mopar56
Well-Known Member
Has anyone ever put rear shoulder belts in a Duster? My grandkids will be rolling around in my son's 70 Duster thus summer and would like something safer than lap belts.
Rear shoulder belts in Duster?
- Thread starter mopar56
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If you do you'll have to construct an anchor point in the inner structure of the car. The extra point of contact doesn't do you any good unless it's as strong as the other two. Fortunately the C-pillar has some decent structure to it to begin with, but you'll need an anchor plate behind something solid in order to even attempt it. Otherwise it will be LESS safe.
TrailBeast
AKA Mopars4us on Youtube
Right behind the top edge of the rear seat back might be better, but it would require an adjustment point in the belt instead of using retractables.
mopar56
Well-Known Member
Well its GOT to be safe so if any one has done this here pictures would be awesome!
whitepunkonnitro
Well-Known Member
The easiest way would be to mount the 74-up retractable front setup behind the seat and feed the shoulder portion through the package tray.
There should already be a slot there for a rear retractable belt set that never actually saw production.
I have that whole setup in black if you want to try it.
There should already be a slot there for a rear retractable belt set that never actually saw production.
I have that whole setup in black if you want to try it.
I've got a set that are going into my Swinger project. They go thru a slot in the package tray and have a steel Dogbone that holds them in place. A rubber/plastic boot trims out the setup . I will try to take a pic of them to post soon. I will have to move some Swinger fenders and hood to get to them.
BTW all of this will depend on if your car has a fold down seat or not....IIRC
BTW all of this will depend on if your car has a fold down seat or not....IIRC
mopar56
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the answers I am surprised to here they were even a thought back then so no this Duster dint have the fold down seat his 74 he had did what is involved in putting them in and Tony the ones you have what do they weigh? Cause I am a long way from you in Canada
whitepunkonnitro
Well-Known Member
Yes, they were installed in B Bodies, but never in A's
whitepunkonnitro
Well-Known Member
They are pretty heavy, but would fit in aa medium Flat Rate box, so shipping would be something like $45.
I could do the whole setup for $100 plus the shipping
your 74 might have threaded bolt anchors on C-Pillar. If not you will see 2 slots about 3"s long and 3/4" wide on the outer edges of the package tray about 3" from the front edge if you look from the underside in the trunk.
I dont see why a guy couldnt duplicate these with a long section of seatbelt. Just sew a loop in the end and make a dogbone out of 1/2" steel shank about 3" long.
I dont see why a guy couldnt duplicate these with a long section of seatbelt. Just sew a loop in the end and make a dogbone out of 1/2" steel shank about 3" long.
whitepunkonnitro
Well-Known Member
Yes, these have an anchor point at the C Pillar, and that anchor point could actually be bolted to the rear inner wheel house, and then fed through the package tray.
The bottom part could bolt right to.the stock Duster outer rear belt mounts.
It looks like a natural to me
mopar56
Well-Known Member
Well I don't have the 74 to compare to its gone can't remember what it looked like back there would have to see it I guess
whitepunkonnitro
Well-Known Member
I just went outside to look in the trunk of one of my cars, just to check how it may fit...
The rear shock mounts would be the perfect mounting point for the part normally hung from the C pillar
The rear shock mounts would be the perfect mounting point for the part normally hung from the C pillar
mopar56
Well-Known Member
Hey Tony what exactly dose this set up include you have? Is it just what us needed for the folding seat or the seat belts to? Also could I use the original seat?
whitepunkonnitro
Well-Known Member
The setup I have is the entire front belt set from a 74 Dart.
It's the first year for retractable shoulder belts, so it incorporates everything in one shot.
And yes, you could mount this to the original back seat pretty much exactly how it would be mounted to the front of the donor car. The only thing you would need to improvise is the trunk anchor point.
David Eldridge
Well-Known Member
I was about to say weren't they an option on Chryslers starting in 68? If you're lucky you can find a factory set and put them in
David Eldridge
Well-Known Member
I have acually seen a 68 Barracuda with the build sheet. It was available as an option in 68
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mopar56
Well-Known Member
OK Tony I get what your saying now and mbaird are those actually rear belts or front ones made to fit like Tony said? I am a little confused but they look like there factory fir an a body is that possible and yours us the fold down read seat right?
mopar56
Well-Known Member
Ok thanks guys, sorry I dropped off there something came up then it got late, I think I need to go take a good look at this and figure out anchor points etc to get my head around this first, I want to use oem stuff of course so this will be correct and safe.
mopar56
Well-Known Member
Ok so I had a good look at the car, I am trying to figure out how the factory belts work, ( thanks for the photos ) most shoulder belts work on a continuous loop leaving the base then up through the loop in the upper shoulder anchor then down to the buckle so how dose the factory style work?, the seat belt has to terminate behind the parcel shelf with the dog bone as an anchor then how can it AND the lap belt both terminate at the buckle?, also If I were to use front belts like WPON suggested would I then use the original anchor point for the base and just mount the upper anchor exactly where, you suggested the shock tower.
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