69 Seat Belt Removal

[Dennis W.]

I am in the process of removing my seat & shoulder belts for refurbishing. All has gone well except removing the outboard seat belts. The belt end was bolted to the floorboard approximately in the middle of the seat bottom. It progresses outboard where it passes through a guide that allows the belt turn upward and exit from underneath the carpet through a rubber/plastic grommet. The guide is bolted to the frame with three bolts. I have been unable to remove the guide because I can find no access to two of three bolt nuts which appear to be inside the frame rails. I cannot even see the nuts. Can anyone help?

[Joseph K.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Dennis
I don't remember any bolts on the frame rail side when I did my 69. Possible nuts and a washer. I do recall that the bolts were tough to get out and I had to use BP Blaster. I also had the seats and the carpet out which made it easier. There is a structural C channel that is atached to the fiber glass that fits over the frame in that area. If was bolted to anything it would be bolted to the C channel.

[Richard R.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

I am pulling the body off of my '69. the guide was no problem at all - I had the seats and carpet out, and easy access to all 3 bolt heads. They bolt into the floor and the side rail. I was lucky in that I didn't need any penetrating oil. Now the body mount bolts are something else.......

[Dennis W.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Richard - I have the seats out, the carpet pulled up, and have easy access to the bolts. No problems there. It's as if there is a nut inside the frame rail and it's turning. I.e., the bolt turns but doesn't come out. If there is a nut inside the frame, I can't see it much less get a wrench on it. If you have the body off, would you look and see what exactly the bolts screw into? I would appreciate it.

[Terry B.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

I had a similar problem with the seat belt removal on my '68. I had to use my dremmel and cut some of the bolts off. As I remember, there are three bolts that hold the triangular seat belt attachment under the seat. The dremmel made that job much easier. Some I could get off but others..... Good luck with the work. Are you sending your belts out?

[Edward J.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Dennis, There is a welded nut on the bracket that has more than likely spun on the plate.The only choice is to cut the head of the bolt. and hope that you can start a nut between the frame and plate. or if there is more than one bolt that secures the guide plate you maybe okay.

[Richard R.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

I am about 2 weeks away from getting the body off so I can't help much. But it sounds like the nut came loose from it's weld and you will probably have to cut off the head to get the bracket off. bummer. I have a similar problem with my body mount bolts. Just bought a dremmel to get at the tough ones.

Richard - I have the seats out, the carpet pulled up, and have easy access to the bolts. No problems there. It's as if there is a nut inside the frame rail and it's turning. I.e., the bolt turns but doesn't come out. If there is a nut inside the frame, I can't see it much less get a wrench on it. If you have the body off, would you look and see what exactly the bolts screw into? I would appreciate it.

[Dennis W.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Richard, Terry & Edward - Thank you for your replies. You are confirming the answer I was trying to avoid (nut welds broken loose). I can cut off the bolts but I am concerned about being able to securely reinstall the guide. As I mentioned, I can't even see the nuts inside the frame much less get a wrench there to hold a nut for reinstallation. I guess I will re-double my efforts!

Terry, I am sending the belts out to Snake-Oyl. Let me know if you have experience with someone else that doesn't take 4-6 weeks and provides equally good work. Edward, very nice '72. It appears to be rarely driven based on condition.

[Terry B.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Hi Dennis,

I had my seat and shoulder belts restored by Charlie Santorelli of Seatbelt Sity. His number is 908-719-2354. He will be able to tell you about his timeline for getting them done. He does great work. Good luck with your restoration.

Terry

[Paul O.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Dennis

I agree with Terry if I were to have them restored Seatbelt Sity would be my pick. Excellent work by a craftsman.

Paul 18046

[Dennis W.]

Re: 69 Seat Belt Removal

Thank you, I appreciate the information and will call. DRW