Shoulder strap/3-point belts for 1971 (and earlier?)

[supadisco]

I'm seeing a lot of '72-'78 aftermarket seatbelts online but not for the '71. I'm not sure why these couldn't be adapted to fit a '71 too. Anyone have experience installing a shoulder strap belt to a '71 (or earlier), and if so any specific site/brand you've been happy with? I'm finally getting to the point where I'm concerned about passing inspection so need to address the seatbelts.
Also, do I need any kind of belt/restraints for the fold-up rear jumper seats for inspection purposes? Thanks in advance! Jason

 

[LSUfj]

I think the reason is that many aftermarket belts rely on attachment to the roll bar hardware or the actual roll bar. Not sure of state requirements, but you should be able to pass inspection with OEM or OEM style belts.

I’m sure there’s a solution to implementing a shoulder belt on an earlier model. Just need a spot on the hard top or a roll bar to attach the upper hardware.

 

[brian]

Seat belts only became a standard federal safety requirement in 68 irrc....and even then they were lap belts only for a number of years..again iirc it was 76 or 77 till shoulder belts became a federal standard.
I would think most states would honor the safety requirements in effect on date of manufacture, and not require that you update them to current standards.

 

[supadisco]

i think you're both right, and thank you for replying. my passenger bench seat has a factory lapbelt that i'll keep for the middle/3rd person but i think i'd like to put in shoulder straps for the main passenger (right side) and driver. it looks like there's a couple empty bolt holes where they'd been removed from before so perhaps the base could be mounted there and then the top part mounted to side of the body as i have no roll bar?
and i'm still not certain of rear/jump seats requirements....as these are easily removable hopefully it's not an issue.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I think my 76 top has a hard point for a shoulder belt, but its on my 72 and I just use the OEM lap belt. The rear jump seats have a lap OEM belt.

 

[Mark Jennings]

There have been posts on this before. In 1968 lap belts and padded dashboards were mandated. I think 1976 was the first year for 3 point harness. And I think those rigs came with bucket seats with head rests.

Personally, I wouldn’t use a 3 point without a headrest……your bench back doesn’t come up high enough…..and I don’t think the B pillar is structurally sound enough in these rigs to provide any serious protection, that’s why the roll bar mounting in the later models. At any rate, crash protection in these older rigs is pretty minimal.

If you looking for something just to hold you in the seat when rock crawling, then maybe a 4 point or 5 point harness from Simpson, etc…used in racing. However, even there, most sanctioning bodies (NRHA, SCCA) I think have a requirement for the shoulder straps to be mounted to a cross bar that’s shoulder height, generally mounted to the roll cage.

Most (if not all) states that require an inspection only require you to have what was originally installed. If it came with only lap belts, then that’s what is required.

 

[Living in the Past]

US model had three point seats starting 1/76. Up to 2/78 the seat belts used the hard top to mount the seat belts. At that point the roll bar was needed up (should be beefed up but auto correct keeps changing it to needed). 73 model hard top had the thread nut at the top for three point seats in other markets. This bracket was mounted hard top 1/76-2/78.

Not sure if there were used prior to 1/76 but I did remove a set of these brackets from a wrecked 84 HJ47RV from Australia.