The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Seat belt access holes in the seat frame

While waiting for the head for my engine to get back from the shop, I pulled out the seat frame and cut some slots for the seat belts to go thru. For the little time I had it on the road last year, the belts were routed over the top of the seat frame at the bottom of the seat back, then down under the seat back and up between the seat and seat back. I found some evidence of them rubbing on the gas tank.
So I got some 1/4" steel brake line and formed a couple of loops using my tubing bender and welded them into the seat frame to provide a smooth area for the belts to rub against as opposed to a sharp sheet metal edge. My initial thought was to split one side of the brake line to slip over the edge of the hole, but decided that would be too complicated to do. Here's some pics. Next step is to touch up the paint and reinstall the seat frame. I'll get to that in a couple days after the primer I shot on has fully dried.

Nice job Kevin. I foresaw the same issue when I installed my belts. In my case, it only rubbed on one side so I cut an “H” with my die grinder and wafer wheel, and folded over the flaps to give me two smooth edges. I made them wide enough so the two sides didn’t come anywhere near the straps.

I saw your post about that earlier, Phil. I was concerned about the sides of the slot, which is why I went with the brake tubing all the way around.

Got the seat frame paint finished up today after the primer drying window. Will try to get it put back in the truck in the next couple days, and will include a pic or two of the seat belts with the seat in place.

Those new holes look great and the seatbelts should be protected from fraying. Nicely done.

Got the seat frame reinstalled today and the belts routed thru the holes. Much more direct path between the anchors and the seat gap. Old route was over the frame and under the seat back.

Well done, the new routing and protection for the belts look great.

I have been following along as I'm getting ready to install seat belts in my '58. Being a Task Force the seat doesn't seem to present much of a problem though. Very creative solutions.. Both of you

Question: Is the buckle belts upside down? What does the other side look like? Looks nice though Kevin.

The male portion of the belts are not visible and the three female belts might be upside down. What threw me off at first, John, is that there are two belts not shown. He's installed belts for three people. The left hand driver belt and the right hand passenger belt are not visible. They'll be bolted to the left and right of the seat. The center passenger gets one of the belts from the left hole and one of the belts from the right hole.

The buckles are “upside down” when laying on the seat but when buckled, the push button will be facing forward, not pointing at my belly. 😉 That’s so they don’t get an extra twist.

Wow Kevin, that is first class custom work. Very nice looking and a very great idea for steel brake line. I'll have to remember that for something.

Ingenious idea. Brake lines. I ended up cutting narrow slits in the frame and the floor board to put the bolts thru the body on the fuel tank side. Put that heavy plastic edge protector. Welded a 1/4 x 2” plate under the whole length of the cab for extra support. I’ll still smack the wheel in an accident, but hopefully will hold me in on those high speed corners.😉