Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

After reading the story of the crashed 31 Coupe... got me thinking again about putting seat belts in my 31 Coupe. Even though I have been driving this car for the last 54 years with no belts, I do get that "missing something" feeling when I get behind the wheel. I have been a confirmed belt user ever since I bought the factory option belts on my new 1964 Pontiac. Any of you have belts in your Model A's ? If so how were they installed? Anchored to what structural member?
Joe B

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

Mine aren't in a structural member, just have large fender washers on the bottom side.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I have belts, too. They have been discussed many times here. I use the anchors from Juliano's. One of the Les Andrews books has a section on installing them.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I have belts in all of my Model As but.....
We must have about the most stringent rules of all about installing seat belts - so stingent that it just about impossible to install them in a car of this age and have hem approved by an automotive engineer (as they must be, supposedly). I figure any seat belt is better than none so I did fit them anyway. I'd consider it proof that I did the right thing if, after a prang, I was prosecuted. At least I would be here to be prosectuted!
In my Phateon and Tudor. I have lap belts for everyone except the driver. Because a lap belt doesn't help him (steering column in chest), I put a "Y" shaped belt from the strong member that goes accross the car behind and under the back seat and the two "top ends of the Y" each go over a shoulder as part of a harness like a racing driver would use. I feel much better for what I have done.
In my '30 CCPU, I have a lap/sash belt for both people but it is not retractable. Again, much safer.
When people ask about them, I say "I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6". That's then the end of the discussion!

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I don't have them on mine yet, but I too have been thinking about it.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I had them installed in my townsedan. It is annoying but somehow I feel a little 'safer'. As I won't get ejected as that is all they will do.

Mike

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I have lap belts in mine.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

How to make a bulls eye in laminated glass.
http://www.vol1brooklyn.com/wp-conte...s_1930s_13.jpg

Usual hoons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGh_j388ua8

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I have retractable lap belts in my ‘31 CCPU

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

You might wish to look at http //www.cedarcreekas.org in the Tech Topics for an article on seatbelts in Tudor.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I put retractable lap belts in my 31 coupe last year from info I found on Ford Barn and they turned out pretty well. PM me with your email and I'll send you what I have.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

Anchor them to the body...NOT the frame.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

Now that makes a LOT of sense... hate to get pinched off between a seat belt and a broken loose car body.
Thanks for all the advice folks.
Irjones , I'll be in contact... Thank you

Joe B

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

WHY?
If it is because you think the body will come loose from the chassis and squash you, that is an old wife's tale. There have been threads here showing photos of wrecked cars from the Model A era. Some were very badly damaged and I don't think a single one of them had the body come loose. Maybe on the odd occassion, the body was so badly damaged that it disintegrated but a body as a whole does not come off. Other photos showed the body still attached to a very badly twisted chassis, yet still attached.
Regulations here require seat belts be attached to the chassis if no suitable anchor points are available, as in a Model A.
That story seems to have survived reason for years just like "The water flows too quickly through the radiator for it to have time to cool". Forget it!

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

Where to anchor the belts? I think the more important question is should one fit head rests to counter whip lash?
Do tell me where does one stop?

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

Probably after the airbags

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...w0LuK1VU8uWCqo

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I used a small 2" steel C beam about 4' long as the anchor. Placed it behind the body structure in my '29 roadster and drilled thru the body and beam to anchor the belts. Yes, stay away from the car frame.

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

You are on the right track. Even though they were not an original option that up close windshield and that no-flex steering column are originals.
A good friend of mine came by to see my new car and having worked in an ER for many years asked me to please install seat belts...nuf said! Have lap belts in my 30 Tudor. Chap

Re: Seat belts - to be or not to be?
 

I will putting them in my roadster as well. I've gone back and forth and decided to attach them to the body and not the frame. The body will sheer off the frame in the crash and I don't want to be anchored to that mess if it does.