BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 24 | Were seat belts offered in 1961 on Chev trucks? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
They were first offered by GM in 1956 (at least in cars).
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,552 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,552 | Optional until 1965 and then them became mandatory, as dictated by the Feds, in 1966. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 24 | Thanks,my truck doesn't have them but I'll be putting some in.Any suggestions as to the "most cost effective" kit out there? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 787 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 787 | in Canada mandatory as of dec.31,1963
ron | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 | My 61 has no seatbelts either but I'd like to put some in...preferrably shoulder belts...I did a bit of research, and it seems my truck (or any vehicle) is actually safer with no seatbelts at all than with lap belts. Has anyone ever heard of shoulder belt kits that are made to fit these old trucks? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 18 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 18 | I used these in my 64. Seatbelt Planet Install went smooth and they are good quality belts. Only tricky part is feeding the backing plate up inside the pillar. I taped the plate to some 1/8" steel rod and then pulled the rod out after torquing the anchor bolt down. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 | Dracko, so, no welding involved? was it just a matter of drilling a hole in the inside of the pillar, and then feeding the plate up from the bottom (behind seat right by the tank) and threading the bolt through it once you had it lined up with the hole? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 18 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 18 | Dracko, so, no welding involved? was it just a matter of drilling a hole in the inside of the pillar, and then feeding the plate up from the bottom (behind seat right by the tank) and threading the bolt through it once you had it lined up with the hole? Yeah that's exactly how I did it. was actually an easier install than I expected...don't say that very often.  | | | | | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,552 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,552 | I would have to disagree with the assertion, that no seat belts at all are better than lap belts. With no crumple-zones, energy-absorbing materials, dash padding or air bags, in the cab of a '66 Chevy truck, I have been glad to have my antiquated lap belts, to keep me in the cab in a few instances, over the years. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 331 | Shaweeet! Looks like I'll be ordering s set of those  | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 8 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 8 | I have owned 3 Canadian built trucks, a '64 Chev, a '65 Chev, and a '66 GMC that did not have factory seat belts.
Installed them in the '65 at my Dad's insistence, wrecked that truck, then installed the same belts in my '64 (which used to be my Dad's) as by that time I was the Dad and had 2 little guys to worry about.
Garry | | |
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