Seatbelts in the way of speakers in a 76?

[1979 GMC Sierra]

Hi guys, I'm trying to put speakers behind the seat in my 76, but the one part of the seatbelt mount is directly in the way. Do I have to take this one part off, install the speakers, then put the seatbelt part back on? And if so, will there be room? Cause it looks like there won't be. Or do I have to find another kind of seatbelts that just have one mounting at the bottom? Let me know. Thanks,

Travis

[Palf70Step]

I have not seen a belt ever mounted high like that. Normally they are on the floor. But I would imagine with it mounted there, you'll have to remove it, install speaker, then put it back. Even with the floor mount like my truck has, I took it out to make it easier to put my speaker mounts in.

[1979 GMC Sierra]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I have not seen a belt ever mounted high like that. Normally they are on the floor. But I would imagine with it mounted there, you'll have to remove it, install speaker, then put it back. Even with the floor mount like my truck has, I took it out to make it easier to put my speaker mounts in.

I'm wondering if these belts were put in by the previous owner? As I haven't seen any of these mounted like this either. They have the floor mount, as well as the mount higher where the speaker goes. Thanks for the info. I think I should just change my belts to lap belts or another belt that has just the floor mount.

[Dead Parrot]

I have seen a few mounted like that over many years of visiting Pull-A-Part. I think there were a few years between mandatory lap belts and mandatory combo lap+shoulder belt where if you ordered shoulder belts, you got this setup.

Didn't seem a very robust attachment point for something designed to hold you in place during a crash.

My 75 C10 came with lap belt only version.

[Eman]

I have the same issue in my 77. My 78 has the floor mount.

[wbort27]

my 75 lap belt only also

[Justins76]

Same shoulder belt mounting locations as in my 76.

[TKCR]

That was the start of the 3 point seatbelts, in 76 I believe. I will post pics in order of the years.
1973-1975/76 were just lap belts
1976/77 were the 3 point with the little black box, actually being the upper retractor.
1978-1986 are the more common 3point seatbelts
1987 the style changed just a little. And they have an extra mounting tab on them. They were made longer, so that put an extension on them, so they would clear that ledge behind the seat.

[1979 GMC Sierra]

Originally Posted by TKCR

That was the start of the 3 point seatbelts, in 76 I believe. I will post pics in order of the years.
1973-1975/76 were just lap belts
1976/77 were the 3 point with the little black box, actually being the upper retractor.
1978-1986 are the more common 3point seatbelts
1987 the style changed just a little. And they have an extra mounting tab on them. They were made longer, so that put an extension on them, so they would clear that ledge behind the seat.

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it. TKCR, your breakdown of the years and what kind of belts there were throughout the squarebody years was excellent info to go by. So mine are the 3 point with the little black box for the upper retractor.

My next question is, since I have a 76, and in 76 there was lap belts....can I get away with switching my early version of 3 points belts to lap belts? Could I get away with that since I have a 76? Or would you advise against that?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 1979 GMC Sierra

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it. TKCR, your breakdown of the years and what kind of belts there were throughout the squarebody years was excellent info to go by. So mine are the 3 point with the little black box for the upper retractor.

My next question is, since I have a 76, and in 76 there was lap belts....can I get away with switching my early version of 3 points belts to lap belts? Could I get away with that since I have a 76? Or would you advise against that?

Yes, yours is the 3point with the upper retractor (little black box). Yes you could take those out and put just the 2 point seatbelts in. But when it comes to the law, I don’t know what your laws are. Being an older truck, you probably wouldn’t have any issues, even if you were stopped. I have 3point belts in my 86, and it is the law to wear your seatbelt. But I have to confess, a lot of times I don’t put it on. Not sure why, I just don’t when I’m just cruising around town in Big Red.
I have some 2 point belts, if your interested. I usually salvage all the belts I can, no matter what style, although the lap belts are more rare. But I restore them, so maybe I can do a set for you, if I have the color you need. I have a thread that I started not too long ago, about restoring them, a lot of before & After pics. I was posting them on my build thread, but I finally started a thread just for the belts.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750

[bigblock73]

Late 76/early 77 had that goofy mid-mount retractor. It was a terrible design, and GM went to floor mount retractors mid 77. The floor mount retractors work soo much better.

[1979 GMC Sierra]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Yes, yours is the 3point with the upper retractor (little black box). Yes you could take those out and put just the 2 point seatbelts in. But when it comes to the law, I don’t know what your laws are. Being an older truck, you probably wouldn’t have any issues, even if you were stopped. I have 3point belts in my 86, and it is the law to wear your seatbelt. But I have to confess, a lot of times I don’t put it on. Not sure why, I just don’t when I’m just cruising around town in Big Red.
I have some 2 point belts, if your interested. I usually salvage all the belts I can, no matter what style, although the lap belts are more rare. But I restore them, so maybe I can do a set for you, if I have the color you need. I have a thread that I started not too long ago, about restoring them, a lot of before & After pics. I was posting them on my build thread, but I finally started a thread just for the belts.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=809750

TKCR, thanks again for the info. It would great if I could put 2 point lap belts in my truck. Cause technically, some 76's had lap belts anyway, so cops won't know the difference. And I have to confess too, I rarely use my seat belts either, mostly cause the 3 point ones with the black box retractor lock up on me and are tight and annoying. So lap belts will be a welcome change, and I'd actually use them, which would be better than using nothing like I do now. Plus I have a long beard, hate when the shoulder belt gets in the way lol, so if I use shoulder, I always tuck it under my arm.

I definitely am interested in a set of 2 point lap belts from you. I took a look at your thread and the ones you've done look great! I'm looking for blue ones or green ones. Haven't decided. What colour blues do you have access too, and what colour greens? Also how much would it be for a set?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 1979 GMC Sierra

TKCR, thanks again for the info. It would great if I could put 2 point lap belts in my truck. Cause technically, some 76's had lap belts anyway, so cops won't know the difference. And I have to confess too, I rarely use my seat belts either, mostly cause the 3 point ones with the black box retractor lock up on me and are tight and annoying. So lap belts will be a welcome change, and I'd actually use them, which would be better than using nothing like I do now. Plus I have a long beard, hate when the shoulder belt gets in the way lol, so if I use shoulder, I always tuck it under my arm.

I definitely am interested in a set of 2 point lap belts from you. I took a look at your thread and the ones you've done look great! I'm looking for blue ones or green ones. Haven't decided. What colour blues do you have access too, and what colour greens? Also how much would it be for a set?

I don’t have any green, just some Blues and tans. If you like PM your cell#, and I can get them all out and take some pics of what I have. I can text you the pics.

[1979 GMC Sierra]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I don’t have any green, just some Blues and tans. If you like PM your cell#, and I can get them all out and take some pics of what I have. I can text you the pics.

Sent you a PM.