'55 Chev-Safety

[CDNflatlander]

Just planning ahead, a bit; wondering what others are doing for seat belts in the old tri-five sedans?
My first thought was to run as Chev built it, but I can't. Lap belts would definately be the easiest. However, I see enough accidents on our highways to think about the 'other' guy! Does anyone here, or connected through here, have a good idea on the mounting of 'belts' into this 4 door sedan?
My hopes would be to find a shoulder belt assembly that fits in, and hearing where to mount this from someone elses experiences. There usually is a different way that you would assemble your project, once you have learnt the hard way. I'm hoping to fast forward to the answers before the trail and test period.......then quicker to the street for treats:)
Thanks for your efforts,
Greg.

[Scotty]

Hi Greg, I agree with you about shoulder belts. I feel naked without one. I rode with a friend in his stock 55 and when he went around the first corner, I just about slid across the bench seat right up beside him.:eek: In my 37 Pontiac I used the belts out of an early 90's GM pickup. They have a covered retractor assy that just bolts to the floor. We were lucky and there was a hole in the pillar at just the right height. I welded a proper sized nut in the hole and then covered it with a plate, with a hole just large enough for the bolt to go through. DO NOT EVER use ordinary washers when you bolt to the floor. You can scavenge the oversized rounded washers that go under the bolts from the wreckers. These help spread the load and have no sharp edges that could possibly pull through the sheetmetal. Hope that helps. Scott

[CDNflatlander]

Thanks Scott for the wise words. Somehow I missed this reply lastnight. I will look at the door post this afternoon for shoulder mount.
Thanks,
Greg.

[gmccruzr]

what about trying to adapt the safety belts from the early seventies mlibu or buick Skylark that had separate lap belt as well as shoulder belt that were optioonal and when not in use had holders just inside the roof in the headliner? they had separete recievers in the seats for the shoulder belts so the front seat had four seat belt receivers

[..77.]

what I do , is I scavenge the seat belt mount nut from the seat belt donor car . I chisel out a big hole around the nut . I drill out the spot welds holding it in place to the donor door post piece . Then you are left with the nut factory weldded to about a 2 inch or larger square of double thickness metal .
Then I figger out where the mounts bolts are going to be in the vehicle . I drill the hole for the bolt . Then I fishwire the belt mount bolt plate up thru the body . Get the bolt in it and tighten up , then I drill abunch of holes around the bolt , then mig/ plug weld all the holes . Welding the plate to the inside of the body . It might sound difficult , but its axeually really easy to do . And Hey if,n it was good enuff for the manufacturers . Then its good enuff for my rides .
I,ll be doing this to my 50 Chebby truck soon .I,m using a set of belts from a low , low mileage 85 Monte Carlo .
Also if,n your going to use belts from a donor car . Kee track of how the mounts are located in relation to each other . Some ratchet systems wont work right if they are out of osition , IE tipped to one side or something like that..77.

[Ontario55]

I haven't put belts in my 55 yet and I probably should have
Theres numerous places in the states that supply
Probably best known and most knowledgable is Julianos
Danchuk, Mutton Hollow, Cars Inc,and Antique Chev in Oakville are a few others
PM me for any other info if theres anything else you want
Ontario55

[bullet]

I was thinking of shoulder / lap belts for the Stude but was told if the shoulder belts are not put in the right place they can kill you. Anyone care to comment on this.
There is a hole roughly head level in the B pillar of the Stude I thought would be a good place to bolt to.

[Scotty]

I don't think it is that hard to mount at the right height. You want them crossing your body just as they do in a daily driver. Too high and you could have throat or neck injuries, too low and you would pivot over it just like a lap belt. I have them in mine and the odd time if you hit a big bump or have to make a quick stop for some idiot, the retractors lock and it feels just the same as when it happens in a daily driver. It makes me feel safer for having them. I certainly wouldn't want my head making contact with the metal interior of an old car.

[1Bad56]

Some have used the GM set up out of newer 'verts, so if the post isn't handy, you can still use a lap/shoulder belt system.

[bullet]

I was thinking of shoulder / lap belts for the Stude but was told if the shoulder belts are not put in the right place they can kill you. Anyone care to comment on this.



As I suspected, another blow hole that doesn't know what he's talking about.
Thanks for confirming what I already suspected.