Where are the Seatbelt Mounting Points in 68 BArracuda Fast Back

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majster

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Hello

Can somebody please advise, where to install shoulder seat belt mounting bolt?
I don't want to make to many punctures in my headliner.
I would appreciate if anyone provide me with dimension "X"
seatbelt installation point

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About here. Press against the heafliner until you feel a round hole abou 1/2" diameter in this area.

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Edit: Shoulder belts were not mandatory on 1968 coupe production models until Jan 1 1968
 
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Shoulder belts and locking seatbacks WERE mandatory for all 1968 USA titled passenger cars. Exceptions to the 1968 shoulder belt law were convertibles which still required locking seat backs.

Lap belts WERE mandatory in all passenger cars by 1966 titled as 1966 models.

Google the DOT regs for these years and 1967. 1967 DOT regulations for passenger cars is the same as 1966 with the exception of the DOT requiring a dual braking system with a warning indicator. (Dual chamber master cylinder, low pressure indicator light)

In addition to shoulder belts, head restraints (headrests) which were previously optional for front outboard seatbacks, became mandatory standard equipment by january 1 1969. Early build 1969 model passenger cars up until january 1st 1969 did not have these unless ordered as an option. More than likely this was because of a ruling by the DOT after 1969 production had started which was typically around july - august of 1968, so they decided on implementation of this on january 1st 1969
 
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Going back to my 68 Roadrunner, I'm pretty sure it did not have shoulder belts, but my memory is not great.

Moving ahead to now, is it possible the mounting holes are there on my 1967 notchback? I couldn't feel any, but it is hard to tell through the headliner. The options chart I have for 1967 Plymouths, says shoulder belts are "special equipment, factory installed."
 
No holes for shoulder belts in the 67 notchback. I have a 67 notch and a 69 notch. I made a template off the 69 roof section without headliner installed so i could mark everything on either side of the hole to see how it lines up on a 67.

The shoulder belt bolt hole in 69 notch is right about where the hole is on the 67 for the coat hook, so i will use those holes for the mount plates,and nuts. The 69 they moved the coat hook back approx 8" and added a mount bracket under the hook and headliner. I will be adding shoulder belts to my 67 notchback. Will be drilling out the coat hook hole and adding a plate with a mounting nut in that location, and using 69 styled brackets to move the coathooks back on my 67 to position them where the 69 has them.

On my 67, and my sons 69, i will be using wesco performance lift latch buckle belts with either an 8" or 12" sash and D ring at the top to allow the belts to lay at the shoulder and not cut into the neck. Its been awhile since i ordered them. The belt is mocked up and upper part is on a self tapping screw and washer in the 67 coat hook hole since i have not modified it yet. Existing floor bolt mounts can be reused, but a second outboard floor mount needs to be made to allow the belt to sit properly. I made mine from thick assed steel square tubing. They will locate with a reinforcement backing them from the underside at the rear outboard seat mounting braces under the car. You would need to make something like this in the floor for 67, 68,69 if using these belts . Heres pix.

Hope this helps

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Shoulder belts and locking seatbacks WERE mandatory for all 1968 USA titled passenger cars. Exceptions to the 1968 shoulder belt law were convertibles which still required locking seat backs.

Lap belts WERE mandatory in all passenger cars by 1966 titled as 1966 models.

Google the DOT regs for these years and 1967. 1967 DOT regulations for passenger cars is the same as 1966 with the exception of the DOT requiring a dual braking system with a warning indicator. (Dual chamber master cylinder, low pressure indicator light)

In addition to shoulder belts, head restraints (headrests) which were previously optional for front outboard seatbacks, became mandatory standard equipment by january 1 1969. Early build 1969 model passenger cars up until january 1st 1969 did not have these unless ordered as an option. More than likely this was because of a ruling by the DOT after 1969 production had started which was typically around july - august of 1968, so they decided on implementation of this on january 1st 1969

Somebody piss in your Cornflakes, so basically you're saying that not 1 single 1968 automobile was shipped without seatbelts in the late 1967's as a 1968 year model, Before the law was enacted?
 
Nope, nobody pissed in my cornflakes. Sorry if you think i am being a dick. Not my intention. 1968 brochures which are pre printed in 67 with pre production mules as photo models for the brocures and sales literature show them, then no. At least not for USA consumption, unless it was a convertible.i dont know about canada, or mexican law regarding this in 1968. However anything is possible, and they could have been concidered optional by Chrysler until the january 1 1968 shoulder belt law went into effect. However i never saw a 68 model mopar without shoulder belts. My 68 charger i had years ago was built november 1968 and had them.
 
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I will offer pictures of two 1968 cars, both are guaranteed 100% original.
My 8 mile trailer queen was built in June of 1968, and has shoulder belts. For OP, you can see the bolt is just forward of front edge of quarter glass.
My blue 68 has a build date of September 15, 1967 and as you can see no shoulder belts are installed in this car.
I offer no opinion on accuracy of anybody's statements, just showing you pics of what I have.

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PM me your email address and I will send some.
Don't want to tread on majster's original post.
 
Since the shoulder belt was an option in 1967(68) the attaching point should be there.
 
The mount area is there. The hole and welded in nut may not be. Do some more searching on this site. There has been several posts. Also check with @SGBARRACUDA as he has been through this!

I recommend not installing them if not original as another member got fined for not using as OEM equipment based on the state he resided in.
 
My 68 notch had them and my 69 FB has them. In GA. All I need is the lap belts. They are pretty much strapped up always. Only time I used them in the FB was on the strip!
 
My 67 did not have an anchor point for them. The template i made out of mylar plastic shows the spot in red where the coat hook hole is on my 67 notch. If i had to hazard a guess, back in 67 if that particular car was optioned with them, i bet they took a hole saw to it on the assembly line, and wire welded them in.

I say this because stuff like map light switches, vert top switches, and rear defog switches, as well as 4 speed dash mount reverse lights were all drilled as needed on the assembly line. I have never found any of those holes perfectly punched in a lower dash frame. All looked like they were drilled after the part was painted. I bet the shoulder belt anchor points were the same way in 67. They only modded the roof on the sheetmetal fab part of the assembly line before it went thru paint if it was ordered. I would think that assessment would be more correct. Simple procedure really. Theres a large access hole to the rear of the anchor point. Also simply because the bean counters back then wouldent let them put anchor points for shoulder belts in every car in 67 in hopes somebody would order them. That wastes money in time, labor, and material costs.

Any doubt about penny pinching, look no further than bean counters and marketing arguing over the damn gold pentastar. This is the reason its only on the right front fender and not both sides. Beanies didnt want it. Cost too much to put on every car. Marketing wanted the logo mark so people would see the cars and recognise them as chrysler vehicles.bean counters relented and said fine you can have them but only on passenger side since thats curb side where pedestrians would more than likely see it.
 
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2 points on my 69 FB. First is rear shoulder which the car never had but mounts are there. And the second is the front which it does have and came with.

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Do think I have ever seen in person a FB with rear shoulders belts but it was optional.
 
If i had to guess, they were probably gearing up for that being the next thing. Rear seat shoulder restraints. I have an original 68 charger sales brochure i bought somewhere back in 1985. It states in optional items shoulder belts front were optional, and shoulder belts in the rear were optional. Then it also states in the brochure that some things may change after the time of printing. I have never seen an A or B body with optional rear seat shoulder belts. Not sure if that ended up being an otion or dropped because the DOT didnt make it mandatory. Could have also been there because of european and british export.

That was typical of car makers of the time. Safety did not sell. Performance did. Carmakers did not want to waste their time to offer safety items as options most people would never special order, or would add cost to the vehicle. The DOT had to legislate safety into the vehicles or it wasnt ever going to happen.

The DOT had to legislate the automatic shift pattern because early GM automatics went PNRDL with reverse gear next to drive because it was simpler and cheaper to manufacture the transmission that way. We all know from a safety standpoint thats a bad idea, but GM didnt care until the DOT made them care.
 
My 68 fastback, was built in late 67 and has front and rear lap belts but no front shoulder belt.
When I purchased this car it was original. No modifications.
It is my understanding that cars built Jan 1 1968 and after, front shoulder belts were mandatory.

I will feel around the headliner to see if I can feel a shoulder harness mount.
 
If your didn't have shoulder belts it may not have the mountings for them installed.
I believe the requirement was a 1/1/68 thing so not all 68's had them till after that date, I think.
If you car had the belts but forgot to locate them prior to installing a headliner you should be able to press the headliner in to feel for them. I'd be careful assuming the mountings are there unless the conscience is that all 68's had the mountings.


Alan
 
If your didn't have shoulder belts it may not have the mountings for them installed.
I believe the requirement was a 1/1/68 thing so not all 68's had them till after that date, I think.
If you car had the belts but forgot to locate them prior to installing a headliner you should be able to press the headliner in to feel for them. I'd be careful assuming the mountings are there unless the conscience is that all 68's had the mountings.

I bought a new 1968 383 form S fastback in 1968 , I don't remember it having any shoulder belts -----------wheather the holes were there or not , I don't know.
 
The current issue of Mopar Muscle Magazine has an article on how to install those seat belts in a pre 68 car, and it is VERY easy. I can post some pictures if you like.
 
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