1965 Seat Belts???

[hoog]

Originally Posted by fleetsidelarry

your wish is my command, will this do?

Absolutely, thanks fsl! I'm about to install belts in my '63 and your detail is much appreciated.

[aerotruk63]

Thank you for the measurements, could help alot of people. Interesting how we've never seen a truck on the site with the shoulder belts installed. Then again never seen a truck with a Cool Pack installed either.

[aerotruk63]

Spotweld Nut. Do I not see a spotweld below the 5/8" hole?

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...u=38146&ucst=t

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Spotweld Nut. Do I not see a spotweld below the 5/8" hole?

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...u=38146&ucst=t

sure looks like it in Captainfab's pictures. Thanks aero, was wondering what to use.

[k1rodeoboater]

fwiw my 66 has lap belts but does NOT have the nuts in the b pillars or the holes

[MikeS.]

I can tell you from personal experience that Calif. did not require the use of lap belts on pre 1966 trucks. I owned 4 or 5 while in Fresno, got pulled over several times and the cops never had an issue. When I got pulled over in my 66s they always checked to see if I was wearing.

[collins10672]

as i stated earlier in the thread i have a flint michigan built 66 cab and it has the plugs,but i have not taken them out to see if the nuts are installed.someone else earlier in the thread speculated that only the very late and last built 1966 trucks were equipped with these and maybe that was the case since they are extremely rare to find and considering i have owned about 5 66's and this is the only one i have owned like this.i have had several other friends with 66's through the years and none of their trucks had the shoulder harness plugs either so this is something very rare.

[factorystock]

Most 66's built middle to late in model year production would have the plug. I posted this photo before. Definately one of the rarer options.

[MikeS.]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Most 66's built middle to late in model year production would have the plug. I posted this photo before. Definately one of the rarer options.

That is a great photo, thanks for sharing.

[Irishbleueyes]

My 65 came with them factory and its from WA. But its only lap belts, whose gonna know if you have them or not??

[64shortbox]

chevyrestoguy,
You are correct that seat belts save more lives in most accidents than those that don't. I was just saying that it should be our choice whether we wear them or not and it shouldn't be up to the government or insurance to mandate what we do in our own vehicles. I myself was involved in a pretty bad accident - it was my fault. I stood a company truck on its nose smashing the frontend so bad the hood of the truck was bent over the roof. If that wasn't bad enough the truck rolled down the embankment landing on its roof. I was NOT wearing a seatbelt but when I knew I was in trouble I leaned in towards the passenger side and wedged one hand against the roof. I was still trying to cut the wheel hard left and mashed the gas trying to steer the truck down the embankment rather than roll it but it didn't help. I would have walked away without a scratch but a tool box I had in the front floorboard hit me in the back of the head before it went through the back window.
I do wear my seatbelt in my daily driver every time I get in it. I have purchased seatbelts for my 64 C-10 though I haven't put them in yet. I doubt I'll use them though. I bought them to please my wife. I never wear my seatbelts when driving my 71 Caddy Hearse at 23 feet long, 6,680 lbs empty that thing is like a freight train and the person with the largest mass will usually win with a smaller vehicle.
My beef is that the seatbelt law got pushed through to save the insurance companys money. The it saves lives slogan is just to make it sound better, though in most cases you will definitely fair better wearing a seatbelt than not just as you stated.

[OldTrucksRule]

I put the self retracting lap belts in my 65 with no shoulder straps. I am just so used to wearing belts that I was uncomfortable not having them and it is just a safety thing with me. I put the non retractable kind in the center of my bench in case I have that many passengers.

[cwojbaker]

Originally Posted by OldTrucksRule

I put the self retracting lap belts in my 65 with no shoulder straps. I am just so used to wearing belts that I was uncomfortable not having them and it is just a safety thing with me. I put the non retractable kind in the center of my bench in case I have that many passengers.

Im the same way OldTrucks...just don't feel comfortable anymore without them.

[Trsmotrhed]

Not sure why someone wouldn't want to wear a safety belt. Pretty sure one saved my life or severe bodily injury. I walked away from this wreck.

[Strodder]

Wow. Some one was looking out for you.

[Fastest32]

We have some expandable 3/8 nuts that we use to install trunk chains in the trunks of the patrol cars. I wonder if they would be good enough to hold the top nut on a shoulder harness. It takes a huge riveter with a stud on the end to compress the nut.bwhat do y'all think?

[Sharps40]

I have Baltimore 64 and 65 C10s. Neither have any provision for seat belts from the factory....both had lap belts added by me for safety.

Glad I did when the 64 was hit head on by a Honda moving at high speed....kept me behind the wheel and able to pilot to a stop after the Honda went in, under and out.

Put seat belts in and use them.

[Clyde65]

Federal Law passed in 1967 required seat belts in ALL passenger vehicles beginning january 1, 1968. I believe manufacturers saw the writing on the wall since debating was started in 1966.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seat_be..._United_States

However, States could mandate it prior if they so chose.

Most manufacturers had the option on almost ANY vehicle they produced since the early 40's, so if you wanted them, you could have the dealer install them.

I learned this when I did Safety inspections in Texas, My truck didnt come with them, but when it came down to my kids being in the truck, I put in seatbelts period.

just my .02

[ChrisDollins]

I'm curious, in my 66 which has been in the family all of its life, and a close relative who has a 66 that his grandfather bought new, neither had seat belts. Shoulder nor lap. I will be putting belts in mine, feel naked without them lol.

Chris

[Sharps40]

There is really no hard and fast rule that can be nailed down nearly 50 years later. Essentially, either your cab has GM installed belts or GM provisions for belts or it dosn't.

There will be lots of debates on when Chevy Officially started installing belts as other than an option but the only real proof will be cab by cab inspection!

If ya don't have em add em....most effective automotive safety device ever invented....ever! Remember, 75% of people ejected from moving vehicals...Die. (Yes, I'm a safety manager.) Don't be an ejection statistic, wear a seatbelt.

Remember also, your dash is the old school steel splatter type. The shop techie wipes the dried splatter from yer face off of the steel with a damp towel and vacuums yer teeth off the floor mats when they are fixin the truck. Don't be a face splatter, wear a seat belt.

[Robert Haas]

My 1965 GMC half ton did not come with seat belts. During my build I did install them having to drill the cab floor in the process. I used proper hardware and legal aftermarket "Fisher" style belts.

Having been in a side impact collision in a vehicle equipped with a bench seat and no seat belts 1958 Chevy) ,........ I can assure you the horror of flying sideways across the inside of that truck only stopping by slamming into the passenger door resulting in multiple broken bones and internal damage. Yea I am a huge believer in a set of belts.

[1963chevyc20]

Please note that you must be a supporting member to post classified items. This includes but is not limited to What Its Worth, Want To Buy, Want To Trade, and For Sale. Please consider supporting the forum by subscribing. Further information on the subscription levels available are located here

If you need any further assistance with that please contact any Admin for help.

[aotte1]

Adding photo of the shoulder belt fastener, back side of B pillar. This is from 66’ C20 Fremont plant build Truck.

Les

[msg]

Originally Posted by aotte1

Adding photo of the shoulder belt fastener, back side of B pillar. This is from 66’ C20 Fremont plant build Truck.

Les

Thanks Les for posting the pic. I have just today started to consider 3 point belts in my build and I was reading this post on another site about how to modify. It doesnt have pics and yours helps me see what they did back there.


Here is a link to it

Three point seat belts on a 62 C10?


Heres what it reads...

I have put in quite a few in the 60-66's.

Here's how to do the upper mount.

Locate the spot for the mounting hole and drill to 1/2".
Now drill two very small holes close to that hole at 180 degrees apart.
Now take the huge seat belt mounting re-inforcement washer from a seat belt kit, and weld a nut to it for whatever mounting bolt you will use.
Then run mechanics wire down through the hole in the upper pillar, then run the end of the wire through the washer/nut deal. Make some balled up tangle of wire so it can't pull back through the hole.
Lastly, pull the wire to have the washer/nut thing end up aligned with the 1/2" hole, and mig weld through those two small holes. Those welds just hold the plate so you can mount the anchor bolt.

Those 2 welds will be covered by the seat belt decorative washer.

Plenty strong and quick to do.

[bstash19]

what have you guys used for 3 point seatbelts in your trucks? are there any specific vehicles i can get seatbelts from that work well with a '66 c10?

or would i be better off going with something aftermarket like this:

http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/product...gaAqc6EALw_wcB

edit: fwiw, my truck doesnt have existing holes for seatbelts.