Blazer 3rd Seat??

[MAC71]

All, Thank you for the wonderful information and for the photos.

Richard, thank you so much for going out of your way and setting up the seats and taking those photos.

Well it certainly looks like a Blazer will work for me! Now to find one.

I think that the back seat would need to have headrest to protect the riders heads from the rear glass. Also the idea of the roll bare sounds really good. I was thinking maybe two hoops, one in the traditional area and one in the back, as far back as possible. That would also give a good mounting point for shoulder belts.

Motornut, I had researched the laws for seat belts in Texas years back and at that time there was nothing about having them DOT certified. Also it did state that if the vehicle did not come with them your not required to have them. I even printed out the section and carried it in my 56 chevy until I had installed shoulder belts. But each state has different laws.

[MAC71]

Looking at the photos some more I really like the middle seat with the buckets and the jump seat and then a bench for the rear. The bench would work in the middle for now but when my gids get older the buckets would make it easer for them to get back there. Kids are little now, have 4 and oldest is 9.

[motornut]

Originally Posted by MAC71

All, Thank you for the wonderful information and for the photos.

Richard, thank you so much for going out of your way and setting up the seats and taking those photos.

Well it certainly looks like a Blazer will work for me! Now to find one.

I think that the back seat would need to have headrest to protect the riders heads from the rear glass. Also the idea of the roll bare sounds really good. I was thinking maybe two hoops, one in the traditional area and one in the back, as far back as possible. That would also give a good mounting point for shoulder belts.

Motornut, I had researched the laws for seat belts in Texas years back and at that time there was nothing about having them DOT certified. Also it did state that if the vehicle did not come with them your not required to have them. I even printed out the section and carried it in my 56 chevy until I had installed shoulder belts. But each state has different laws.

And i sure don't know Texas law lol
but it's something to do with modding the stock belts
hell my 88 burb came from Texas with no seats/belts (RPO YG3)

[mcmlxix]

Originally Posted by woodymm3

If you are crafty you could figure a way to put two benches both facing in from the wheelwells. may have to raise the seats up some or maybe fab up some low profile wheelwells but it may be worth a look and you would probably be the only one that has it.

Landrover Defender 90 style seats... HERE

The late model 3rd row Yukon XL or Suburban seats might make it a little more reasonable ...

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by MAC71

Motornut, I had researched the laws for seat belts in Texas years back and at that time there was nothing about having them DOT certified. Also it did state that if the vehicle did not come with them your not required to have them. I even printed out the section and carried it in my 56 chevy until I had installed shoulder belts. But each state has different laws.

You would be correct, this is the way it's been in every state I've lived in. Seat belts aren't even required at all in anything 68 or older, simply because belts were an option even for front seat passengers, so not all cars got them.
After 68 belts were still an option on rear seats in some vehicles.

So getting pulled over for seat belts only applies to 69 and newer vehicles, and that's for front seat passengers only. Lap belts are perfectly legal as well, as most cars throughout that time period (69 through early 70's) had the lap and shoulder belts seperated. Some older cars with optional belts were lap belt only.
My 56 Nomad is this way. It had the optional seat belts (lap only).

Now with society being so safety concious nowadays I'm sure some states have adapted their own set of laws, as the older cars are now seldom seen on roadways anymore.

As far as modifying seats or moving seat belts, I don't see that as being to much of an issue on rear seats, again as rear seat passengers (in states I've lived in) weren't required to wear belts anyway, front seats are another matter though.
Ever see some of those rat rods up close that seems to be all the rage now? I wouldn't be caught dead in some of those things people are scraping together. How they get a license plate is beyond me. I've seen them without floor pans, seats bolted to pieces of 2x4's, it's just scary.