Convertible here. Working on seatbelt ideas for when the car is drivable. I live in CA where people drive crazy and even though I am a good driver I want shoulder belts. I know that shoulder belts were a rare option and someone has a set on ebay for $1300 (too rich for something so old that is so important to be reliable!?) I do not NEED original. So I was wondering is anyone else with OEM bucket seats has successfully installed aftermarket shoulder belt setup? Did you use the Original location for the upper point found on the convertible top frame? How do they look?

 

I doubt very much that a seat belt anchor would attach to the top frame. It went on the side panel just above the arm rest.

 

Yes.

My 1970 GM convertibles had their shoulder belts anchored in the side panel. Other years followed suit. The anchor point is already in your car.

If you are thinking of aftermarket belts, you will need to do fabrication. You may as well put OEM belts in, it would probably be less effort overall.

You don't need the uber-rare factory parts. You just need retractors (same as floor retractors) and a floor-mounted buckle. Depending on year this may be a separate buckle or a combination buckle. You will need to fab an appearance cover for the retractor, but you will need that anyway with aftermarket belts.

 

Pic of the convertible shoulder belt rear attachment location:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...cation-137972/

 

Thanks for the pics. If the belt was anchored to the roof rail you would end up a lot thinner when the top went down.

 

that IS the convertible top frame though like I said.

 

No, it is not part of the top frame. Maybe we're just calling parts by different names.

The belt attachment point is below the top frame, actually connected to the bracket where the top frame is connected to the body. I have removed the entire top frame assembly from my car and that part remained attached to the body.

 

Ken, WOW, I've never seen that before. Is that the way your 71 came from the factory? My 71 doesn't have it and I don't remember any 70-72 GM A body 'verts having shoulder belts.May be yours was built for California or Canada?

 

That's not my car, just a picture I found on the site (my interior is black). Shoulder belts in A-body convertibles were optional equipment. I'm not sure what year GM started offering them.

 

It IS the Top Frame!! I