Rear seat belt 3 point upgrade.

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   I bought retractable 3 point seat belts to install in the back seats, with idea being to install the retractors in the trunk, run the belts through the back deck (parcel deck, package tray, etc). Turns out, there is abundance of structure there, which is nice to see but also in the way of exactly where I'd need to run the belts.
I've been sitting on these belts for about a year, thinking about this. I'm about ready to just bolt the retractors to the top of the deck and get over it, butbhad one last idea. I could anchor a shoulder loop to the c-pillar, which would give me the proper angle to avoid cutting up structural looking stuff and still hide the retractors in the trunk.

Has anyone done anything similar? Any thoughts on the strength of the c-pillar?

Edit: forgot to say, 77 TBird.

Edited by derth - 21-April-2024 at 11:28AM

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derth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 06-October-2022 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote derth Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Rear seat belt 3 point upgrade. Posted: 21-April-2024 at 9:23AM
	I bought retractable 3 point seat belts to install in the back seats, with idea being to install the retractors in the trunk, run the belts through the back deck (parcel deck, package tray, etc). Turns out, there is abundance of structure there, which is nice to see but also in the way of exactly where I'd need to run the belts. I've been sitting on these belts for about a year, thinking about this. I'm about ready to just bolt the retractors to the top of the deck and get over it, butbhad one last idea. I could anchor a shoulder loop to the c-pillar, which would give me the proper angle to avoid cutting up structural looking stuff and still hide the retractors in the trunk. Has anyone done anything similar? Any thoughts on the strength of the c-pillar? Edit: forgot to say, 77 TBird. Edited by derth - 21-April-2024 at 11:28AM

72FordGTS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6780	Post Options Post Reply Quote 72FordGTS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-April-2024 at 3:08AM
	I looked at doing this in my car, but never followed through. This thread has some good info in it and shows pics of the installation of some in a '73 Torino. https://forum.grantorinosport.org/seat-belts_topic16630.html
	Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin

derth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 06-October-2022 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote derth Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23-April-2024 at 1:57AM
	Some good info there! The non-retracting belts featured in that thread would have been the easy way to go - definitely fine for a seat that doesn't get used much. I get the impression a dusty cardboard box on a shelf is the most common mounting point for these things.

derth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List New Member Joined: 06-October-2022 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 35	Post Options Post Reply Quote derth Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18-October-2024 at 9:54AM
	Thought I'd come back to this with the final result. After 1.5 years of thinking about how to route these belts through the package tray the way I initially intended to, but not having the skill or means to really do the extensive modification that would take, I finally told myself to just get over it bolt the retractors to the top of the tray, and then get on with life. Lo and behold, as soon as I decided that and then figured out where I'd need to drill, I realized there was a factory hole through the sheet metal in pretty much exactly the right spot. It's the one with daylight showing through in this picture taken from in the trunk: Meant to be, essentially. It was within millimeters of where I wanted to drill, and it's the right diameter to slip one of the bolts provided in the kit through. Drilled through from the bottom to locate the hole perfectly in the sheet of the package tray. I did have to shim about an inch between the surface of the package tray and the underlying steel. Once I actually got down to business, yoinking the old seat belts and putting in the new was two afternoons' easy work. The result isn't as terrible as I feared: It fits pretty well. I'm 6'1" and it's comfortable on my shoulder. The model pictured here is about 5'5": I'd still much rather have run the belt through the tray, but I can always come back to that later if I ever do get around to a total overhaul of the interior. For now I'm just happy to finally feel good about taking my kids out for a spin.

Eliteman76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5450	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eliteman76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-October-2024 at 3:55PM
	Only consideration I'd make is adding a thicker reinforcement plate to spread the load further out. If you ever get under the bottom of your t-bird, in the transmission tunnel, you can see the two plates that are under the floorpan of your car that seat belt bolts are threaded into. I would consider some 6" long pieces of 1/8" or 3/16" plate steel or small angle iron with a center hole drilled to bolt through. Otherwise, nicely done.
	Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod Pondering: #99Problems