[rcnesneg]

First post!

I am wanting to install shoulder harnesses in my 1972 Dodge D200 adventurer sport. It has a standard cab, and in each rear pillar are holes that are drilled, threaded, and plugged with a small plastic plug. It almost looks like they were manufactured for a seat belt to be installed there. Where is the best place to find more information on this? Should i visit the local dodge dealer and ask them about it, or try to find a seat belt specialist? Thanks for the info.

 

[dana44]

Welcome to the forum. There may have been an optional shoulder belt offered, might do a search on the truck to see if you can see any interior pictures that may have them. Heck, my 68 Charger has shoulder belts and all that, the sun visors have a special metal piece the belt clicks onto to keep it out of the way, two buckles at the side of the seat, Pain in the rear to use, will upgrade during the restification to a single shoulder and lap belt as one.

 

[valiant67]

Welcome!
Since the cab didn't really change much even into the 90's, if the later models anchor the belts there you should be good. As I understand, the anchor points were built in before the belts were required (or may have been an option).

 

[ImperialCrown]

3-point seat belts were not required in trucks, but were an option. The dealer probably can't help you on anything this old, but belt kits may be available.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/beams-universal-3-point-retractable-seat-belt/p3046446.jcwx?filterid=c3267u0j1
There should also be an anchor point for the retractor mechanism down by the floor.

 

[rcnesneg]

Ok. Thanks for the info. I'll check the floor for a anchor point as well. If there is none, is an adjustable but not self-retracting alternative?

 

[dana44]

The mount for the belt itself should suffice, just hopefully it isn't located in such a location as to be in the way, but I think it is behind the seat itself, so it shouldn't be. I also don't think it would be located too close to the floor to be an issue.

 

[rcnesneg]

Its on the side of the seat towards the back. There is a self-retractor in a black plastic rectangle unit mounted on each side. The driver unit does not retract. I think its stuck.

 

[Bearhawke]

For the record: many years ago I had a 1968 Dodge D200 Crew Cab and; if memory holds me correctly, that truck had shoulder harness mtg holes in the B pillars

 

[rcnesneg]

Yup, mine does too. So i am now going ahead and purchasing the part at http://www.jcwhitney.com/beams-universal-3-point-retractable-seat-belt/p3046446.jcwx?skuId=625652&filterid=c3267u0j1
Thanks for the info guys, hopefully it will go in without any problems.

Edit: The ratings are poor and i want to do some more research before i buy them. I can always return the belts if they don't work, but i would like to be sure this is the best option before i do. One more thing, the thumbnail picture shows most of the harness, but it appears to only show the shoulder part, i don't see the lap belt portion. Is this most likely included, but not shown for some reason?

 

[valiant67]

It might be worth considering factory seat belts from a junkyard if you could find some in good condition that aren't worn or subject to the stress from an accident.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

I bought SAE-rated belts from www.wesco.com last year, they seem fine, though they were $80 each.

 

[rcnesneg]

So i went by a local junkyard and got a good set of retractable stock shoulder harnesses, but when i got home, i realized that i don't have the fourth mount for the retractor. Can i get one bolted/welded in or should i look for non-retractable ones that only use the upper and lower mounts not a retractor mount?

 

[Bob Lincoln]

The Wesco belts have the retractor integral with the lower mount. I think those would work.

 

[rcnesneg]

They sell so much stuff i'm having trouble finding seatbelts. Can you send me a link to some on the wesco site? Would it be safe to mount the ones i got off the '79 with the retractor on the floor mount? I dont think it would be the right angle, and the bolt might not be long enough to go through both of them. Sounds like a bad idea to me.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/nonresebe.html

They give you bolts and mounting hardware with the belts.

 

[rcnesneg]

The wesco belts i see have four mount points. One for the retractor, one for the lower, one for the top, and one for the middle belt mounts. I am thinking the non-retractable ones look more suited. I don't mind having them in a fixed position. I would like to see a picture of the integral mount for the bottom and retractor.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

Some only have 3 mounting points. You can call or email them to clarify. The set that I bought for my hatchback has the retractor at the top mounting point, and has a lower mounting point, and then the buckle mount.

 

[rcnesneg]

Ok. So for the center seat belt, there is no shoulder harness mount, so it would be lap-belt only. Can I put it on the same mounts as the buckle mounts for the two sides? Dodge has the two on a single mounting bracket, so i would have to stack the two for the Wesco belts and just run the bolt through both of them.

 

[MoparNorm]

Yes, in that time frame and even now, the third, or middle seat is lap only, unless the seat has a head restraint.
Lap only is legal for 1972. My 2002 Dodge Chassis/Cab is lap only in the center seat.

 

[rcnesneg]

Well the belts arrived from wesco, they look fantastic! Now i just have to figure out how to remove the plastic cover on the retractor unit of the stock lap seatbelts.