Author Topic: Seat belts  (Read 2415 times)

sds501

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 38
    • View Profile
    • Email
Seat belts
« on: October 01, 2013, 09:35:36 PM »
looking to add seat belts, lap type to, my 53 manhattan.  I see a large number of sizes for the belts.  Does anyone have experience with installing lap belts and the correct lengths to use for the front and back belts?

Thanks
1953 Kaiser Manhattan
1954 Kaiser Early Special 2DR

BigDave LM6174

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
  • 1951 Kaiser Deluxe & 1952 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
    • MSN Messenger - dball344@msn.com
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2013, 11:21:37 PM »
Both my cars have seatbelt added.  I recently found classicindustries.com as the cheapest.  Look at item # SB203 for the gray, and you will see all color options.  These are the chrome older style that flip up.  They look sharp.  As for length, they are just fine.  They come with bolts and washers.
Big Dave
KFOCI LM 6174
Whittier, CA.
1951 Kaiser Deluxe
1952 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
1958 Lido 14 Sailboat W/Trailer
1958 Carry All Trailer

kaiserfrazerlibrary

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3005
  • KFOCI Historian
    • AOL Instant Messenger - none
    • Yahoo Instant Messenger - none
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2013, 09:21:08 AM »
According to past judging practices, seat belts are allowed as a safety item (some states may still even have mandates for all cars on their books).  They could be tucked in under seat cushions if you want a more original appearance when showing.

Interestingly, at one point K-F planned to offer Seat Belts (SB on the 1952-55 Firewall Body Tag, as far as can be determined at present) as an option but the story goes that Nash Motors had issues with prospective customers when they offered them as a dealer installed option during 1949-51 model years.  In the midwest area for many years, the belts were the most commonly seen Nash factory-branded part at general swap meets; at this year's grand Nashional there were none to be seen.

sds501

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 38
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2013, 06:24:22 PM »
thanks for the info, I ordered the belts today
1953 Kaiser Manhattan
1954 Kaiser Early Special 2DR

BigDave LM6174

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
  • 1951 Kaiser Deluxe & 1952 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
    • MSN Messenger - dball344@msn.com
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2013, 11:13:15 PM »
If you have kids like I have, seat belts required in California.  If you have a wife like I do, everyone wears a seatbelt.
Big Dave
KFOCI LM 6174
Whittier, CA.
1951 Kaiser Deluxe
1952 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
1958 Lido 14 Sailboat W/Trailer
1958 Carry All Trailer

xkssfrank

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 49
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2013, 08:18:14 PM »
Make sure ur seat belt anchors under the car  are round, square ones will open the floor in case of accident like a can opener.

BigDave LM6174

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 627
  • 1951 Kaiser Deluxe & 1952 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
    • MSN Messenger - dball344@msn.com
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2013, 09:14:37 PM »
The ones I mentioned from Classic Industries come with Grade 8 3 inch washers for each side of sheet metal
Big Dave
KFOCI LM 6174
Whittier, CA.
1951 Kaiser Deluxe
1952 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
1958 Lido 14 Sailboat W/Trailer
1958 Carry All Trailer

Aeroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 776
    • View Profile
    • Willys Aero Survival Count
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2013, 09:53:18 PM »
I installed seat belts in Old Toby when my daughter was born 18 years ago. I bought them at Pep Boys. I probably have the receipts in the file, along with every other receipt from the last 35 years.
Just make sure you drill holes in a place where the metal is thicker (like a cross brace). I suggest laying them out on the seats first, then figuring where the anchor is gonna go. Not so easy on the rear seat.
Rick Kamen
KFOCI LM4314 since 1979
Willys Aero Survival Count
aeroman@aol.com
http://clubs.hemmings.com/willysaero
1954 Willys Aero Eagle "Old Toby"
1964 Ford Econoline panel van
Once owned 11 other Willys Aeros and a Willys wagon, 2 Kaisers, 1 Henry J, plus Studebakers, Hudsons, a Nash and others.

DaveF

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 113
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2013, 05:53:28 PM »
I installed 3-point lap and shoulder belts front and rear in my 1952 Manhattan.

Dave F.

Fid

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3854
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Seat belts
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2013, 06:00:19 PM »
Quote
If you have a wife like I do, everyone wears a seatbelt.

If it weren't for a seatbelt, I wouldn't have a wife today.
She was in this car when she got hit -


Everyone we know started buckling up after this happened 23 years ago.
1953 Henry J Corsair Deluxe
Edgar Kaiser's custom 1951 Henry J
1951 Kaiser Special
1952 Allstate Deluxe

Need your classic car radio repaired? I repair vacuum tube radios