seat belt installation 40 Merc

[Clem Clement]

I'm planning to put seat belts in my 40 Merc convert sedan. what manufacturer of belts should I use? Where do I drill; drill between the frame in a clear space? Same for back seats? I haven't done this in years.

[51 MERC-CT]

There are many 2 point lap belt kits available that mount with a large washer under the floor sheet metal.


SUCH AS THIS----------


https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-72-Univer...kAAOSw91JcLmJW



HOW TO MOUNT, SEE THIS----------


https://www.wescoperformance.com/lap-belts-install.html

[38coop]

Check with Juliano's. 1-800-300-1932 or www.julianos.com

[19Fordy]

I used the 3 inch wide seat belts because I figured the wider the webbing the better. Plus it's easier on your body. Use a piece of rope to ascertain the length you need,taking into consideration different girth of passengers and what length is best when seat is all the way back. Duct tape the rope in place to find out what length you need.

I drilled my holes in the floor pan in an open space behind the seat with the front seats all the way back. You don't want to drill into the frame , muffler, etc. DO NOT ATTACH SEAT BELTS TO CAR FRAME.

Buy from a company that supplies the mounting hardware. I found it best to use longer belts as you can always adjust them shorter.
Here's one company: There are others.
https://www.wescoperformance.com/3inlapsebewi.html

[54vicky]

as 40 said get a longer belt than you think to allow for expansion in future.(girth)

[glennpm]

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I put belts in last year. I bought them from https://www.seatbeltsplus.com/universal-seat-belts.html but the belts are made by Seatbelt Solutions, https://www.seatbeltsolutions.com/

We both like the more secure feeling and "anchoring" in the seat. I bought 90° brackets for the anchors and large fender washers underneath the floor.

Glenn

[Clem Clement]

What keeps the belt from hanging down outside the driver door when not is use?
Thanks all
Clem

[19Fordy]

Clem, What you do is keep the "door side" of the belt short so that when it is buckled , the buckle is more towards the door and not resting on your stomach.

The buckle end of the belt rests on the center area of the seat and is adjusted as needed.
The outer door side remains adjusted "short enough" so it won't fall out the door.

That's why you want long belts.

[Sal]

Juliano's sells seat belt retractors that you can put on to keep the belts out of the doors.

[fortyonerag]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

What keeps the belt from hanging down outside the driver door when not is use?
Thanks all
Clem

Mount the short side nearest the door. They're not long enough to dangle.

It's opposite to modern cars but you'll get used to it.

[flathead48]

Looking to put seat belts in my 48, read where it was said don’t bolt through frame. My seat is bolted through frame , what difference would it make for belts? Thanks

[19Fordy]

flathead48: Here's why you don't boly seat belts to the frame.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...hem-to.102927/

Also, notice that car manufacturers DO NOT bolt seat belts to the frame. They have done testing and found whats best.

[flathead48]

19forty, but my seat is bolted to the frame, I see no practical way to change what Ford built I understand about body leaving the frame but where does the seat go. Where is the seat in your 40 bolted to? Thanks for info. I do appreciate the members of this site and all the help they try to give. Good health

[19Fordy]

flathead 48:

My stock 40 seat is bolted to cage nuts on the underside of the floor. There are two 5/16-24 bolts on each "rail" of the bench seat. Bolts appear to be Grade 5 as they are easy to cut with a file. I am assuming back in 1940 Henry Ford did what was cheapest to do. You figure, seat belts didn't arrive until 1960's. Check out the load strength of Grade 5 5/16 bolts.
https://www.google.com/search?q=5%2F...hrome&ie=UTF-8

It takes thousands of pounds of tension to pull a bolt from its threads. In fact, I have read that Henry Ford used lots of Grade 5 bolts in areas where car folks use Grade 8 bolts so that they would actually stretch rather than snap off. I bet Henry's seat to floor bolts were Grade 5. Plus, it's cheaper.

If your seat belts came from the factory bolted to the frame, some engineer thought it was a good idea at the time. But, times change.

[flathead48]

No seat belts came in a 48 floor but as I stated, the seat is bolted to the frame. Thanks for your patiences and sharing your knowledge.

[JSeery]

I do not know how the 48 seats are bolted in, but the years I am familiar with do not have the seats bolted to the frame.

[flathead48]

JSeery, my 48 has a flat piece of hardwood screwed to the bottom side of the body, right where the body sits on the frame. The seat is bolted through the floor the wood and to the frame. The wood takes up the space so the body doesn’t bend. I would image all 46-48 Fords and Mercury’s are set up this way. This is right from the factory.
Thanks.

[51woodie]

As other have posted, there are several seat belt suppliers. I bought mine from Seat-belts Plus. I installed them in my '46 Super Deluxe Coupe using 1/8x2x2 steel backing plates under the floor pan. SB+ sells mounting hardware. I removed the front, rear seats and flooring. The biggest part of the job was measuring and selecting hole locations. I didn't go to the frame. The front seat belt clips line up with the seat in the rearmost position. I only installed two sets front and rear.

https://www.seatbeltsplus.com/?gclid...SAAEgLSgfD_BwE

[flathead48]

51 woodie, where is your seat bolted to ?

[51woodie]

Flathead. The seat in my '46 Coupe is bolted through the floor pan into the frame rail, with bolts 24469-S, nuts 34445-S and washers 351383-S. There is a +/- 3/8" shim (unknown material) between the floor pan and the frame rail.

[fordor41]

My '41 fordor had the seat bolted to the frame as far as I can recall.

[russcc]

Very good point about the belts being long enough.
The seats in my '40 coupe cam from the factory bolted to cage nuts in the steel reinforcing supports under the floor. The original bolts were 3/8-24 SAE, Ford grade. When I made a spacer to move the seat back for more leg room, I used 3/8-24 SAE flathead allen screws counter sunk into a 3'4" 6061 aluminum block that runs the length of the seat mount so the seat mount bolted flush over them. The sear mount is bolted into the aluminum block with 3/8-24 SAE G8 hex head head bolts with G8 hardened washers. I believe bolting seat belt into a sheet metal floor pan, even with a large washer may not be the most secure way to do it. I will bolt my belts to the aluminum seat spacer.

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by russcc

I believe bolting seat belt into a sheet metal floor pan, even with a large washer may not be the most secure way to do it. I will bolt my belts to the aluminum seat spacer.

I believe the consensus is that the seat belt should never be attached to the frame.
In the event of a frame separation from the body of the car, the seat belt becomes a guillotine

[1931 flamingo]

When aftermarket seat belts started appearing in the early sixties iI installed them in my 32 5W. My Dad got me 4x4 3/8ths thick steel plates and installed under the rear floor pan. If I decide to put them in my 40 I'll so it the same way.

Paul in CT

[paul2748]

That is what I did for my 54 Ford

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

When aftermarket seat belts started appearing in the early sixties iI installed them in my 32 5W. My Dad got me 4x4 3/8ths thick steel plates and installed under the rear floor pan. If I decide to put them in my 40 I'll so it the same way.

Paul in CT

[Clem Clement]

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YAHOO!!!!!!~!!!

BEAT BELTS INSTALLED!

Bruce Metcalf and I teamed up together to get the job dome right. The Julianos color of dark blue looks fab on the '40MERC. I sat in the back seat awhile and proudly looked over the shine, seat belts and swellness of the Merc. In August of 1956, Daddy passed and the 40MERC moved on. Today, that SAME MERC is rebuilt a with new everything, seat belts and ready for more adventures.

[farmertom]

hey Clem,like afew others have said seatbeltsplus. thats what i put in front seat in my '37.i believe they had the best price seems like i got 70 inch. tom.

[farmertom]

Clem, MEASURE THREE TIMES BEFORE ORDERING.TOM.

[bobsmanstuff]

I bought retractors , they keep the outside of the belt from falling out the door.

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

I believe the consensus is that the seat belt should never be attached to the frame.
In the event of a frame separation from the body of the car, the seat belt becomes a guillotine

I'm sue if you hit something hard enough to separate the body from the frame, how/
where your seat belt is attached will be your least concern!

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by fordor41

I'm sue if you hit something hard enough to separate the body from the frame, how/
where your seat belt is attached will be your least concern!

Whether the body completely separates, or if it only skews sideways more than an inch or four, that already-cinched-tight belt can become lethal. An accident that may otherwise be survivable, would likely have a very unpleasant outcome.....not hard to imagine. DD

[Clem Clement]

I havew retractors to put on.