seat belts!

[farna@xxxxxxx]

The Mustang conversion kit should fit with just a little finessing. What works 
but takes a bit more work is the front belts from an S-10 Blazer, the kind with 
the retractor on the floor in the rear just aft of the door opening. That's what 
I have in my 63 Classic wagon. I drilled through the door post to make an upper 
anchor -- COMPLETELY through the post, and ran a 5/16" bolt through it. The bolt 
head is only seen when one of the doors are open, so I found that acceptable and 
safe. The 68-73 system already has the anchor point up top so it's easier to 
install a modern belt system. It will get in the way a bit when entering  the 
back seat, but most two door retractable systems do! For a pre 68 car without a 
top anchor point you have to put one in. That can be tough, especially if there 
is no plastic cover trim on the door post like the early 60s cars. 

One source for belts used in street rods is http://www.julianos.com/. Click on 
"See our step by step how to guides" for pictorial examples. The two 70 Mustang 
install will be helpful to Javelin owners and those with cars that have the old 
style non-retractable shoulder belts. The 3 point belts in the 56 Ford wagon and 
"Nifty-One" Ford are probably the best examples for older cars. A new 
retractable system from Juliano's is $90 per seat.



original message-----------------------------------------

The Mustang vendors sell three point seat belt
conversion kits which look like they would fit
Javelins at least, perhaps other AMCs.  Has anyone
used any of these kits?

Joe Fulton
Salinas, CA

---and------
---- Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx> wrote: 
> I finally got my seatbelts rebuilt, in my 1970 Hornet. Seatbelt  
> technology and fashion aren't a specialty of mine, but I think 1970  
> is unique (a lot in the 1970 Hornet is unique to that car; many  
> things are totally different from 1971-up).
> 
> It's certainly an early attempt to figure out how to make a  
> functional shoulder belt -- and not successful one! The lap belt is  
> ordinary enough, the outside end has a retractor in a plastic tube,  
> the inside is fixed with a plastic tube that pokes through the seat.
> 
> The shoulder belt is the kicker -- it's fixed to the roof behind your  
> head, does not retract, and has a primitive clip and socket behind  
> the plastic trim with which to afix the mess when you're not using it  
> (which will be most of the time for most people, it's so annoying).  
> The business end has a little tang that fits into a keyhole in the  
> lap belt. It all looks very experimental. And since it's fixed, and  
> not inertial, when it's adjusted reasonably you are essentially  
> webbed tight to the seat, you can't even lean forward.
> 
> The whole contraption cracks me up. The shoulder belt is so  
> impractical and hard to use! I love old cars!

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)