Rear Seat Belt Help

[mgm1986]

Looking to install seat belts in my '68 300 Convertible. None were installed in the car so I don't know what I should be looking to add. Should there be two or three seat belts (I prefer three)? And what are the appropriate anchors to use?

Option A:

2 Point Lift Latch Seat Belts | SeatbeltPlanet

Snap Hook Seat Belt Mounting Bolt Kit | SeatbeltPlanet

Option B:

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/i-30498119-2-point-lap-seat-belt-lift-latch-buckle.html

https://www.seatbeltplanet.com/i-30498147-hardware-kit-2.html


Last question, what length is "standard" for the rear seat application?

Thank you!

 

[live4theking]

Two belts is the standard. On the innner side the bolts should be at the bottom of the driveshaft hump on either side. Option B is more correct, but I cannot tell you the size of the bolt.

 

[FURYGT]

What color seatbelts are you looking for?

 

[mgm1986]

What color seatbelts are you looking for?

Black with chrome buckles is what I was planning.

 

[Big_John]

Three belts was standard.

I just put 60" belts in my '65 and they'll fit anyone that can crawl into the back seat.

Option B is better (IMHO) but I would use regular Chrysler bolts (IIRC 7/16-20) as they have a shoulder that the belt bracket would ride on. No nuts, just use the existing threaded plates in the floor.

 

[mgm1986]

I would use regular Chrysler bolts (IIRC 7/16-20) as they have a shoulder that the belt bracket would ride on. No nuts, just use the existing threaded plates in the floor.

Thanks, @Big_John!

Think these would work?

fits A-Body B-Body E-body Seat Belt C11 Bolt | eBay

 

[Big_John]

Thanks, @Big_John!

Think these would work?

fits A-Body B-Body E-body Seat Belt C11 Bolt | eBay

I think they would, but thinking about it, I'm not sure of the size of the seat belt bracket hardware hole that it goes through.

 

[mgm1986]

I emailed Vans on ebay to see what they think. If not I may make a trip to the hardware store and see if I can find a grade 5 bolt that threads into the floor and has the appropriate shoulder.

 

[mgm1986]

Three Belts ordered (Non-Retractable Seat Belt with Buckle & Latch | SeatbeltPlanet)

Bolts ordered from Vans via Ebay who believes they should work for a C-body. (fits A-Body B-Body E-body Seat Belt C11 Bolt | eBay)

Thanks again for your input!

 

[CBODY67]

You might also look at the rear seat belt items which bolt to the bottom of the seat cushion onto which the seat belt buckles can be attached to keep everything neat and such. I believe they were on like '68 or so Dodge Coronets? They should fit anything they will bolt onto. They should be in repro, I believe.

Seat belts were required in ANY potential seating location, which would be three in the back, even on the narrower convertible rear seats. Many times, the center belts were left "stored" under the rear seat cushion, although attached to the seat belt bolts, from the factory.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[mgm1986]

Like these guys?

1968 1969 Mopar A, B & C Body Seat Belt Retainer Clip Duster Road Runner Dart 68 | eBay

 

[Big_John]

Like these guys?

1968 1969 Mopar A, B & C Body Seat Belt Retainer Clip Duster Road Runner Dart 68 | eBay

Those won't work with your new belts. The buckle won't clip.

Crappy 3D print too... and they don't say what they are printed with... The usual PLA will droop in interior heat.

 

[mgm1986]

I'll add this to the list and keep an eye out for a good pair. I recall having them on the Fury and I did appreciate having them.

 

[CBODY67]

Seems like the OEMs were metal?

 

[Big_John]

Seems like the OEMs were metal?

Plastic.

The overhead clips for shoulder harnesses were metal.

 

[mgm1986]

Got three seat belts delivered from Seat Belt Planet and they seem to be of great quality. Now the problem I have is I cannot find the outer seat belt mounting points.

It looks like someone replaced the floor pan at some point and I cannot locate the outer holes through the floor. I looked in the FSM I have but wasn't able to deduce where the outer mounting location is in a convertible.

Anyone have a picture or illustration of how the belts mount on the convertible? Specifically the outer mounting location.

In the picture below you can see the two threaded holes I can find.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Just outboard the seat bracket by the wheel well.

Alan

 

[mgm1986]

Well shoot, that was my fear. Thanks for confirming and for the pictures, Alan! I'll confirm but from what I recall these holes don't exist. My best guess is the floor was replaced with one designed for a hardtop which probably had shoulder belts so no outer holes. Might need to start drilling and fabricating a backing plate.

Drilling holes in the floor is not something I look forward too.

 

[mgm1986]

I found the original mounting plates for the outer seat belt attachments. When the floor was replaced they didn't account for these mounts and just covered them up.

The passenger side bolt was still installed but they cut the head off and installed the floor pan over top. Now the fun begins trying to remove the stud they left installed.

The driver side outer mount had no bolt so that should be as simple as drilling a pilot hole from underneath and then drilling a larger hole to expose the threaded mount.

Thanks again for your help finding these, I wasn't excited about drilling a hole in the metal without some kind of reference.

 

[live4theking]

Weld a nut on to the stud sticking through the floor and screw it through. Then you can drill this side out like the other.