Seat Belt Information

[Mark Maron]

{{These seat belt tech threads are for reference only. The VFF does not advocate that these install tips are properly done or will save a life. Install your seat belts at your own risk.}}



Original Thread:
https://www.vintagefordforum.com/for...oint-seat-belt


Seat Belts in 29 Town Sedan

Been getting a few messages from the "other place" asking how to run seat belts in a 29 Town Sedan, wood based car with seat on a track.. Here are some images how i did it with Angle Iron and grade 8 bolts, nuts, fender washers and lock washers. The important thing is you have to remove the seat to do this, (mine is on the bench here) no other way and you are ONLY supporting the belts on the seat frame NOT on the cross member, being that the seat moves and does NOT line up at rest with the cross member you can't get to it..The length of the angle iron i believe is 39" across and all belt bolts must be put in first and then the angle iron secured or you will not be able to get behind and tighten properly.



Keep in mind this is only for information purposes and I do not advocate this will work for everyone and save your life in an accident. My opinion like all belts in a Model A, they are designed to keep you in the car when the doors fly open. Please install at your own. Thanks all....

[carolinamudwalker]

Coupe 3 Point Seat Belt Install

I installed the fixed belts to 1/4 '" angle iron in the usual way, but I through bolted the angle iron to the frame. In the trunk/rumble seat area I installed two horizontal flat bars to the rear vertical deck pillars A-47461 & A47453. 0n both sides. The first picture shows a belt extension that is bolted to the top horizontal bar. I was to lazy to remove the cardboard panel for this picture, but will if more clarification is needed. That top bar is angled down in the rear for a straight line pull. The second picture shows the retractor mounted on the back shelf. I elevated the retractor to lesson the angle over the shoulder. This is not required but might help prevent a broken collar bone. The retractor is through bolted to the tray with 2x6 backing. The seat belt is very comfortable. The important thing to remember is try to keep a straight angle from the top of the shoulder to the upper horizontal bar rear bolt. Clear as mud I know. Bob

[glentre]

Roadster Seat belt info:


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The same general setup can be used on a roadster. A few years ago, I attached a steel plate to the two body supports in my wife's '31. The retractors are fastened to this plate in the rumble seat area. The roadster package shelf is two piece such that I was able to put spacers between the two sections to provide a slot to thread the sliding belt through. Unlike the coupe, there is no need for a belt extender or having to mount the retractors inside the car on the package shelf. Works well and is just as easy as a modern car to put on and take off.

Glen

[Kevin in NJ]

My comments take em or leave em.

I like the mount point for the roadster. Got me thinking for my cabriolet.

I do not like mounting belts to the seat frame as the seat frame is not well anchored to the body. Ya, I know the right way is the ugly way for a sedan and this is a compromise. Ya, I know something is better then nothing and it will hold you in the car. I am still not keen on it. At least you have a real sturdy mount. I see too many that will just rip apart cause they are not beefy enough.
I am wondering if you could make a ride under catch to hold the seat from going too far that goes to the frame. Or maybe a bar outrigger outside the seat frame and extend the angle iron out such that it has something to limit the movement.

It is important to remember. In an accident a person will expect the seat belts to perform like modern belts.
Sad as this may be, you might be best telling people to not put on the belts and have a sign warning them the belts are not like modern and may not hold as well. I am not a lawyer so I an not sure if that would be the correct thing to do, but keep that in mind.

[Denis4x4]

I've installed lap belts in three A's. I highly recommend using 2" channel iron instead of angle iron. Basically, you're using the channel to create another cross member that is bolted to the frame. I use 1/2' fine thread grade 8 bolts to bolt the belts through the channel and the frame and I use a single bolt to bolt two belt ends to the center of the channel. You'll need to determine the need for spacers between the body and the frame and/or floor. On one car, I used 1/2" forged eye bolts bolted through the channel and frame and the optional hook method of securing the belts.

[BNCHIEF]

Tudor Seatbelt Install

This is the seat belt install i did on my 30 tudor never never install belts to the seat frame as Kevin in NJ said, Dennis 4x4 makes a very good point as well about using channel 1/8 thick angle is not much support. Today I will put all the wires you see drooping down back up out of site after my heater install clean the mats up. I also removed my spare tire carrier it was loose the bolts were not tight and pretty sorry looking. I replaced two wheel studs in the spare tire carrier because one was stripped and the other not far from it. This took care of an annoying thumping sound I would get over a bump. Everything is quiet now with no banging.

[BillLee/Chandler, TX]

I installed seat belts in my Tudor and wrote up an article for my club's website: http://cedarcreekas.org/TechTopics/SeatBelts.pdf

As others have already mentioned, this installation if nothing that will save your live in a really bad accident, but WILL keep you planted in the minor fender-bender that could easily throw you out.


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[BNCHIEF]

Nice job.

[Mitch]

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[BNCHIEF]

Excellent article Mitch this is why this forum is the go to place for good info.

[Mitch]

Another seat belt thread in a 30 Coupe
https://www.vintagefordforum.com/for...ts-in-30-coupe

[KenB]

Seat Belts in a Pickup:



I completed and installed a new cross member under the rear and up against the rear floor board of my ‘30 pickup to anchor seat belt mounting bolts. I ‘ll attempt to attached a couple of photos.
I made it out of 1/8” square tubing, notching the ends so it fit within both frame rails and underneath each rail upper lip. I made mounting brackets for each end and mounted them on each frame inside rail near to the rear splash apron brackets. My late ‘30 frame has a extra set of splash apron mounting holes predrilled in the frame which I intended to use. This worked fine on one but not both rails. I had to drill a forth hole on the left hand rail as using the one hear the rear cab mounting bolt was not possible. I then welded the crossmember to each bracket which is always a challenge for me to weld upside down! If I were to have used either flat stock or angle iron I’m thinking 1/4” material would be a better choice. Also, my installation only allows a bead to be welded on the bottom surface of each end of the tubing. Because it it fits tightly both on the front, because of the frame taper and the top against the inside top lip of the frame, this may be sufficient.
Another challenge with the installation is obtaining a 70 degree angle on the belts due to available space in the cab. I made 1/8” x 2 1/2” pipe risers for each belt bracket and increased the bend angle on each belt mounting bracket to get close to the desired angle. 6” x 1/2” grade 8 bolts span the space from the belt brackets through the bottom of the new cross member. After the seat upholstery is done I may have to slightly notch the rear seat frame for the belt mounting brackets to move back and forth.
I am not an engineer nor a mechanic so I offer no warrantee either expressed or implied. I am thinking this may work as they say to at least keep us in the seats if a door flies open. I am also certain someone will improve on my shade tree design but offer it as you requested.


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[Mitch]

Document your seat belt installation, then post it right here on this specialty thread

[alexiskai]

Video showing how I put non-retractable shoulder belts in a '29 coupe, plus lap belts in the rumble seat:

[Mitch]

alexiskai Colin,
Thanks for sharing your video here. Nicely done

[conaway2]

Roadster Seat belt info:


IMG_0180.JPGIMG_0183.JPGIMG_0185.JPGIMG_0189.JPG
The same general setup can be used on a roadster. A few years ago, I attached a steel plate to the two body supports in my wife's '31. The retractors are fastened to this plate in the rumble seat area. The roadster package shelf is two piece such that I was able to put spacers between the two sections to provide a slot to thread the sliding belt through. Unlike the coupe, there is no need for a belt extender or having to mount the retractors inside the car on the package shelf. Works well and is just as easy as a modern car to put on and take off.

Glen

I recently installed 3-point belts exactly as described in this thread. I’m very happy with the results.

Jim

[alexiskai]

Original Thread

See this PDF for sample scenarios:

http://www.gwcmodela.com/pdfs/meetings/SeatBelts.pdf

These guys have a variety of brackets that might prove useful:
https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/c-138...-brackets.html