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I have a '73 convertible. I'd like to add shoulder belts, but keep the car as factory looking as possible. I have the seat belt warning system working, so I think I need to go with the factory style shoulder belts vs the f-body rear seat belt option. To have the shoulder belts go through the seat backs, I think I need to modify the seat back frames or purchase different ones. As anyone modified the frames? I think there is a bracket that welds to the front face of the frame. I don't know if this is available from the vendors. I can find the internal bracket that supports the bezel on the back of the seat.
Thanks 75, Paul74 did respond to a PM I sent. He shared a nice photo of the parts I need. I did find a photo I took of my bare seat backs and I was doing my restoration earlier this year, and for '73 the seat backs did come with the slots and associated brackets already in the frame which is a big relief.
You can modify your seats, but it will be costly to dig up all the little pieces you need and a PITA to install it. PLUS, the shoulder belt coming in that location is not as comfortable as you might think.
Check internet for some belt pass-thru clips that can mount to the upper/outer edge of the seat back. Many cars had these in earlier years, and they worked quite well. You can recolor them to match your interior with vinyl dye mixed to match.
I have the stock shoulder belt slots in my seat backs ('71) and I don't care much for that location/belt position.
Thanks for the tips. After receiving a PM response from Paul74 indicating my seat backs likely had the cutout, I found a photo I took when I was restoring my seat backs that confirmed at least for a '73, the seat backs did come with the cutouts.
Hi jk,
Here are a couple of photos of the front and rear sides of the seat back and the cuts for the belt.
Maybe they'll be useful to you.
Regards,
Alan
Note, the vinyl is slit on 3 sides but stays attached at the bottom edge.
Hey Paul , how are you , I was going to ask the same , after Kim had a ride in the 70 she wants shoulder belts, I kind of feel naked without them also , well have to talk about doing this . Ron
Hey Paul , how are you , I was going to ask the same , after Kim had a ride in the 70 she wants shoulder belts, I kind of feel naked without them also , well have to talk about doing this . Ron
Hi Ron,
We can talk about this, no problem. I can't remember if the 1970 convertible has the pass-through in the seat frames. Alan71 will know.
Hi,
In looking at the AIM it appears all seat back frames had the provision for the shoulder belt.
It appears as though the proper front trim bezel and smaller rear trim bezel were applied on coupes and convertibles with the shoulder belt option.
The AIM indicates that the 'insert' (the metal part in the seat frame) is to be used as a 'guide' for cutting the vinyl on the back of the seat.
There doesn't seem to be any guidance for cutting the vinyl for the front bezel.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks Paul and Alan , no rush yet I have this beauty all tore apart, I'm just starting to re assemble it. it was stored quite a few years so i'm going throught all of it , as Paul knows I'm pretty picky about cars . 🤠
Hello
I just read the posts in this thread. I'm facing the same shoulder belt issue while restoring the seats in my '70. I need the guides that are spot welded onto the seat back frames. I wonder if any of you can help me?
Hello
I just read the posts in this thread. I'm facing the same shoulder belt issue while restoring the seats in my '70. I need the guides that are spot welded onto the seat back frames. I wonder if any of you can help me?
This is an old thread from 2017, but I need the same info as well, just in case anyone stumbles across this thread.
Hello STL Zombie Hunter
I feel your pain. That was quite a problem for me too. I was finally able to solve the problem by obtaining the top section of an old seat back frame, carefully removing the shoulder belt guide pieces from it, cutting rectangular openings in my seat back frames (using the old section as a template), and tack welding those guide pieces onto my frames. Worked out perfectly. If you wish to PM me, I can give you more details and let you know where I got the old seat frame section from.
This is an old thread from 2017, but I need the same info as well, just in case anyone stumbles across this thread.
I have a 74 convertible and would like to add shoulder belts. Anyone know of a way without going through the seat back. Not to picky bout originality.
Thanks
Larry
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Seat back mod for adding shoulder belts?
