The Ford Barn

Bruce of MN · 06-21-2012, 06:25 PM

I am working on installing belts in my '31 Coupe. I've read all I could find and understand the recommended mounting points in back of the seat. My problem is the routing of the belts from there. In order to have them come around the back of the seat cushion, it looks like I have to cut slots in the curved sheet metal piece at the bottom of the seat back. I hope I have described this understandably.

TinCup · 06-21-2012, 06:41 PM

Bruce just finished installing belts in my 31 coupe. Here are a few pictures.

700rpm · 06-21-2012, 06:47 PM

Bruce,
You shouldn't have to do that. I can't get to my coupe this afternoon, but tomorrow I'll try to get some photos of how I did it, if somebody doesn't post a similar answer before then.

700rpm · 06-21-2012, 06:49 PM

I just looked at TinCup's pix, and that's pretty much what I did on mine. He just typed faster than I did!

Bruce Adams · 06-21-2012, 07:58 PM

I believe in Vol VI of "How to Restore your Model A Ford" published by MAFCA is a set of instructions for seat belts for the coupe.
That article is also downloadable from MAFCA.
Check out "A Bear for Safety" in attached MAFCA Link.
http://www.mafca.com/seat_belts.html

Bruce of MN · 06-21-2012, 08:28 PM

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TinCup, thanks for the pix. The first one is looking towards the back of the car. The second is of the seat with the back horizontal. No. 3 shows the belts fed so they will be around the back of the seat cushion. Now, I see that the 4th is looking forward from the rumble seat. I'll have to look to see if the curved sheet metal already has a gap at the top for the belts.

Bruce, thanks for the Bear reference, that is one of my guides.

Jim Boehmke · 06-21-2012, 09:07 PM

yes, slots must be cut and "protected" from chaffing. I used retractable mechinisms and it is really very nice. You mount the retractor to the outter sub frame. It's lots of work but very professional and worth every hour spent.
Jim

Jim Boehmke · 06-21-2012, 09:38 PM

here's some pics

TinCup · 06-21-2012, 09:43 PM

Nice install Jim

700rpm · 06-22-2012, 12:11 AM

Jim, that's a much neater install than I did. Now I'll have to redo mine!

Bruce of MN · 06-22-2012, 03:14 AM

Jim, what angle is pic #2 taken from?

Also, how do you get the seat off the tracks for removal? Do you take out the bolts that attach the adjuster assembly and slide it forward?

RonC · 06-22-2012, 06:59 AM

It's best to have retractable belts so they don't slide off the seat onto your running board aprons

Napa Skip · 06-22-2012, 09:07 AM

As regards how to remove the seat frame from the tracks (if I understood the question correctly) there are 12 machine screws - 6 on each side - that hold the seat frame to the tracks. There are also 4 machine screws located in the center of the seat frame for those installations with seat adjusting mechanisms, although as I recall, I just unthreaded the adjusting mechanism lead screw (as in adjust the seat all the way forward until the lead screw disengages the toggle nut) in order to remove the seat frame from the tracks.

The comment about seat belt retractors (in order to avoid scratching the running board aprons) is very true, which is why I have "Obtain seat belt retractors" and "Repair running board apron scratches' on my to-do list...

Model A Seat Belt #01 fb.jpg

Model A Seat Belt #07 fb.jpg

KGBnut · 07-03-2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBoehmke

here's some pics

Jim,

I did a similar install in my coupe, but I REALLY like your retractors. Can I ask where you got them? What model they are?

Ken

Jim Boehmke · 07-03-2012, 10:04 PM

www.julianos.com
I ordered color Taupe
Soft arm belt 24" JU062
anchor plates JU010800 for inside the sub-frame.
hand made the "L" brackets that bolt the retractor to the sub-frame
I tack welded a rod to the anchor plates so I could slide them into place in the sub-frame. Attached the "L" bracket and then twisted the welded rod until the tack weld broke.

06-21-2012, 06:25 PM	#1
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Coupe Seat belts I am working on installing belts in my '31 Coupe. I've read all I could find and understand the recommended mounting points in back of the seat. My problem is the routing of the belts from there. In order to have them come around the back of the seat cushion, it looks like I have to cut slots in the curved sheet metal piece at the bottom of the seat back. I hope I have described this understandably.

06-21-2012, 06:47 PM	#3
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,903	Re: Coupe Seat belts Bruce, You shouldn't have to do that. I can't get to my coupe this afternoon, but tomorrow I'll try to get some photos of how I did it, if somebody doesn't post a similar answer before then. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

06-21-2012, 06:49 PM	#4
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,903	Re: Coupe Seat belts I just looked at TinCup's pix, and that's pretty much what I did on mine. He just typed faster than I did! __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

06-21-2012, 07:58 PM	#5
Bruce Adams Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northport, NY Posts: 1,597	Re: Coupe Seat belts I believe in Vol VI of "How to Restore your Model A Ford" published by MAFCA is a set of instructions for seat belts for the coupe. That article is also downloadable from MAFCA. Check out "A Bear for Safety" in attached MAFCA Link. http://www.mafca.com/seat_belts.html

06-21-2012, 08:28 PM	#6
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Re: Coupe Seat belts Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) TinCup, thanks for the pix. The first one is looking towards the back of the car. The second is of the seat with the back horizontal. No. 3 shows the belts fed so they will be around the back of the seat cushion. Now, I see that the 4th is looking forward from the rumble seat. I'll have to look to see if the curved sheet metal already has a gap at the top for the belts. Bruce, thanks for the Bear reference, that is one of my guides.

06-21-2012, 09:07 PM	#7
Jim Boehmke Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 344	Re: Coupe Seat belts yes, slots must be cut and "protected" from chaffing. I used retractable mechinisms and it is really very nice. You mount the retractor to the outter sub frame. It's lots of work but very professional and worth every hour spent. Jim

06-21-2012, 09:43 PM	#9
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Coupe Seat belts Nice install Jim __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

06-22-2012, 12:11 AM	#10
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,903	Re: Coupe Seat belts Jim, that's a much neater install than I did. Now I'll have to redo mine! __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

06-22-2012, 03:14 AM	#11
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Re: Coupe Seat belts Jim, what angle is pic #2 taken from? Also, how do you get the seat off the tracks for removal? Do you take out the bolts that attach the adjuster assembly and slide it forward? Last edited by Bruce of MN; 06-22-2012 at 07:06 AM.

06-22-2012, 06:59 AM	#12
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Coupe Seat belts It's best to have retractable belts so they don't slide off the seat onto your running board aprons

06-22-2012, 09:07 AM	#13
Napa Skip Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Napa CA Posts: 412	Re: Coupe Seat belts As regards how to remove the seat frame from the tracks (if I understood the question correctly) there are 12 machine screws - 6 on each side - that hold the seat frame to the tracks. There are also 4 machine screws located in the center of the seat frame for those installations with seat adjusting mechanisms, although as I recall, I just unthreaded the adjusting mechanism lead screw (as in adjust the seat all the way forward until the lead screw disengages the toggle nut) in order to remove the seat frame from the tracks. The comment about seat belt retractors (in order to avoid scratching the running board aprons) is very true, which is why I have "Obtain seat belt retractors" and "Repair running board apron scratches' on my to-do list... Model A Seat Belt #01 fb.jpg Model A Seat Belt #07 fb.jpg __________________ Skip Keyser Napa Valley A's Olympic Vintage Auto Club (1980-1982) MARC of San Diego (1977-1978) MAFCA (since 1978) MARC (since 1977) ---------- Model A owners belong in their Model A’s; Model A’s belong on the road. Last edited by Napa Skip; 06-22-2012 at 09:08 AM. Reason: typo

07-03-2012, 10:04 PM	#15
Jim Boehmke Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 344	Re: Coupe Seat belts www.julianos.com I ordered color Taupe Soft arm belt 24" JU062 anchor plates JU010800 for inside the sub-frame. hand made the "L" brackets that bolt the retractor to the sub-frame I tack welded a rod to the anchor plates so I could slide them into place in the sub-frame. Attached the "L" bracket and then twisted the welded rod until the tack weld broke.