Seatbelts
 

Hey all,
Quick question; when did shoulder belts come into law in the US? Was it different for each state? Like Texas? Or, Did shoulder belts become mandatory all over the US at once?
thanks in advance for all replies.

Re: Seatbelts
 

Anyone?

Re: Seatbelts
 

I think it is just seat belts (any kind) and not shoulder belts. If they came with shoulder belts then that is what you use, if it came with lap belts then that is what you use. If it did not have any from the factory then you do not have to have them.

Re: Seatbelts
 

thanks mhicks. Got another question then. Were 76s made with both lap belts and lap& shoulder?

Re: Seatbelts
 

My dad has a '76 with lap belts. I don't know if this helps you.

Re: Seatbelts
 

I think 76 was the transition year from lap to shoulder.

If I am reading your mind correctly, and you want to run the speaker brackets...you could find a 78 and newer set of shoulder belts, they had the retractors on the floor and not on the back pillar like your truck.

I think 76 was the only year that had the high mount retractors...my 77 has the floor mount ones, but that truck has been "restored" one by a PO, so who knows what it had from the general.

Re: Seatbelts
 

Indeed that is what I am thinking. My shoulder belts mounts are in the way alright of those fine speaker boxes. I would have to go to 5" rounds and use a shorter box I make myself.
I'll try looking at that option. I know it would mean drilling into the floor for the anchor bolts as well the belts you mentioned. I was planning on buying new belts here in the late spring so I need to decide which is best- different boxes or belts.
thx

Re: Seatbelts
 

I bought a 76 new, lap belts only.

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thanks s10 and damien.
That means there were some 76's made without shoulder belts. Which means, if I can find factory looking plugs or replacement trim pieces on the cab where the shoulder hole guide is, I can place those speaker boxes and get rid of the annoying shoulder belts or get later belts with a different mounting location.

p.s.- I know some people highly recommend the shoulder straps for safety but I'm not convinced they're worth it. I'm more likely to get rear-ended and suffer whiplash with no bucket headrests or nailed from the side which I'm assuming shoulder belts won't help in that case.

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I LOVE my shoulder belts, they keep steering columns out of your chest. think about it, nobody can plan for a wreck, or they wouldn't have gone driving that day. I know my shoulder belt did a heck of a lot for me, because the only thing on me that was hurting was my shoulder where that belt grabbed me.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...0Wreck/001.jpg

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It was a dealer option on all of them, but I think became standard in 1977...

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My '73 has the nut part in the frame post, but it has lap belts. It has plastic molding covering up the nut. It all looks original.

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Well, my wife won't ride in the truck without the shoulder belts so I'll be posting a WTB add in parts shortly. FYI, 76 seems to be the only year the shoulder harness was mid pillar.
78 chevyrado, a picture is worth a thousand words. point taken.

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Pic from page 8 of 1976 showroom brochure.

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I'd say that speaks volumes. thx

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Anything PRE-1977 would be most likely be pillar mounted...

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I put these in for my rear bench seat of my 89 GMC Jimmy for my kids and my wife is very happy. :)

If you cannot find a shoulder option for yours you might consider them. I know they make some waaaay more expensive too.

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/am4point.html