Kids and rear seats belts...

[GOTWING]

who remembers everyone pilling in the back of a pickup in the 70's and heading to the ball field for little league? 

[Dino]

To hell with the kids, what about MY safety??   

But in all seriousness, safety features are not so prevalent in these old beasts so I am installing 3 point retractable seat belts up front. 

Good plan Dino.  I got a complete seat with Ssnake Oyl tags sewn on sent over in the trunk of my car when I had it shipped. I do a lot of long distance drives and want to be safe, wife wanted them in too.
Strange thing though, when I went to install them, I found the early 68 build cars did not have the captive nut inserted into the headliner structure for the front belts. We ended up enlarging the hole and welding the correct nut/bracket in place

Isn't that strange?  It seems that some 68's had the provision and others didn't.  Is yours an early built?

I am going a different route as I am no fan of the roof mounted belts.  I bought a spare set of upper panels so I can modify the rears a bit.  I am installing belts intended for convertibles as their top mounting bolt is right below the quarter window.  You can even get the belts with the style buckles like our cars.

Safety first indeed.  I would not want to be in a collision at anything over 10 mph in one of these.  It always scares me when people think these old cars are safer than modern Tonka toys.  It'll be one hell of a bad surprise when they find out that's not exactly true.

[GOTWING]

 

[Bob T]

To hell with the kids, what about MY safety??   

But in all seriousness, safety features are not so prevalent in these old beasts so I am installing 3 point retractable seat belts up front. 

Good plan Dino.  I got a complete seat with Ssnake Oyl tags sewn on sent over in the trunk of my car when I had it shipped. I do a lot of long distance drives and want to be safe, wife wanted them in too.
Strange thing though, when I went to install them, I found the early 68 build cars did not have the captive nut inserted into the headliner structure for the front belts. We ended up enlarging the hole and welding the correct nut/bracket in place

Isn't that strange?  It seems that some 68's had the provision and others didn't.  Is yours an early built?

I am going a different route as I am no fan of the roof mounted belts.  I bought a spare set of upper panels so I can modify the rears a bit.  I am installing belts intended for convertibles as their top mounting bolt is right below the quarter window.  You can even get the belts with the style buckles like our cars.

Safety first indeed.  I would not want to be in a collision at anything over 10 mph in one of these.  It always scares me when people think these old cars are safer than modern Tonka toys.  It'll be one hell of a bad surprise when they find out that's not exactly true.

Yeah, built on Sept 7th 67. Imagine my surprise when I felt the hole depression in the headliner and then slit the material only to find the bolt fell back out again    I ended up holesawing a bigger hole and then I profile cut a captive nut plate and tigged it in. Also  3 point belts made locally and mounted them through the parcel shelf properly - plates, bolts and rivets. Just peace of mind stuff when there's kids in the back.

[sanders7981]

This is something I will have to do as well.  Like any of you, I was that kid not strapped in riding around town jumping all around the back seat of the car. While not entirely safe then, I think it was more accepted because we didn't have all the distractions that are around now a days, cell phones, thousands of songs to sift through on the iPod, etc... But I won't let my boys ride in the car unless properly buckled in. 

Anyhow, after a quick search in google, I found this website.  I like the push button style better then the airline/pull buckle style.   

http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product/3-7174-E-BodyBu.html

You guys think these would fit in the 69? 

[Daytona R/T SE]

I skipped all of this...



I successfully avoided procreation.

[brigond]

When the kids were younger I installed lap belts to accommodate booster seats. That was in my last car. It was a 1964 when belts were optional.  They have outgrown booster seats. In my current charger (71) they just use the lap belts. 

[Dino]

This is something I will have to do as well.  Like any of you, I was that kid not strapped in riding around town jumping all around the back seat of the car. While not entirely safe then, I think it was more accepted because we didn't have all the distractions that are around now a days, cell phones, thousands of songs to sift through on the iPod, etc... But I won't let my boys ride in the car unless properly buckled in. 

Anyhow, after a quick search in google, I found this website.  I like the push button style better then the airline/pull buckle style.   

http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product/3-7174-E-BodyBu.html

You guys think these would fit in the 69? 

I don't, but these will.

http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product/3-6870-B-Body2BU.html

[sanders7981]

I saw those... But don't particularly like that buckle style, plus I would be more concerned that my kids may accidentally open it. 

[Dino]

I saw those... But don't particularly like that buckle style, plus I would be more concerned that my kids may accidentally open it. 

Shoot them an email, I'm sure you can have them with other types.