My mom is making me put in headrests and shoulder belts...I need ideas

[Harlow]

This is on moparts too, but I thought id get it started over here as well.

My mom is in nursing school and just saw a presentation on neck injuries and how they are prominent with boys my age. She is insisting that I cannot drive my car ('68 Sport Satellite) that I just got running, until I install shoulder belts and head rests. I'm hoping I can talk her into letting me drive it for the time being, but I'm pretty sure in the long run I'm going to have to put them in. What have you guys done for shoulder belts? What about installing headrests in a bucket seat that did not come with headrests? I'm guessing I will need to buy the head rest channels that the headrests attach to inside the seat, and then find a used pair of headrests and restore them. Does anyone reproduce the whole set up? or at least the actual head rest? Any info on doing these conversions or pictures showing what you guys have done in your cars would be great.

- Scott

[moparguy01]

Your not going to have any luck putting a headrest into that seat. the internals arent designed for it so unless you know what your doing with interior work, i dont think your going to get it right. No offence. My advise would be to put some different seats out of a more modern car. or even a set of high back buckets from a 3rd gen charger. as far as the shoulder harness, Have fun. they make them but they dont work worth a crap. put a rollbar in and mount 5 point racing harnesses. I did.  if there good enough for a 100MPH roundy round car crash, their good enough for the street.

[Mean 318]

My advice is to talk your mom off the ledge! No offence, but I am sure you can talk her down! GOOD LUCK!

[69bronzeT5]

My Charger already has headrests and it just has lapbelts and my mom has no probs with that. My dad is installing disc brakes to make it safer to drive. And Mean318----I pm'ed you

[tan top]

not a bad idea to put shoulder belts in it  though 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Get some Summit Racing seats & some 5 point harnesses like Mike (Mr. Angry) has in his 68

[69bronzeT5]

Get some Summit Racing seats & some 5 point harnesses like Mike (Mr. Angry) has in his 68

[Harlow]

Mr. Angry can I see a good picture of what you have set up? Whats funny is after seeing Bullrun I mentioned getting some seat belts like you have in your car. A 5 point harness...does that mean 5 buckles? I actually agreed upon putting in headrests and shoulder belts so I could buy the car. I just didn't know I wasn't going to be able to drive it (hopefully I can talk her into letting me drive if I order the seats/belts) without them. I'm sure Mr. angry isn't the only one that has put more modern safety features in their car (as far as seats and shoulder belts) so lets see some of your setups.

[Charger1973]

Mr. Angry can I see a good picture of what you have set up? Whats funny is after seeing Bullrun I mentioned getting some seat belts like you have in your car. A 5 point harness...does that mean 5 buckles?

[Old Moparz]

Not sure if you'd like this idea, but there are modern seats that have the shoulder belt built in. It could be an option if you find one you can live with, it'll save you the trouble of looking for a way to mount the OEM type. Less modifications & perhaps a more comfortable seat. Now I'm wondering if any of the after-market seats have the built in belt option?

[Charger1973]

Not sure if you'd like this idea, but there are modern seats that have the shoulder belt built in. It could be an option if you find one you can live with, it'll save you the trouble of looking for a way to mount the OEM type. Less modifications & perhaps a more comfortable seat. Now I'm wondering if any of the after-market seats have the built in belt option?

If it were me, I would go this route.  It would be the cheapest and easiest for sure.  It might not look the coolest, but you can install them and save your stock seats.  Then when you are old enough to tell your mom how it is, put the original seats back.  No worries about permanently modifying your car. 

[SeattleCharger]

Can you find shoulder belts from some other vehicle from these years, and just bolt them into the roof where they would go if the car had them stock? 
  I am concerned about not having shoulder belts also. 

[SnoPro440]

I have the 5 piont harness in my car.  The seats are from a ford probe.  This is how I purchased the car a few years ago.  I will be changing the seats, but the 5 point is staying.

[Harlow]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy some after market racing seats like Mr. Angry has (I saw his car domain). I really liked his setup. Now my question is should I go with a non-retractable harness like he has or should I get some kind of retractable setup? How do you guys like your harness setups?

[hotrod98]

I have the 5 point harness in my car.  The seats are from a ford probe.  This is how I purchased the car a few years ago.  I will be changing the seats, but the 5 point is staying.

It's difficult to tell from the pics, but I think your shoulder harnesses are installed incorrectly and could cause you serious injury.
The shoulder belts should be attached to a roll bar or a solid part of the car 1-4 inches below your shoulder. If you plan to keep the harnesses, be sure and add a roll bar so that you will have a place to attach them.
I'm kind of safety conscious.  I've been racing super comp cars for almost 35 years without an injury.

http://www.gforce.com/pdf/harnessinstall.pdf

[68chrgrwife]

Not sure if you'd like this idea, but there are modern seats that have the shoulder belt built in. It could be an option if you find one you can live with, it'll save you the trouble of looking for a way to mount the OEM type. Less modifications & perhaps a more comfortable seat. Now I'm wondering if any of the after-market seats have the built in belt option?

There were no aftermarket shoulder harness type seatbelts for my 73 Challenger just so you know...called around several different places.  Your best bet is to go with the five pint harnesses.

[PocketThunder]

Not sure if you'd like this idea, but there are modern seats that have the shoulder belt built in. It could be an option if you find one you can live with, it'll save you the trouble of looking for a way to mount the OEM type. Less modifications & perhaps a more comfortable seat. Now I'm wondering if any of the after-market seats have the built in belt option?

i have a write up on this somewhere about using Chrysler Sebring seat.

[BB1]

Put on your 5 point harnesses to go to the store.  Get real.

[SeattleCharger]

Put on your 5 point harnesses to go to the store.  Get real.

How many times you hear that,  "I was only going to the store"

[moparguy01]

That pic above has the harnesses mounted in an unsafe way. not necessarily wrong, as i've seen a few 5 point harnesses designed to mount to the floor, and they might have their place. its not in any of my cars however. What will happen in the case of an accident wearing a 5 point setup mounted to the floor is that all the shock force will be put back down into your shoulder harness, which will jamb down on your spine and can cause injury.
you want it mounted just about shoulder level. which will put the force more on your chest in a rearward motion, which will have a better chance at not causing injury.


and yes, BB1, i do put on my harness to go to the store. it doesnt take much longer to put a harness on than to buckle a regular seat belt. and i can get out of it in way less time.

[SeattleCharger]

 anyone ever get a junk yard seat belt from anything and put a shoulder harness in?  can you bolt into the roof somewhere similar to how the shoulder harness stock models later 68's and beyond are set up?  thanks, Nate

[2Gunz]

Here ......

http://www.corvairkid.com/sebring.htm

Credit goes to somebody else on this forum.

I just remembered it.


On a side note that style and color looks like ass.

However I was at the dealer today and saw a black leather/cloth set that looked nice.

[PocketThunder]

Here ......

http://www.corvairkid.com/sebring.htm

Credit goes to somebody else on this forum.

I just remembered it.


On a side note that style and color looks like ass.

However I was at the dealer today and saw a black leather/cloth set that looked nice.

Yes!  That the website i was trying to find... thanks for posting

[2Gunz]

Well than I guess the credit goes to you 

[Harlow]

Mr. Angry can you give me a little info on the setup you have? I'd like to do (pretty much) exactly with you. So if you don't mind could you give me some info on how you mounted your harness and what seats your using etc.

Scott