Hi guys. Long time due is the installation of front and back seat belts. Now is the time. My little one is pushing me harder and harder to take her on a spin on the Ford and I cant do it unsafely. So.. what was your option? 2 point, 3 point? I've got fixing spots at the front, gotta fab them on the rear. Pics would be nice Thanks
In my 53 F100 I welded a nut into the cab structure and in my 40 I used a homemade block threaded for the Bolt into the pillar. You might look at Julianos.com and see if there tech info has anything.
Look at Julianos how to section and their seatbelt store.com site under how to's. They do 55 and 56 Fords. Ideas and products, might see something that will work.
Thank you for your replies. Bomb, somehow I cant see the pics you posted. My question wasnt so much regarding how to do it but more what you opted for. 2 or 3 point, brands? There are many options available, but since were talking about making the ride safer, quality items are mandatory. I like these: http://www.julianos.com/lift_latch_seat_belts.html, thanks okie. Sorry Jeff, I missed your entry at the Faqs. I have these files from FoMoCo I downloaded a while ago, but I cant remember were from. Sorry. Theyr good for 1955-56 T birds, ranchwagons, convertibles, two doors and four doors. See atached pics. Regards.
I got my belts from Wesco, best price and everyone carries the same belts made by the same manufacturer. Look at the buckles.. all the same. I went 3-point up front. I drilled the B pillar, slid the plate in from the back and secured with grade-8 1/4-28 screws. The main bolt was too short, so I machined up a spacer and used a longer grade-8 bolt. I had to custom machine holes in the garnish pieces. The floor went better. I didn't like the washers it came with, used some really thick front end washers I had left over from my lower control arm bushing install.
Thanks for your input Bob. Anybody using lap belts? What size? I probably am a small guys by your standarts. 6ft, 76kg. No beer belly (yet)...
My wife is insisting on seat belts before we do a planned cruise with another '57 friend in April, so I've been looking and wondering about the different lengths also. Julianos has 58, 60 and 74(?) inch lengths available. I'm just going with the lap belts. I think the 58 and 60 are for the back?? I'm going to a big swap meet in Denver next weekend and will look for them there. If not, I'll be at SoCal speed shop in Pheonix next month where I know is a large selection.
That is exactly it Texas. Bare in mind that they warn buyers that for vehicles made before the 60's(?) minimum lenght is 74" for the front I think. Maybe someone has lap belts from factory and is able to share measures. These are the kind of parts that I wish I could try out before buying. Lucky you guys have your swap meets.
Yes its huge and they set that for a minimum. Then you ask yourself, "do they meen 74 fully extended with the two parts hooked up?" "how about for the back seat?"...
I put the Juliano lift latch style in the back of my car. I'm still on the fence on what to use in the front. I'm not too crazy about having to drill a hole in my trim to mount the 3 point. I put the 74" in the back and they definitely are plenty long.
I went with 74", 2 front and 2 back. I wish i'd did 60 in the back as I use those to secure car seats I thought i needed the extra length (for leverage to secure them) but it puts the latch in an awkward position on one of the car seats. My fronts are also rather long but it isn't a nuisance. For reference, I'm 5'11'' and ~100kg, no beer belly really though = ]
Overweight aside, I guess the shorter you are, the further forward your seat is going to be, so, the shorter the person, the longer the seat belt.
haha, I do some Olympic lifting so I'm very familiar with kg, just thought i'd help out by converting. Também falo terrível Português also 100kg is 220 lbs, so it is super easy to remember
I have Julianos three point in my 40 and Southern Rods three point in my 53 F100. Neither one specified length but both have fit everyone ever in my vehicles. I also had lap belts in the 46 I sold, don't recall who from, but I know that length was never mentioned. All worked fine.
I think my rears are 74" and the fronts a combined 104" including the portion running up the pillar. Like I said, it looked to me like everyone sells the same exact belts. I shopped with my wallet, picked the lowest price. I'm 6' and 250 lbs and regular belts always fit me fine.
Yeah, I knew I'd have to blow holes in my b-pillar garnish, I had a 2nd set anyway. I marked a spot in the center of the bolt, did some figuring, drilled a pilot hole to see how far it was off, made a correction and opened the holes... garnish strapped to the Bridgeport table. Since the belt swivel hides the hole it could be slightly bigger (or maybe a lot bigger) and never show.
I'm keeping my car as original as possible so I have everything I need and is OEM and NOS. I haven't installed anything yet but I will be doing only 2 point since that's the way it would have come from the Ford dealer in '56. My biggest hurdle is drilling holes in the nearly pristine floor steel.
Rui, strange that you can't see any of the pics I posted because I can see them in your reply. Anyone else unable to see them?
Most states don't require 'em if the car was built before they became mandatory sometime in the '60s, I believe.
Yeah, my floor pans are perfect too. Or were... The thing with these old cars is the steering columns do not collapse. They are a spear in the case of a hard crash. Eventually I'll go with a Borgeson box with joints or rack & pinion.
It was a law either 1963 or 1964 at least in NY. Any 1964 car I've owned had them. Optional as far back as maybe 1955.
Bomb...only thing I see that you posted was the link to the 3 point install, which works for me. Beermoney...I think in the U S they pretty much go by what was universally standard on the car when it was built. It's a state by state thing, but I've never heard of anyone having to add stuff that wasn't on the car when made. To the best of my knowledge, belts are not required (by the state, they are required by my wife, lol) on my '57 even though they were optionally available in 1957. Bob..the no spear thing was a nice added plus when I decided on the Mustang steering column. Unfortunatly not an option that'll work/be acceptable in 99.9 % of mid 50's cars.
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