adding shoulder harnesses

[swisherred]

So my 67 Newport didn't come with shoulder belts and I really would like them for safety...regardless of how uncomfortable anyone says they are or because they dont retract...I want them.

So...I removed a set from a 68 300 and went to install them in mine....oops, no nuts in the ceiling..

Next....cut them out of a 68 polara. Everyone said they were mounted in reinforced steel and I shouldn't cut my roof up to install all that. Well after cutting them out of the Polara I can tell you they are not reinforced at all. Its a 1" square nut welded to the inside of the roof sheet metal. Nothing more.

Next problem...cant get them behind the sheet metal. Placed the nut where it was supposed to go and traced the outline. I drilled a 1/2" hole for the 7/16" bolt...then drilled (4) 3/16" holes at the corner of the 1" square I traced from the nut. I fished a wire with a string tied to it through the 1/2" hole back to the holes in the sail panel area and used a paperclip formed into a T and stuck through the nut...tied the string to the paperclip and pulled the nut through the roof rails and up to the hole where it popped right into place.

I held the nut to the inner wall with the paper clip and welded the nut in place through the 3/16" corner holes filling them in.

Now I can install the shoulder harnesses when I choose.

 

[swisherred]

Some pics.

 

[C-Sick]

Pretty clever! In a wreck even if that area distorts some it's going to do a lot to hold you back, and that nut won't be pulling through. Sounds like Mopar felt the same in 69...

 

[saylor]

i dunno if you know or not so im just sayin but 67 -68 was a change year in safety regs - the 2 biggest changes that i can think of probably are side marker signals and shoulder belts.

damn nice work tho i got to learn how to weld dammit.

- saylor

 

[C-Sick]

I know there were a lot of changes in only a few short years back then. Seat belts, master cylinders, emissions stuff, dash pad and steering wheel safety items, lighting, and even the change from generator to Alternators was in the mid 60's. It was a busy time to try and keep up with it all. When I first started driving, the plentiful and somewhat cheap cars were all the mid to late 60's stuff...and I drove a lot of them.

I've had a few with the non retractable shoulder belts, and after trying to wear them a few times I tucked that mess back up and stuck with the lap belt. Maybe safer, but I didn't find them comfortable enough to drive with. With them on you couldn't reach half the switches and etc. if it makes you feel safer and you enjoy the drive more with them, that's awesome.

 

[mrfury68]

Nice work.

 

[Gerald Morris]

I put a non-retractable shoulder harness in the back seat of my 66 Newport soon after getting it, as I bought that car to keep my then infant daughter SAFE. She now uses it sans safety seat. Glad to see her riding in comfort w it too.

 

[Fratzog]

...regardless of how uncomfortable anyone says they are or because they dont retract...I want them.

Nice work on the installation. BTW not uncomfortable at all. They came with my 68 Monaco 500 and only takes a few seconds to put them on.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Excellent work!

I'm very interested in how you did this, as I wish to add them to my car(s). I think shoulder belts are one of the best safety improvements for our cars...

Where did you mount the nut - can you please provide a measurement of how far back from the A pillar you welded it in?

How do you intend to deal with the roof rail trim?

Thanks!

 

[bigmoparjeff]

Very nice work!

 

[live4theking]

Nice work.