question on seat belts

[zibs71]

Something that has always confused me. What year ln our 67-72 trucks were you allowed to run only lap belts, when was the shoulder belt implemented in our trucks. I have a 71 chev C-10 and as far as I can tell mine only has lap belts yet ive seen other 71 chev that have both or just shoulder. Can anyone shed some light on thid for me?

Thanks!!!!

Zibs71

[5567Cruiser]

I don't know the year they were started but my 67 cab has provisions for shoulder belt attachment. The upper back corners of the cab has plastic covers for access to built in bolt threads for shoulder belt anchors. I currently use lap belts as my other classic 67 Buick GS only had lap belts available.Good Luck.

[Crazyduck]

My 72 has laps only

[brown7373]

Not sure when shoulder were standard, but no truck ever came with just shoulder belts without lap belts.

[67ChevyRedneck]

The shoulder belt was optional through 1972, so technically you're supposed to use what the vehicle came with, so for the vast majority of these trucks that would just be a lap belt. I'm sure if the shoulder belt was removed and just lap belts were used "the law" wouldn't know any different. I *think* they became standard equipment with the new body style 1973+ trucks.

However, I highly recommend using shoulder belts. It's so easy to install them in these trucks it's crazy to not use them.

[randy.powell]

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208,7/
effective January 1, 1968, requires either a lap belt alone,
or a combination lap and shoulder belt, at each seating position
of any new passenger cars.^V A combination lap and
shoulder belt is required at the front outboard seating positions
on all such vehicles except convertibles.9/
FMVSS No. 208 was revised and its application was extended to cover multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses made after July 1, 1971.10/ The revised Standard requires a lap belt for all seating positions in convertibles, open-body type vehicles, walk-in vans, trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 lbs., and for the driver's seat in buses. In all other vehicles, a combination lap and shoulder belt is required in each front outboard seating position, and a lap belt alone is required in all other seating positions, including auxiliary seats and side-and rear-facing seats.

FMVSS No. 208 was extensively revised effective January 1, 1972, with additional requirements coming into effect on August 15 of 1973, 1975 and 1977.11 Essentially these revisions reflect a movement toward a system of passive restraints (a system that will automatically protect a vehicle occupant in a crash without his having activated the device) which meets specified performance criteria regarding protection of occupants during crashes with such passive restraints to be required in all seating positions for new passenger cars after August 15, 1975, and for new multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 lbs. or less after August 15, 1977.

So it looks to me like it's Aug 15, 1977...
The Interweb is a wonderful thing

All I got....
Randy

[srvivor71]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

...However, I highly recommend using shoulder belts. It's so easy to install them in these trucks it's crazy to not use them.

Totally agree!

[zibs71]

Thanks for all the replys. I only have lap belts ATM. I'll give it some thought if I want to add the shoulder ones. I just was not sure if required by law

zibs71