Bolts for shoulder belts?

[vettejohn]

Does anyone know where I can get a couple of bolts for the upper attachment of the shoulder belts I have for my 71? Thanks, John

[cdowns]

some autoparts stores will have them in the "help" section

i've also gotten them at junkyards

[leddzepp]

I got some grade 8's from Lowes.

[StingRay]

They are 7/16 NF. There is no special requirement to use grade 8. Actually grade 5 is more ductile and will deform where as a grade 8 is more inclined to snap. You'd be dead or something else would break before either fastener actually fialed though.

[OldSkool71]

Originally Posted by StingRay

They are 7/16 NF. There is no special requirement to use grade 8. Actually grade 5 is more ductile and will deform where as a grade 8 is more inclined to snap. You'd be dead or something else would break before either fastener actually fialed though.

This is my reminder to get some 3 point seat belts..pronto...thx

[Hart_Rod]

I think they are shoulder bolts. You can usually find them at hardware stores.

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

I think they are shoulder bolts. You can usually find them at hardware stores.

If you are talking about real seat belt shoulder bolts the best source are OEM bolts. Almost all seat belt bolts will be either 7/16 NF or 1/2 NC and it's really easy to tell them apart. Seat belt bolts come in a lot of different lengths so a trip the the wrecker will yield a large selection. Some bolts are normal thread and many are thread rollers. With a thread roller the shape of the bolt is slightlyl tri-lobular and the threads are case hardened. A special size hole is used and the bolt will roll it's own threads on the way in. These may be used on pre threaded holes just fine but don't cross thread them or bye bye threads real fast. They make really good thread restorers for damaged 7/16 threaded applications as well. You can use plain old grade 5 bolts with washers and shims and such and probably be fine but there is a certian security in using an OEM style of bolt. Depending on the application we use either of both kinds on an installation.

For a 67-72 Chev Truck Ford has a really nice seat belt bolt that looks about right. It's a part number 386277S437M. I never actually fully installed a belt in a 67-72 truck with one but I've tested the bolt and an upper tether and it looked real good. Different belts may have different reqirements.

[Fitz]

This is not a place to cut corners on hardware. The bolt for the upper point needs to be a shoulder bolt too prevent capturing the upper harness mount which must be free to rotate. If it doesn't your neck gets sliced open by the belt.

The correct bolt is available from Juliano's hot rod shop for $6.00.

Yeah, six bucks for a single freakin 7/16 NF bolt...but it could save you a very serious injury.

[StingRay]

You missed where I stated with washers and shims. You are correct the function of a shoulder bolt must be maintained so that the upper tether can rotate. The hole in a tether is sufficiently large that a sleeve would need to be used over the bolt to bring it up to size. A sufficiently large heavy washer would also need to be used as the hole size in the tether would be too large for a normal 7/16 fasteners head. In the end you would have created your own shoulder bolt and yes it is better to buy one.

[mclairmo]

I heard of a seatbelt cutting through a guy's chest in an accident. Killed him. Use the correct hardware if possible.

[StingRay]

Funny I do this for a living. I'll watch guys post on here all day long about putting new style integrated belt seats in these trucks with little regard for the fact they will rip through the floor without significant floor reinforcing and when I've commented on it it hasn't been recieved well. Yet about a bolt where there is some lattitude on what can be used everybody is all anal about it. Go figure. A good grade 5 7/16NF bolt, a heavy washer (1/4' thick), a spacer bushing of about a half inch for a shoulder and you are good to go if you can't find a oem shoulder bolt but oem ones are pretty easy to find. The length required for a particular application can not alway be found so making one up from components is sometimes a reasonable alternative.

[cloudbrk]

The truck i just picked up just has lap belts. Is there a conversion kit available to make it so that there is a shoulder harness? Is it hard to retro fit?

[71blksuper4x4]

I could get you a pic of original shoulder harness belt bolts if you need a reference. Trevor


cloudbrk, to answer your question, no it is not really hard to retrofit newer seat belts into our trucks. I heard the late 80's-early 90's S10 seatbelts can be made to fit. Shoulder Harness belts could have been found on these trucks, but they are very rare to see. Trevor

[Duncan and son]

Obviously you have several options. I you want it to be original and correct use the regular seat belt bolts from a 67. They are exactly the same as the shoulder harness bolt with the exception the 67's are slightly longer. Jason figured all of this out..I always say he is smarter than a white rat. If you can not find them, let us know and we will send you a coulpe no charge.
Hope that helps Paul and Jason