Projects '48 - '52 f1/2/3 seat belts

Before primer's shot, can anyone lend any advice as to seat belt bolt placement on the bottom of this F1 cab (resting on it's firewall)? Is it really as simple as drilling holes and mounting them with bolts of the right strength and appropriately-sized washers? Has anyone done this before on these cabs, and can offer any educated guesses as to locations that may have better support?

My girls are almost four (twins), so I'm needing a 3 belts total. Think anyone would notice if I used center lap belts from a few Ford Rangers?

I can totally pick a location and drill a hole, but am needing a pat on the back here that it's really that simple. God knows, I don't want a Semi to hit us and have one of the kids get hurt because I F-ed this up, you know?

~Jason

 

To be the best it can be you might think about running a channel(trimmed) across under the floor where the bolts go through.
Most auto parts stores sell universal lapbelts for a good price. They're all black, of course.
Center belts from any pickups should do the trick.

 

use a piece of s**** that is roughly 4x4 and at least 1/8 inch or better this wont rip out of the floor i havent done it in an f-1 but the seat belt anchor area in my jeep rotted and needed to be replaced and thats how it was from the factory.

 

Use the main cab support near the rear of the cab to mount them under. It's hard to see in the picture you posted, but there is pretty solid piece of steel a few inches from the back of the cab that holds the floor together, the rear cab mounts you can see in the pic are attached to it. Drill the holes through there with a good (F1-fred is right) piece of steel under it at least 1/8" but 3/16" is better, good quality bolt/washer and you are good to go.

 

On my 2wd f-1 I drilled though the floor where the rear crossmember overlaps. then I used a BIG washer on the underside.

On my 4x4 f-1 I used shoulder belts and thus far they are working out really well. I drilled the floor in the same place as on the other truck and for the shoulder restraint I drilled a hole in channel that goes from the door post to the rear window.

So far I have not had the missforune to test out my placement and would like to keep it that way ( I have 13,000 miles on the 2wd and 9,000 on the 4x4 truck at this point).

I used new vintage syled belts (the kind that have the chrome flip up buckles).


I did not add a 3rd seat belt to my truck but I would think that you could just space them out evently between the rear seat mounting bolts (on my trucks I used a longer grade 8 fine thread bolt and shared that hole with seat belt mount).


looks like you have a very nice rust free cab!!!

I had to drive a LONG way to get one in similar shape for the 48 that I am building.

 

Thanks!

Took a lot of work to get it this way - most of which I cannot take credit for.

Hey - where did you put the upper mounts for the shoulder belts?

~Jason

 

Also, does anybody have any pictures? anything - I mean, ANYTHING will help!

Also, is it wise to have one bolt be the anchor for two seat belts? Just curious - common sense says each seat belt half needs it's own belt, but I SWEAR I've seen OEMs do this. Also, is it safe to have the bolt that holds down the seat be an anchor? I SWEAR I've seen OEMs do this as well...

~Jason

 

I shared the mount on my 4x4 f-1....most OEM setups share the mounts for the center belts with the outer belts.

I know that some OEM setups have the seatbelts mounted to the seat itself....and some have half the belt mounted to the seat and half to floor...... I figured that it would be ok to share the set mount in my appication.


I mounted the should belt about 3 inches away from the rear window on the lower rear window brace. I drilled a hole then fished a bolt and thick washer back there. While it may not be a optimal I figure a lot of energy would be absorbed tearing it through the channel....and that mean less energy avalible when my face hits the steering wheel.

 

I didn't set up the belts in my truck (laps only), but they are bolted through the rear seat frame. Right now it's -4 out, not counting windchill so I'm not going out to the barn to get pics. I've been lucky enough so far to only hit a deer, so no real test on the strength of the setup, but if you're in the midst of a restoration you might consider the seat setup you plan to use, before you go putting mounting holes in your cab (for instance, some seats have the seatbelt built in).

Sunday it's supposed to be in the upper 20's, maybe then I'll get out and snap some pics of my setup.

 

Hey, whenever you want to get pics is fine with me. This thread (and I) isn't going anywhere... and any pics anyone posts is much appreciated!

I'm using the factory seat, by the way.

~Jason

 

Try julianos.com for seat belts and some nice seat belt anchor plates. They sell for $15 a pair.

 

You know, ****... I'd totally forgotten about them!

Their How-To section is pretty awesome!
http://www.julianos.com/how2.html

~Jason

 

If I could make a suggestion, especially since you're using the stock seat, the 72" lap belt sets commonly sold are barely, barely long enough to get around a skinny guy's waist. Several places offer longer ones, look for around 80" as a minimum, more if you're hefty. It's easy to shorten them, impossible to lengthen.

Mine are mounted in the aforementioned rail just in front of the fuel tank, a double-thick section of the pan.

 

Hey, good to see a familiar face on here!

You're right btw about the length. 72" sounds long, especially if you're pants are in the 34" region, but my belts don't have a lot of growing room in them. When my wife was pregnant with our first we wanted to go on one last date pre-kid in the old truck, but the belt wouldn't fit around her (nobody tell her I said that, okay? ). Longer's deffinitely better.

Like this old guy I know used to joke..."Ya know I cut that board three times and it's still too short!" Never can cut 'em longer!

 

Good point!

And hey, I AM a fatty! LOL!

~Jason

 

I haven't installed belts in my 49 yet as I'm still deciding if I'm going to keep the buckets or go back to a bench. When I do go with belts I'll do the three point style. I'd sure like to see what others have come up with as far as anchor points for the shoulder belt in these trucks.

It is very common for OEM to share the anchor points between belts.

Bobby

 

How long to they sell, guys? Looks like 74" is max...

~Jason

 

I know I've seen 80"...I'll have to look up where though.

 

here is where I got mine

http://www.andoauto.com/SBL5.htm

they come in a bunch of differnt lengths


here is a pic of my shoulder belts

 

Yeah, the more I see the 3-point belts, the more I like 'em. I wouldn't mind seeing stuff on these as well...

~Jason

 

Wow!

You know, I'd have never thought to attach them there!

~Jason

 

Apparently, this is topical!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=325402

~Jason

 

It might just be me, but it looks like those belts are mounted way too far in...or do they go over your inside shoulder and buckle on the outside edge of the seat?

I plan to upgrade my belts next year after I put in the IFS and brake upgrades I've purchased. But my ideas involve installing a bracket that will mount the third point on the outter edge of the cab and serve as a speaker mount for cruising tunes.

 

Bump for safety!

~Jason

 

In Australia (Victoria), to get FULL Registration on our rods, we must have any mods involving strength or safety APPROVED by government-certified Automotive Engineers.
These Engineers usually require the design and welding to be done by experienced professionals with relevant welding certifications.

We don't have much room to discuss "is this safe???" or "I think this will be safe when I hit a 6 foot kangaroo at 110 km/h" coz its the Engineer's decision.

I'll put on some sunscreen and brave the 30 degrees CELSIUS at 8am here to go out to the shed and show you how they did mine!

 

I have a 'bench-bucket' seat from a 97 Ford Falcon ute.
It has a bench base, with two back rests and a centre fold down arm rest.
It has two 3-point belts, plus a centre lap-only belt.
It has Upper and lower mounting points on the outers, with two centre mounts, mounting TWO belt ends each.
This was fully approved by the Engineer!

Upper front:


Upper behind:

 

Lower front:


and:


lower behind:

 

Centre floor mounts:


Next time I've got the seat out, I'll take clearer pix from further back, and I'll put ther belts in too !

 

Thanks much!

Now THAT is totally what I'm talking about!

And yes, any additional pics are greatly appreciated - as these are!

~Jason

 

Now, that's roadkill... sure as hell beats the rac****s, opossums, deer and squirrel we have in these parts!

~Jason