Shoulder Belts in 69's ?

[RallyeMike]

Hopefully a simple question: What's the deal with shoulder belts in 69's? My first one had them. The 500 project I recently picked up does not. Were they optional? If so, was this indicated on the fender tag or just the broadcast sheet?

[tan top]

as far as i know  they were standard equiptment on the 69 model year   its 68s  shoulder belts were an option  i think     

[440]

Shoulder belts look fugly in a 69 dangling down from the headliner.... At least GM's they gave you a clip in the headliner where you could fold it up out of the way

[tan top]

Shoulder belts look fugly in a 69 dangling down from the headliner.... At least GM's they gave you a clip in the headliner where you could fold it up out of the way

shoulder belts !!
they do clip to the sunvisor mounting  bracket when not in use

factory belt set up is a pain compared to modern stuff

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

They only dangle when you have worn out elastic.....

Front shoulder belts were standard in '69.....rear shoulder belts were optional

[440]

Shoulder belts look fugly in a 69 dangling down from the headliner.... At least GM's they gave you a clip in the headliner where you could fold it up out of the way

shoulder belts !!
they do clip to the sunvisor mounting  bracket when not in use

factory belt set up is a pain compared to modern stuff

Interesting, I'll have to have a look at mine again. In Australia factory US standard belts aren't accepted so mine have been replaced with Australian standard belts..... 

[tan top]

Shoulder belts look fugly in a 69 dangling down from the headliner.... At least GM's they gave you a clip in the headliner where you could fold it up out of the way

shoulder belts !!
they do clip to the sunvisor mounting  bracket when not in use

factory belt set up is a pain compared to modern stuff

Interesting, I'll have to have a look at mine again. In Australia factory US standard belts aren't accepted so mine have been replaced with Australian standard belts.....  

oh right i see, they are prolly better that the factory set up  , a member on here (charger downunder)

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=292

fitted some good aftermarket  ones i think ! or i might have got confused with something else ! , sorry Dude if its not you  

[doctor4766]

As far as I can tell my '69 only had front laps belts (which wouldn't pass rego inspection in Western Australia) but I wanted shoulder belts anyway so I fitted retractables up front.
My back ones are the original lap belts and I plan to change the rear outers to retractables too since my son often rides up back. The car is far from original anyway so what does it matter?

[440]

Now I'm intrigued yet disappointed at the same time. There is no way to tuck my belts out of the way as it is all one unit. Retract and anchor both bolted on the floor and to the headliner.

Now I wonder if it's possible to get an OEM style belt in Australian standards....

I wonder what the fine/consequences are if a cop finds you using US issued belts on the road.


Hopefully ChargerDownunder can post some pictures of his set up if it's him...

[RallyeMike]

Thanks for the feedback. Since the headliner is not perforated for a belt, I guess perhaps they were removed a long time ago and new headliner installed.....

[tatrick2me]

Hopefully a simple question: What's the deal with shoulder belts in 69's? My first one had them. The 500 project I recently picked up does not. Were they optional? If so, was this indicated on the fender tag or just the broadcast sheet?

Starting with the 68 model year the law required all cars to have front shoulder harnesses. Starting with the 69 model year head rests where and option until Jan 1,69 from then till now all cars by law have head rests or high back seats.

[Charger-Bodie]

Hopefully a simple question: What's the deal with shoulder belts in 69's? My first one had them. The 500 project I recently picked up does not. Were they optional? If so, was this indicated on the fender tag or just the broadcast sheet?

Starting with the 68 model year the law required all cars to have front shoulder harnesses. Starting with the 69 model year head rests where and option until Jan 1,69 from then till now all cars by law have head rests or high back seats.

Nope. A very Large amount of 68 Chargers do not have Shoulder harnesses.

[charger490]

my 68 charger bought new had front and rear belts in it

[rob69]

Now I get it.
As Murphy's law would have it, my 69 didn't happen to have the sun visors (i assumed they were an option) so Ive spent the last year  holding them up with big paper clips and getting hit in the head on hard left turns.
I will be putting in visors I picked up from a junkyard asap.
My apologies to the dodge designers Ive been cursing out.
TT, do you have more photos of the arrangement up top, It would be a real help. I still think I'm missing something.
thanks
Rob 

[charger Downunder]

The best part about 3 point retracable with a drop link is no more seatbelt cutting your head off at the neck.
Here is a link to what i did front and back.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,68787.msg772056.html#msg772056

[Dans 68]

Hopefully a simple question: What's the deal with shoulder belts in 69's? My first one had them. The 500 project I recently picked up does not. Were they optional? If so, was this indicated on the fender tag or just the broadcast sheet?

Starting with the 68 model year the law required all cars to have front shoulder harnesses. Starting with the 69 model year head rests where and option until Jan 1,69 from then till now all cars by law have head rests or high back seats.

Nope. A very Large amount of 68 Chargers do not have Shoulder harnesses.

  Front and back shoulder belts were an option in the 1968 model year.

Dan

[doctor4766]

Now I get it.
As Murphy's law would have it, my 69 didn't happen to have the sun visors (i assumed they were an option) so Ive spent the last year  holding them up with big paper clips and getting hit in the head on hard left turns.
I will be putting in visors I picked up from a junkyard asap.
My apologies to the dodge designers Ive been cursing out.
TT, do you have more photos of the arrangement up top, It would be a real help. I still think I'm missing something.
thanks
Rob 

There are some steel clips that mount up with the visors and the top belt clips into that when not in use.

[rob69]

Thanks for info Doc,
Unfortunantly I dont seem to have those clips, back to square1,...

[440]

Neither do I.. Time to search for some 

[Charger-Bodie]

You can buy new ones on eBay.

[doctor4766]

Sold a set last year sorry





On the plus side, I got a decent dollar for them

[440]

Do you have OEM style belts Doc or something different? I assume OEM as you have the clips which would be useless with other belt set ups.

[doctor4766]

I fitted some new retractable shoulder belts RJ.
Wanted to be sure I was gonna be held in properly in the event of a wreck.

[440]

So you can't clip your belts to the visor ?

[doctor4766]

No, that's why I sold the clips.. I didn't need them any more.

[440]

Same as mine, retractable shoulder belt.

I just find it annoying how they hang down where the B pillar is supposed to be...Stands out like a sore thumb 

I like the fact that originals you have the option to use both lap belt and shoulder belt.

[charger Downunder]

Same as mine, retractable shoulder belt.

I just find it annoying how they hang down where the B pillar is supposed to be...Stands out like a sore thumb 

I like the fact that originals you have the option to use both lap belt and shoulder belt.

My original belts would hang down all the time as i was to lazy to hang them up.

[440]

I see the retractable belt in your photos of your car. Yours are also black so they blend in, I couldn't see them at first. Mine are tan so they stand out like crazy !

Wonder if I changed mine to black if they would blend in and not clash with the interior....

[lookin@my68]

Hey 440,

What year is your car?

In South Australia anything built in 1968 or prior can pass inspection with lap belts only in the front...as SA usually has the toughest LHD laws in the country I would say most other states may  be the same... what state are you in?

Even if you have a 69/70 the laws in your state may allow lap belts only? I've got lap belts in the front and retractables in the rear ( for the kids!)

[440]

My car is a 69 and I'm in South Australia. SA is a PAIN for rego....

[tatrick2me]

Hopefully a simple question: What's the deal with shoulder belts in 69's? My first one had them. The 500 project I recently picked up does not. Were they optional? If so, was this indicated on the fender tag or just the broadcast sheet?

Starting with the 68 model year the law required all cars to have front shoulder harnesses. Starting with the 69 model year head rests where and option until Jan 1,69 from then till now all cars by law have head rests or high back seats.

Those cars without the shoulder harness where built before Jan 1,68. Back then laws went into effect by calender year. Today they go in by model year.



Nope. A very Large amount of 68 Chargers do not have Shoulder harnesses.

[Bob T]

Hopefully a simple question: What's the deal with shoulder belts in 69's? My first one had them. The 500 project I recently picked up does not. Were they optional? If so, was this indicated on the fender tag or just the broadcast sheet?

Starting with the 68 model year the law required all cars to have front shoulder harnesses. Starting with the 69 model year head rests where and option until Jan 1,69 from then till now all cars by law have head rests or high back seats.

Nope. A very Large amount of 68 Chargers do not have Shoulder harnesses.

 Front and back shoulder belts were an option in the 1968 model year.

Dan

Ok then, but in a 68 thats not fitted with shoulder belts, does it have the inserts for the bolt and bracket mounted in the pillar as a standard placement behind the trim? Just asking as my old 68 had shouder and lap but another one I've seen recently only has lap and wondered if the conversion to shoulder was possible without removing liner.. Thanks