The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors seatbelts in AD 5 window

I have recently purchased a 1950 GMC 100 five window. I would like to put seat belts in it and would prefer shoulder restraints. Does anyone have any suggestions on shoulder restraints or should I just put lap belts in?

i didn't put shoulder in because i was total that is real hard, i instead put lap belts in, i haven't had any trouble and they keep me in the seat, shoulder is a better set up, it will keep your face from smacking the steering wheel

and i have a five window also, it might look bad having belts hanging in your corner glass, plus then belts hanging in the windows the kills the reason behind a five window - to see better

www.brotherstrucks.com and julianos havae shoulder belt kits, expensive but my be worth the effort. i put 2001 buick lesabre seats with shoulder belts built into the seats into my 54. seats with belts cheaper than belt kit alone. ron

There is a hole already in the door post. You just have to re-inforce it. Do a search. Someone even posted pictures.

Go to Deve's site here: http://www.speedprint.com/Deves50/seatbeltassembly.php

I followed his instructions and worked great.

I did lap belts in my 49 GMC. Bought them from one of the repops (Chevy Duty?) and bolted them down to the floor under the seat using really wide flat washers and nuts. I kinda like the feel of just the lap unit and not the one over my shoulder. Besides, the passenger side shoulder blet would have prevented me from getting to my fire extinguisher........

I also added the three point system to my 54 AD and if you've ever seen the results of a frontal collision with an AD solid steering column and a driver you would too!! Not that a 3 point is going to keep you off the steering column, but at least you're going to have a fighting chance of staying with the vehicle in a less severe collision.

A couple things I noted. I used Deve's technique for my installation but found that you need to move the upper mount hole back if you want to be able to run your door windlace in the provided (54) track. On earlier models you may have to cut your windlace. Secondly, when I ordered my belt set from Juliano's, they didn't send me the extended length belt for the buckle end. Had to add a piece of flat stock from the floor up to get the buckle onto the seat. Ask them for the extended length belt.

Aside from the safety issues I've noted that many states are allowing law enforcement folks to pull you over if they see you are not wearing your belt. With only the lap belt there is no visual clue that you're belted in, and I personally don't like to open the door to some overzealous officer who might want to pull me over.

The time to install belts is early in your build, not as an afterthought. I mounted my floor anchors behind the seat pillar. With the tank out you can get a much cleaner install. I hope this helps.

Dave

I think the thing these days would to place seats in our trucks that have the seat and shoulder belts already integrated into the seats.

any newer convertible vehicle (most recently noticed on a 2006 Chrysler Sebring Convertible) would have belts in the seats and would eliminate the need to modify the cab in any way. Plus they look pretty nice

Pontiac has integrated seat belts too. I have them (Buckets) in my 2005 Bonneville.

Thanks for all the information. I am planning a slow build plus I like the all original truck the way it is so I will not be replacing the seat right now. I will probable go with the shoulder harness add on.

I plan on doing the three point installation as well. I already bought the belts-just don't know when I'll have the time to pull the seat, tank etc.

With the thickness of the floor (or lack thereof) on these cabs, I'd be real leery of the floor retaining the entire seat when the belt is integrated into it. It seems to me that in a head on collision the floor would just peel up like opening can.

tlorber,
I was considering the strength of the floor myself but what else is there to connect it too? If it was to be integrated into the seat, then of course the seat is connected to the floor.

juliano's for belts:
http://www.julianos.com/seat_belts.html
if you remotely a big guy you may not like the length of jcwhitney's belts shoulder harness
these are things you should consider b4 ......
BESIDES
the small floor area that you would use to hold the belts to the floor have several advavtages. the seat support rim above the floor helps to stiffen that area and you could also add a small plate below the floor, welded or not. the area where the shoulder harness bolts to is down in that deep pocket area that has many different angles for rigidity. :p

dave's site for installation:
http://www.speedprint.com/Deves50/seatbeltassembly.php

Smittster,

That's why I'd go with the 3 point. Thay way you're getting the main resraint from the B pillar and not the floor.

here is a photo of my tech tip when using lap belts and a stock seat

http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?action=view&current=IMG018.jpg

I am planning on a 3 point system and don't worry about attaching to the floor. I can reinforce the floor, it's the over the shoulder point I don't know about. Would a mig weld hold there enough to be effective?

here is a trick for the seat frame

http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?action=view&current=IMG018.jpg

cut two rect holes in the bottom frame so the belts come directly to the driver/pass. and don't get hung up in the seat & frame while adjusting the seat forward and back.