Re: [AMC-list] Safety Weinie

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Statistically, the number of lives saved vs. number of total accidents are pretty slim on all. statistics don't mean much unless you are the 1 of 500,0000!!

I'd still go with the seat belts and better brakes though. Seat belts are high on the "saved" list of course, but brakes are low. Just think of how many accidents were avoided or prevented because someone had good brakes and were paying attention though! Someone avoided hitting me when I was turning around at an intersection and didn't see them (blind spot) because they had good brakes! I did hear the tire screech and floored it, just getting out of the way. Didn't hear them until that short screech, but if they didn't have good brakes I'd have probably been looking for another Rambler. Would have been my fault too! I turned around again to make sure they didn't go into the ditch. Luckily they just got a good scare (were traveling a bit fast and just came over the hill to see me in the road!) and continued on unharmed. 

As for seats, it's hard to find something that will look "right" in the Rambler. If you find an Eagle Premier in a local yard they do look close to correct and are comfortable (that's what I have). You will have to drill some holes in the floor to mount them, but the Premier brackets work without altering. Use a large fender washer or metal plate under the floor with the new bolts. The seats have an open headrest and are just under shoulder height on me. I'm 6', I think you are a bit taller. With the headrest down the top is just at the base of my skull -- just high enough to prevent severe whiplash. Of course it will raise up too. 

I forget if you have a two or four door! The four door is relatively easy to add modern shoulder belts to. I just drilled hole all the way through the B pillar and let the bolt head show on the outside. It's only seen when the doors are open. S-10 Blazer belts work great. They mount on the floor with a cover, not inside the B pillar. Don't know when they stopped that, mine came from a 90 or so model (maybe 88-89). I trimmed the black plastic cover so the mount would go closer to the side sill in the car. If you want rear shoulder belts look in late model sedans. Volvo 240 and some Japanese models have a retractor on or just under the parcel shelf in the back. On is easier to mount. 

---------------
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:58:24 -0500
From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>


2002 should have read:
Lives Saved in 2002
208/209/210 Safety belts 14,570
203/204 Energy-absorbing steering assemblies 2,657
208 Air bags (frontal) 2,473
206 Door locks, latches and hinges 1,398
214 Side impact protection 994
201 Instrument panels 930
105 Dual master cylinders/front disc brakes 538
212 Adhesive windshield bonding 347
213 Child safety seats 335
216 Roof crush resistance 161
108 Trailer conspicuity tape 159

And I agree in large part with Joe as well. There comes a point when
the car you wanted for the very reasons you wanted it no longer has
those characteristics. Still - if I can do three-points and a later
model bench seat and keep the car looking kind of sort of correct more
or less, then I'd do those. A lot more than that, and I should
probably sell my older car and look for a Hornet or Concord (those
have the main things I'm looking for).

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

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