 

My 70 was built in Norfolk, VA, so far opposite side of the country.

 

My '67 has threaded mounts both pillar and floor.
Bought my belts from LMC. Like 'em.

 

My '72 was built in Norfolk, VA also, but no threads in the "B" pillar attachment point!

 

GreenRat, planning to do the same to my 68, that's wearing a 70 cab. A '90s bench seat is near the top of my list, with the shoulder belts somewhere below it, but both will be done eventually. Got a set of dentside seat tracks sitting here ready to go, just got to find a seat to go with them. Will be keeping an eye on this to see how yours turns out.

Mine is a 68, but cab is from a 70. No idea where the 70 was built, but it has the threaded inserts in the B pillar. Still have the door warranty tag from the 70 around here somewhere, if I come across it I'll post where it was built at.

Edit: Turns out both bodies were built in Ontario.