Chris289

Heya people. I have a quick question, I did a quick search but couldn't find the exact answer to my question. We just purchased our 56 88 2 door. It doesn't have any seat belts in it at all. Not really a concern of mine and not actually needed for a vehicle of this age in the UK but my girlfriend is a little concerned about safety and obviously I'd rather nothing to happen to her if something bad happend.

I want to install front seat belts in the car. It has a bench seat, I've found some lap belts we like the looks of which suit the car and are excellent quality. They are non retractable. My question is they offer 2 different lengths. 60" and 75" I would wait till the car is here in the UK and measure but to save on shipping I'm going to order them and bring them over with the car. Which length seat belts should I order? I'm 5ft 6.5" and my girlfriend about 5ft 4" tall (practically both midgets) so we will probably have the seat quite far forward but obviously if a taller passenger goes in the car I don't there to be excess seat belt or not enough seat belt.

Another question I have, does anyone have any diagrams of were the belts were mounted on the cars with factory belts installed?

I was going to install 3 sets of belts up front, that way my girl can sit next to me whilst we cruise, I was going to use only 4 mounting points and mount the centre belt to either side of the centre bolts. So 4 mounting holes on total, the far left with 1 belt attachment, the far right with 1 belt attachment and the inner 2 mounting holes have 2 belts per mount if that makes. I don't see it causing an issue and keeps things simple and tidy.

Any help would be much appreciated,
Thank you,
Chris.

Yellowstatue

There is an anchor kit on eBay that I bought for the '57...'bout a 4" oval, 3/16 thick with 1/2" bolts to attach the belts. I think it was $30.00. I put the outboard holes half way between the rocker panel and the frame and glued the re-inforcement piece in place. Get the longer belts, my wife can't do hers up with the seat all the way back...60" belts.

redoldsman

Get the longer belts and as a word of caution, be careful where you put the holes in the floorboard to anchor them. With the X frame you don't want to drill holes from the inside that come through on top of the frame. Measure very carefully.

Tedd Thompson

The factory never installed belts in 56 so what ever you do is up to you. I only put two belts in the front of my car and I backed them up underneath with a over sized plate.I'm not sure that is going to be enough if I somehow got in a roll over or bad crash, were only talking sheet metal that is holding the belts in but thats all there is to work with. The rears I attached to the seat frame which has heavier metal to work with....Tedd

Chris289

Thanks for the input and advise. I'll be sure to measure inside and outside then when I drill the holes. I'll also use large anchor points than just the large washers that the belt kits come with.

Do you think it will be ok to mount the centre front belt to the outer 2 front belt inner mounting points? Don't want to over stress the mounting points but at the sae time I don't plan on racing the car, but also appreciate accidents happen. The ford escorts of the 80's had the buckle part of both front seat belts joined together and mounted to the floor with 1 bolt.

Cheers for the help,
Chris.

Tedd Thompson

Chris if you think about it a single mounting point would put all the strain on that one fastener, maybe it would hold maybe not, its' only 60 year old 20 gauge sheet metal.... Your call....Tedd

redoldsman

I would not see a problem as long as you do not have 3 people buckled up at the same time. I have two seat belts in the front of my 54 but I put 3 in the back and only used four holes. I had to have seat belts for the grandkids.

Chris289

Ok guys, thanks for the advise. I'll decide when the car is here how to mount the middle front belt. Might make a large oversize support for the underside of the floor and use 2 mounting bolts side by side so to speak. I'll see what I've got to work with space wise when the car is here.
Cheers again,
Chris.

Yellowstatue

The factory used the inner holes to mount the centre belt with outer belts on both sides. One bolt, two belts.

Chris289

Yeah that's what I want to do. Makes more sense that way.
Cheers,
Chris.

redoldsman

It would look really awkward if you did it any other way.

Chris289

I'll post up some pics once I've got then fitted. Won't be for a few months yet though shipping time on the car plus finding space in my shop. I like to be well prepared for a job mentally though