[rj57]

INTERESTING!

First off YES no 40, 50, or 60 year old car is going to be considered "Safe" by today's standards. Too many things have happened to automotive industry since any of these now "Old" cars were sold new.

Something that does seem forgotten here is the fact these "Old" cars have a lot more metal to them then your adverage run of the mill, reynolds wrap cars/trucks of today which are 90% PLASTIC!

Do we need more safety features on a plastic car? Well........ I'd have to vote "YES!"

(let's not even go to "these cars are dinosaurs. these land yaghts need to be scraped and none get as good as gas mileage as todays cars.") If you think I'm joking about this do your own comparison. A '57 Chevy is NOT as large as some of today's SUVs or duelly quad cab pickups. Do those get good gas mileage?

Okay back to the point. (now what was it?)
Seat belts in a Classic car.
You can buy new belts from several vendors these days and install them yourself. They do need mounted through the floor pan and some type of stiffening done at this spot like using a large flat washer on the underside of the floor pan.

I do know of a guy who put seats from a Cadillac in his '55 Chevy and they do have the shoulder belt incorporated in the seat. So no anchoring of the should belt is needed.

PS. sorry for hijacking the thread.

[dingodong]

The fact that pre1960's cars are all metal is of course their double edged sword...in some ways safer, unless you get your face smacked on the dash, then you will wish you were in a muscle era car w/padded dash & shoulderbelts. They are in some ways more crush resistant...50's ones anyway, Some would argue that it isn't a hotrod, if it's "that new" [& classic car is maybe the better term even if modified]true hotrods being preww2 cars w/exposed larger motors, swapped from different cars. To me, [my definition of a hotrod] it has to have 3 things; #1 vintage. must be premuscle car era...muscle cars are not hotrods...They infact ruined hotrodding. #2 must be modified. If you restore a old car to anywhere near stock, that is the opposite of making a hotrod. #3 Must be dangerous. I'm not joking. Thats why the image problem going back to the 50's. These cars are SUPPOSED to be unsafe. Hotrodding means removing so called safety equipment, not adding it.
If I wanted safety I'd go chat it up on the Volvo site.
So my I stand by my opinion...If you want seatbelts go buy a car made after 1960 [in GM'S case] but don't go and ruin a classic that can be beautiful restored to stock or modified into a hotrod.
I am now done w/this thread [and anyone putting seatbelts in anything that didn't originally come w/them] & won't respond to it again, even if Chip Carlson & Boyd Foose, both get on here & talk about how they like a benchseat so they can sit close togather & hold hands!

[tiresmoke55]

hello again.....guys in my car the seat belt are mounted to the floor, reason being its got a set of racing buckets in it now.... what ever kind of seat i go with i can still use my floor mounted seat belts..... i just want a nice looking and comfy seat that will fit the car and not look hacked.... like i said before it would be nice find a seat that i wont have to do alot of modification's to get the right seat height/ that way they dont seat too low or 2 high u know..... i hate hacked up cars!!!!! really i should put a factory bench seat back in the car but like i said before my other car has a bench in it so i want to be different... thanks for the info

[Slickriffs]

I agree the Sebring is a good choice..6 way power adjustable.
I put a newer set in my '97 Sebring this past weekend. As I was doing it
it occurred to me what a great mod for my 55 Chevy truck it would be...especially since the seat belts are built into the backrest.

Keith

[PRO 48 fleetline]

There is no good bucket in a tri five should only have a bench unless its an all out drag car

[tinman386]

I am using seats out of a 92 honda prelude for my 77 nova. these seats flip forward for back seaters and you would be able to get the buckets and the back seat to match. The only part of the seat belt that is on these seats is the buckle which is easily removed. since i have a 77 i plan to remove these and put my originals on. I didnt want to put honda seats in a chevy either but they were the color i want in like new shape and i got them for $100 for the pair. All it took to put them in is some fabricting and welding to make new floor mounts from the bench that was originally in there. I know honda isnt the best thing to put in a chevy but thay are very comfortable have some style and they wrap around your body nicely. This is probably not for every one but i am happy with my choice and thought i would give mt input.

[DanTwoLakes]

The Honda and Toyota seats are outstanding. It's your vehicle, put whatever seat in it you like. If you're happy with them, that's all that should matter.

[azcarz]

If any of you are old enough to remember funerals from the 50's and 60's, many were due to being ejected from the car, usually a rollover or hitting something hard enough to go through the windsheild.

I will always find a way to get some kind of restraint to keep me in the car. Sure it could be on fire or roll into a lake and I might be out cold. These were the old agrguments for not wearing a seat belt.

My 56 post has basic belts bolted in, if the next owner wants them out, weld up the holes and carry on. My race cars have 5 point, probably should change to 6 point, would not go on the track without them. I've been lucky but have seen a few big wrecks from the driver's seat.

[NEW INTERIORS]

The new Chevy Cavaliers.They are the best looking seat for a rod.

[Jake_Dragon]

Not in a 55 but they fit my butt.

[AntnyL]

I'm building a 55.5 Chevy truckrod for my son, and am planning to install a 4-point cage and seat belts for his protection in the event of a crash/rollover. Why are seat belts a bad idea...as mentioned in a few of the replies?

If they are NOT a bad idea, should I attach them to the seat? Or to the cage? Or???

Thanks in advance.

Antny

[Jim57]

There are many good looking seats out there. Find something you like at a good price. In the cab of a truck you will be able to mount the shoulder/lap combination. In my 57 HT there is no post to mount to so I went with the late model Chevy extra cab with belts built in and they tilt forward to allow access to the rear seat.
Modern seat belts (Not lap belts) are a safety feature that can save your life. What could be a reason not to have them?
Jim

[lets cut it up]

Do you want low backs or high backs? IMHO the high back seats look goofy when veiwing the car from behind. They stick way up into view. But that just me. I would say go with a low back seat out of a 65-66 mustang or a early dodge van seat. JMO Tim

[Irelands child]

You guys dug up some ancient history with this thread - July 2006!!!! (But still relevant and interesting to those that are building a Tri-Five Chebbie) .

Dave W

[302 Z28]

Few things look as bad IMO than high back bucket seats in a 55-57 Chevy . Seat belts however are a must .

Vince