HELP! 79 seat belts
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: Ranchero Forum
Forum Description: Technical discussion for Rancheros
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=18879
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 11:02AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: HELP! 79 seat belts
Posted By: 73GTS
Subject: HELP! 79 seat belts
Date Posted: 05-June-2020 at 1:35AM
Hey guys! I'm pulling what little bit of hair I have left trying to figure out putting the seat belts back in my 79 Ranchero. If anyone has a 77-79 Ranchero with bucket seats, I sure would appreciate any info you could provide. I have the retractors with shoulder harness. those I just need to know the bolts/washer configuration. The big problem is the 2 center female buckles. This is so confusing. I have 1 that can work for 1 seat but not the other. And the covers are a problem too. I also need to know the correct bolt/washer configuration here too. Pics and/or diagrams would be most helpful. I should ad that I'm not using the 79 inner belts with the hard plastic twisted cover. Thanks!
------------- Jim |
Replies:
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 05-June-2020 at 8:42AM
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I don't think those are right... It looks like you have one "Up" bracket and one "Down". Did those come from a bench seat car and someone pulled the hard plastic covers off? (I did that with mine when i put buckets in.} Or maybe back seat parts? Looks like one (left one?) might be for a center seatbelt. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 05-June-2020 at 11:13AM
For sure these aren't the original belts but if I had another one like the top one in the pic I could solve my problem. Unfortunately all the belts I have except the top 1 in pic, are like the bottom one that doesn't work. I just don't understand how these that don't work would be used anywhere. The brackets appear to be front only since rear belt brackets are flat. I also need to know all pieces used with the belt covers since I have no clue what was used originally. ------------- Jim |
Big Bird wrote:Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 05-June-2020 at 12:59PM
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need a factory manual diagram ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 05-June-2020 at 1:01PM
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Do the belts fit into the female ends? i think the covers stapled on... ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 05-June-2020 at 2:08PM
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check the male metal pieces... mainly to square hole the earlier cars were just a little different and don't fit iirc they changed around 74...75 maybe the male retractor belts are earlier units??? or 1 is??? ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 06-June-2020 at 1:39AM
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The male end fits perfectly into the female end. The issue is with the bracket that bolts to the floor. Seems to me it's backwards. ------------- Jim |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 06-June-2020 at 4:11AM
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It looks like you have the front center and driver's seat belt from a bench seat. They go together and face opposite directions. Hopefully that helps. ------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 06-June-2020 at 4:18AM
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oh ok, i misunderstood what you meant jim. steve may be onto something there... ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 06-June-2020 at 4:44PM
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Went out and looked at the Thunderbird. I have 2 seat belts that look like the right/lower ones in the picture. They are my bench seat parts with the plastic removed. I have washers visible between the bracket and the bolt head but have no idea if i put them in the right order. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 07-June-2020 at 2:45AM
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Found a clear picture online. What you have is the passenger and center seat belts used on all bench seats including 60/40 and 50/50 splits. ------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 19-June-2020 at 5:30AM
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I'm still totally confused as to how the correct belts even attach to the floor based on the brackets configuration. ------------- Jim |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 19-June-2020 at 5:31AM
Could you post that pic? ------------- Jim |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 19-June-2020 at 7:24AM
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Correct bucket seat belts don't have the offset in the anchor end brackets. They will have the plastic covers to support them and they are directional. Should be very obvious Left vs. Right. There may be a plastic loop on the seats they pass thru, to support them so you don't have to dig around and find them between the seat and console. There should be a washer that seems to go between the anchor bracket and the retaining bolt. If you put it between the anchor bracket and the carpet it comes off the bolt shoulder and is a pain in the ass to tighten the bolt. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 21-June-2020 at 11:03AM
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Couldn't locate that picture. My old phone is gone and most of my Torino pictures went with it. I checked in "the cloud " and no luck there. I get my car back from the custom exhaust shop this week. I'll take pictures and post them when I get it back. ------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 21-June-2020 at 3:42PM
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That would be great! Thank you Steve! ------------- Jim |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 8:31AM
------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 8:32AM
------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 8:34AM
------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 8:37AM
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slide the cover off and unbolt the complete assembly. ------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: 73GTS
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 10:03AM
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That is very interesting Steve. I was looking on Ebay and found a female buckle from an NOS kit and it has the offset. Is this offset only used with a bench seat that has the extra buckle in the middle?  ------------- Jim |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 10:55AM
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the twist in the female part is for a bench seat ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: Steve M.
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 1:41PM
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It is. The center buckle fits into the offset. ------------- Steve M. |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 27-June-2020 at 2:11PM
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I have a washer on each as well as the big spacer. but i also appear to have used 2 center belts. Probably the ones that were easiest to get the twisted covers off. I had several sets of belts to pick the best parts from. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |