So I am brainstorming on how to put some 3 point seat belts in my AD truck. I've always been surprised at some peoples reactions about seat belts and air bags. Definitely not saying everyone ought to modify their cars with them but why the hate on them?
traditional site for only traditional rides, with lots of exceptions. my wife has a nice modified '50 Chevy PU with 3 point seat belts. when not in use they just blend with interior. until someone makes a truly traditional looking air bag steering wheel, etc would have to p*** on that idea. when too much modern stuff is put on an early ride people lose the whole reason to have an old car.
I think Jalopy Joker hit it pretty close when he said that the three point belts on his wife's car blend into the interior so that they don't stand out and wave a flag in your face. Air bag steering wheels as much as they offer safety are probably the ugliest things invented to go in a car. As far as hating I'd almost think that a lot of these guys who hate seat belts of any kind are related to my wife in some way. She has lost track of the money she has paid out for seat belt tickets along with falling out of my 48 once when the door flew open on her. We still have to tell her to buckle up before we start the car and if we don't look she more often than not won't buckle the seat belt. Still one has to remember that this is a traditional rod and custom board an some non traditional pieces won't find favor no matter what the deal on them is. Now duck because the haters will show up and throw a few balls of greasy mud your way.
Mandatory legislation down under with modified cars irrespective of what the traditionalists say. At least you can blend them in now with reasonable colour coding that can be matched to your interior as opposed to the previous standard black coloured belt, one size fits all. Safety is paramount these days like mandatory disc brakes and other engineering requirements. If you don't play by the rules the man won't allow your car to be registered and enjoyed. Call it a compromise.
Go for it. It's your car, do what you want. Remember newer cars were engineered with seat belts, air bags and crush zones all working together. Air bag sensors are located precisely where crash testing shows they need to be. Some cars may not be good candidates for some types of equipment. If it makes you feel safe, that is all that matters.
In Australia if you increase a vehicles horsepower by more than 10% it's mandatory that you install seatbelts
Three point belts are somewhat common in AD trucks. One thing to consider is the cab mounting to the frame.Other than the first year,AD cabs have two 7/16 bolts at the front and a shackle system at the rear.The shackles have a 3/8 bolt through rather thin metal shackle side plates.I'm not convinced that this mounting could survive a serious front collision.The cab could break loose at the rear and rotate up and foward.I don't know what would happen then? Perhaps some better arrangement if collision safety is important.Nevermind getting impaled on the steering column.
Definitely agreed on airbags being hideous. Like I said, people to put them in their rods. But even outside this thread, I have seen some rather angry people dismissing the safety aspects of things like seat belts. I never gave it much thought until I was in a head on crash in my 66 Olds. Had lap belts and ended up taco-ing the steering wheel with my face. S***ches, four new teeth and a broken face made me a believer. Car got rebuilt with a real nice looking pair, as did my other car. I think with some thought, they can blend just as well and are well worth that effort
They are not real traditional looking but the front seats in my 04 extended cab ford have a 3 point seatbelt built into the seat. They could be tweaked shape wise and covered in a different material to look more traditional.
2008-2012 Chrysler Sebring convertible seats have integrated seat belts and if you remove the headrests they don't look too offensive....
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