Thinking About Adding Seat Belts
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 328
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Thinking About Adding Seat Belts
Seems like it would be a good idea. I'm not sure about going the whole way with shoulder belts though. What do you guys think about just lap belts? Any install tips? Thanks.
Last edited by JDMick; Aug 22, 2005 at 09:42 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Everytime I'm driving my 56 and looking at that steel dash, I'm glad for a shoulder belt. Of course the steering wheel would do the damage first.
I figure if lap belts were enough, the car manufacturer's wouldn't have added the shoulder belt. Then they couldt have avoided all the women's complaints about the fit.
I figure if lap belts were enough, the car manufacturer's wouldn't have added the shoulder belt. Then they couldt have avoided all the women's complaints about the fit.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,890
Likes: 9
From: La Verne, California
From '58 to '61 FoMoCo offord as an Option a Shoulder/Lap Belt combination that was Based off of the one that Volvo had available from '58 to this day.
So if you can find either of these sets up you'll have an Idea of what to do if you wish to stay as close to stock as possible.
So if you can find either of these sets up you'll have an Idea of what to do if you wish to stay as close to stock as possible.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 31
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Hey Col Flashman,
When you say "as close to stock as possible", do you mean "close to what Ford might have done"
I'd like to hear about hot mounting tips for belts, and is there a way to keep the seat back from coming forward?? My grandkids are interested in getting belts....they are tired of wearing the football helmets I got them....
When you say "as close to stock as possible", do you mean "close to what Ford might have done"
I'd like to hear about hot mounting tips for belts, and is there a way to keep the seat back from coming forward?? My grandkids are interested in getting belts....they are tired of wearing the football helmets I got them....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 45
From: Minnesota
If you are going to put in seat belts I would go for the lap and shoulder. The lap belt keeps you in the truck and the shoulder belt keeps you from getting your chest crushed by the steering wheel etc.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,890
Likes: 9
From: La Verne, California
Sgt.
Not might have done, did do.
Not might have done, did do.
Originally Posted by SgtCrump
Hey Col Flashman,
When you say "as close to stock as possible", do you mean "close to what Ford might have done"
I'd like to hear about hot mounting tips for belts, and is there a way to keep the seat back from coming forward?? My grandkids are interested in getting belts....they are tired of wearing the football helmets I got them....
When you say "as close to stock as possible", do you mean "close to what Ford might have done"
I'd like to hear about hot mounting tips for belts, and is there a way to keep the seat back from coming forward?? My grandkids are interested in getting belts....they are tired of wearing the football helmets I got them....
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 81
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From: Southeast Pa.
shoulder harness a must....
Do yourself a favor and get the harness brackets for $80 from Mid-Fifty and bolt them in. Unless you only drive it off the trailer to the showgrounds - install the shoulder belts. Are you worth 80 bucks? You can also weld them in. They are a good fit, good design. I have a photo in my album of them installed before being covered.
Last edited by Grumpy Gramps; Aug 23, 2005 at 09:34 AM. Reason: add photo
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 331
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From: Michigan
Last thing i remember is driving down the road, my next thoughts were "How the hell did i get out into this field".
I put seat and shoulder belts in my 51-F1. Now the grankids and i do nothing but cruse
I put seat and shoulder belts in my 51-F1. Now the grankids and i do nothing but cruse
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
I have considered putting in shoulder straps, but I HAVE installed a set of JC Whitney seatbelts (which look remarkably like the stock belts in my Tempo). On my '54 I found there was a reinforcing member that ran along the bottom of the cab behind the seat, so I drilled for my mounts through that member. The holes came out through the bottom pretty close to another support, so I bent those big ol' washers that came with the kit so the holes would line up.
The only complaint I have about the belts is that I got the non-retracting kind, so I have to remember to toss the belt onto the seat when I get out. But then, when Ford began offering seat belts in '56, they didn't retract, so it's no biggie.
The only complaint I have about the belts is that I got the non-retracting kind, so I have to remember to toss the belt onto the seat when I get out. But then, when Ford began offering seat belts in '56, they didn't retract, so it's no biggie.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,556
Likes: 80
From: Manhattan, KS
I built brackets similar to Grumpy Gramps pictures. I'll try to hunt up the pictures and scan them in the next couple of days. I used the belt and shoulder system out of a chebbie van that donated the seats to my truck, but others would probably work with the system. I built a bottom bracket to mount the retractor to and mounted it to the side of the cab. It was about 4 years ago, but I've got the pictures around here somewhere. They probably weren't as stout as the $80 ones, but definitely better than nothing and having also found myself in a field about 12 years ago and not remembering how I got there, I don't drive or ride without a belt on.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood, Colorado
I survived a head-on collison between a late-40's pickup and a '68 Plymouth Fury III, with little thanks to the lap-only belt then installed as factory equipment in the Mopar. My vote? With that non-collapsible steering column and steel dashboard, if you do ANY on-street driving, get the shoulder harness.
Dave
Dave
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 81
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From: Southeast Pa.
To SteV8e...
I've heard you can bolt in those shoulder harness mounts from Mid-Fifties, but I've always seen them welded. How do they bolt-in?[/QUOTE]
My pictures show the screw heads attaching the brackets. The brackets come already drilled & tapped. I guess the hardest part was installing the bracket (a little snug) and marking where to drill the holes in the cab supports. The bottom part of the bracket overlaps the horizontal brace that is below the rear window and continues to the door jamb. Remember to clean off the paint if you are going to weld. Mine are just bolted in and are not going anywhere - very tight. My only compaint is that the holes for the harness bolt are not champered other than that, they are heavy duty and fit well.
My pictures show the screw heads attaching the brackets. The brackets come already drilled & tapped. I guess the hardest part was installing the bracket (a little snug) and marking where to drill the holes in the cab supports. The bottom part of the bracket overlaps the horizontal brace that is below the rear window and continues to the door jamb. Remember to clean off the paint if you are going to weld. Mine are just bolted in and are not going anywhere - very tight. My only compaint is that the holes for the harness bolt are not champered other than that, they are heavy duty and fit well.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis
Grumpy Gramps:
Thanks for pointing out to me what should have been obvious. I thought the screw heads were weld tacks. Since my paint is relatively new and in good condition, I don't want to weld on the cab.
Where did you buy your shoulder harnesses? Thanks for the help.
Thanks for pointing out to me what should have been obvious. I thought the screw heads were weld tacks. Since my paint is relatively new and in good condition, I don't want to weld on the cab.
Where did you buy your shoulder harnesses? Thanks for the help.