1952-59 Ford What have you added for safety features?

I'm curious what all you guys have added for safety features to your cars. I built mine for cruising, so whatever I could do within reason was done, if for no other reason than a little peace of mind. Here's a list of what was done to mine...maybe some food for thought for those in the planning/building stages. I know nothing we could do would get it up to parr with today's standards, but I figure everything helps a little.

padded dash, padded steering wheel, and padded sun visors
changed to late model steering column (eliminates "death spear")
4 wheel power disc brakes with hydroboost
hazard lights
third brake light
halogen headlights
seat belts (to be upgraded down the road to 3 point)
tip over gas tank vent valve
fuel line collision shut off valve (inertia switch) (computer also shuts down fuel pump after engine not running for two seconds)
upgraded windshield wiper system
radial tires with larger footprint
trac-loc differential (specifically added for extra traction on wet/slippery surfaces)
quicker ratio steering with hd sway bar

probably more that I'm not remembering.

 

I am planning to ensure that my wagon stops. Seat belts are being added. I will need to pay a lot of attention to other drivers. In Rhode Island, that is the best safety feature available. Drivers here have the at***ude that " I am to go first and anyone else had no right to be on "there" roads." It is scary insane here.
Seriously, that is a problem, but I too will be adding the halogen eyes and flashers. Not sure as yet about the others listed. Thanks for the food for thought.

 

Just seat belts and upgraded to disc brakes on the front. The biggest safety upgrade I did to my car was too rebuild the suspension and steering box. The only real traffic concern around here is deer. Most of the roads are long and flat and you can see on coming traffic a way off.

 

I've added some to my '59.

Front disc brakes with dual master.
Electric wiper motor (Newport Engineering).
New door gl*** and windshield.
Halogen headlights.
3-point belts up front, 2-point in the back.
15" Hankook radial tires on wider wheels.

I'd like to add a 3rd brake light and swap to a power steering box and possibly another column, or get a rag joint between the column and steering box.

 

11 inch disc brakes, both front and rear & a huge fire extinguisher,no wimpy cute chrome plated one that would not much help in a fire situation. HRP

 

My Sunliner will not be a parade car. It has power disc brakes, Flaming River steering column, Fatman power rack, three point front seat belts, Newport wipers, new gas tank with rollover valve, radial tires, third brake light, halogen headlights, and it will have a fire extinguisher on board.

 

I'm interested in how you did the three point seat belts. Did you use seats with integrated seat belts?

 

Seats with intergrated 3 point belts....That's how mine will be done down the road. I'm looking at Sebring convertible seats. I haven't looked around much, but I'm guessing any of the late model convertibles had to have them. My backseat is hard enough to get into as it is without adding the obstical of belts attached on the B pillar.
I had forgotten the fire extinguisher that HRP mentioned....I always have one just on the floor behind the driver's seat.

 

julianos did an article a few years back on putting 3 point seatbelts in a 55or 56 wagon. If you go on there website I think they still have the article.

 

Yep, 2006 Sebring conv seats. Shortened backs 3" and recessed into the floor 1" to have them not look silly. The earlier Sebring seats need the computer to release the belts.

 

"The earlier Sebring seats need the computer to release the belts."
BINGO......When I was in Colorado last week checking out a salvage yard in Canon City that sells new and old stuff, I saw a Sebring convertible that had the front seats in it, but when I tugged on the seat belts they were both locked in place. Neither was budging so I was wondering it was something to do with having to have the key on, although that makes zero sense to me. What posible reason could there be for needing the computer to unlock the belts? Maybe to keep a car thief from being seat belt protected? wtf? I wonder if that can be byp***ed. I almost brought the seats home with me, but would have been a tight fit in the '57.
Got a pic of your seats? Could you go thru the process of getting the seats altered? and the cost, ***uming reupholstered?

 

I'll shoot some pictures of my 3-point belts the next time my car is outside. I had to make up a custom bushing to replace the supplied B-pillar bolt, which was too short. I used the bushing with a grade 8 bolt from Ace Hardware.

You'll need to put holes through the garnish molding, easy with a drill press and a small (7/8" or so) hole saw.

A word on the belts, one supplier makes them for everyone. Look at the buckle designs on a few sites. Mine came from Wesco and they were quite nice.

 

Bob...the B pillar mount is what I won't be doing. I'm hoping to add the 3 point belts just by starting with the seats that already have them for a planned future interior upgrade/change.

 

If I understand correctly the ecu triggers a device that actually explodes and causes the belts to retract tightly to hold you in place. Those are the earlier seats where the shoulder belt sets higher than the seat back. I would not use the Sebring seats in a sedan. I have three point belts in my F100 and my 40 coupe and found it easy to make an attachment point at the b pillar. As someone pointed out earlier, Julianos has a great tech section in both their normal site and their seatbelt area for b pillar attachment. The Sebring seats are VERY heavy. Better ones around for a sedan.

 

Is there a reason you wouldn't use the Sebring seats in a sedan in particular, or just that you like the b pillar mount more than any 3 point system within the seat itself, regardless of make? The convertible I was looking at had no signs of being in an accident, btw, so the locking up in an accident shouldn't have come into play.

 

The seats are so heavy and it is so easy to mount the belts at the b pillar. It has been probably two years since I did the research but there is plenty on the net that will explain the differences in years. I just think that there are better choices in seats.

 

Thanks for the input. Sounds like research time.

 

I went with the stock bench seat and was thinking of buckets if the bench seat didn't agree with my back. My car is pretty much no frills compared to some of the cars here and the B-pillar mount was the way to go for me.

 

I know this is an older thread but seatbelts are a must. My 56 is the only car I have that doesn't have them but I never drive it. They are next on the list however. I like the idea of a seat with built in seatbelt, it sure would be easier.

About 10 days ago I lost a friend who was in an accident in his 64 Malibu. He got thrown from the vehicle and ran over by a big truck. It's hard to say if a seat belt would have saved him from the over all crash but it would have saved him from the end result he did have. I lost a coworker about 10 years ago that drove into a ditch (probably texting) at low speed and fell out and the truck landed on him. What a waste of a 27 year old. I know a common comment is usually something like "I have never been in an accident" but you can always get hit by someone else. It may not be your fault but if you are dead it doesn't matter.

 

With all the dip ****s with their noses in cell phones,driving is no longer a matter of if but when your in a wreck.

 

I know people my age that refuse to wear seatbelts... idiocy. I ask them if they have ever been in a bad car accident... all I get back is crickets. Those make a believer out of you fast. Mine took a little doing but they work like belts in a new car and everyone likes them. I own somebody some pictures and I'll get my good camera out for them.

 

I have the blue tooth thing in my OT ride. If I'm in my Ford, between the manual steering and 4-speed, talking on the phone is a no-go. I see fender benders all the time and who is standing besides the wrecks? People less than age 30. They have to be distracted in some way. Often I see 3 and 4 car chain collisions, minor damage but enough to screw up everyone's week.

 

3-Point belts - no matter what seats you are using. And....if you are running an electric fuel pump of any kind mount a cut-off switch that pops and cuts power in a collision. Late model Mustangs are the easiest to install...can get them on ebay for $20.00. Mount in the truck. Cheap insurance from someone texting when approaching a light - and runs into the back of you!

 

I picked up an inertia switch out of a late model T-Bird....5 bucks at the salvage yard.
Bluetooth is great, I have it in my '57. Not only hands free, but you can crank up the volume with the radio knob so half deaf guys like me can actually hear the cell phone call.

 

I have no radio in my car, even with full exhaust and floor insulation the interior is on the loud side. I still have to do the driver-side door gasket and rear package shelf and maybe extend the exhaust at the bumper a little.

 

there is instructions showing how the upper pivot point is welded into the b pillar. https://www.julianos.com/Articles.asp?ID=252

 

suspension
brakes
floors
alternator(for brighter headlights)
and currently reviewing airbag options

 

The Sunliner is a convertible. No B (or C) pillar to tie into.

 

?

 

That was just in response to squire's suggestion about using the B-pillar, where stig had asked about your 3-pt setup.