So I've always been a nut about safety, seeing as I've been in 4 car accidents already. (I was NOT the one driving :noway:)

I've already seen a help ad on how to install the 3-point seat belt set-up, using factory bolt-up spots under the headliner area, but what do you guys think about it?:confused: Would you guys that aren't worried about remaining stock do it? At thehoffmangroup.com they sell Autoloc 3-point seatbelts for a better price then I've ever seen around($60 ea.) and your choice of like..21 colors or something, so I know it wouldn't be a money issue.

And I know this would seem absurb so some..well...most,but I was watching a whole special on how airbags and airbag inflators and things are made...and they all fit inside the steering wheel enclosure with only the sensor wire thing running down to the near-bumper region, it would seem like it wouldn't be that big of a job(On the drivers side only mind you), but might be quite the pretty penny.(among the problems including switching out the IMO better looking pre-airbag era steering wheel)
I wasn't thinking about doing it or anything...but what do you guys think?
Price? Would it be worth it?

OH and I saw SOME video on youtube of a 64 chevelle that was like...jeez..TOTALLY redone with airbags and anti-locking brakes and god knows what else. That's what got me wondering about the airbags.

I have restored several cars . Some of them being "spot on" Corvettes and Chevelles. I really don't think it would change the value of the car to add three point belts. Those can always be changed back. Tey would be a good safety addition and maybe give you a secure feeling. The air bag issue is a differant matter. If they are not sensered correctly they can be dangerous.

My 69 Chevelle has separate lap belt/ shoulder belt with separate buckles. This is a PITA. Summit and Jegs offer some three point belts that look to install in the original mounting places without much modification. I would feel safer with this lap/shoulder belt setup than just a lap belt. I would not be interested in putting airbags in my car.

I don't play with air bags, PERIOD. Have you ever seen one go off? I use to work at a dealership. When an airbag is deemed faulty and needs to be sent back, it must be discharged before it can be shipped back because it is a class 'C' explosive. There is a little kit that you hook up to the airbag to set it off. It looks like that setup to launch model rockets. You hook up the leads to the terminals on the bag, put in the 9v battery, hit the trigger and BLAMO. We would always put it face down to see how high we could get it to do. Usually about 10 feet. By the way, it doesn't even take 9 volts to set one off. I understand its less that 3 volts to fire the bag. Some will even say static electricity (I know, thousands of volts but very low current) can set one off.

It's not something I want to be in front of when it goes off. Talk to someone that had one go off. If you get in a wreck and you are not wearing your belt, that bag hits you with the force of Drago (you know, the Russian guy in Rocky 3, 4 whichever one that was).

i only had lap belts until last year
after i had a tire blow out at high speed
i went the other way and got racing seats, 5-point harness, roll-cage, etc.....
i want to be able to walk or crawl away if crap hits the turbine in the future
things get very scary in the blink of an eye....... :)

I am really not a fan of airbags as implemented in modern cars. The airbag system utilizes a completely stand alone seperate wiring harness. It is highlighted using different colors so it can be identified. There are a boatload of warnings about working on or around it. Does not sound like a safety device to me. Not to mention that if it were such a good idea wouldn't it have been picked up by racers?

Conversely I am a HUGE fan of good seat belts. I walked away unhurt from trying to fly a car as a teenager. I was wearing a basic lap belt.

One of the earliest upgrades I made to my El Camino was installing three point retractible belts. The El Caminos are absolute naturals for this setup and can look like the factory put them in. One change that needed to be made, and I suspect this applies to Chevelles too, is the mounting for the lap belt is too far forward in the OEM location. It needs to be moved rearward about 6" so the lap belt has some angle to it.

If you do want to go the airbag direction... I would suggest investigating what they are doing for general aviation aircraft. AmSafe has a retrofit system where the sensor mounts under the seat and the airbag fastens to the shoulder belt. Cool deal here is bag expands forward away from your body :thumbsup: You can read more about it here:

http://www.amsafe.com/products/detail.php?id=68&type=categories

AmSafe usually deals with only OEMs and is just starting to market to individual owners. I wonder if they have even contemplated the potential of marketing this system to classic car owners?

I went with 3 point set-up from Morris Ind. They mounted in same location as stock. Only draw back is getting in/out of rear seat is alittle harder. Make sure you let them know if it's bench or bucket.

Haha great stories guys.

And I wasn't really even thinking about getting airbags, just wanting to know what you guys thought on the subject.
And I'm glad to hear other people put 3-points in their cars.

I went with 3 point set-up from Morris Ind. They mounted in same location as stock. Only draw back is getting in/out of rear seat is alittle harder. Make sure you let them know if it's bench or bucket.

Same here. I really like the Morris retractable belts. So far I haven't had anyone ride in the back seat so the inconvenience has been a problem.

Same here. I really like the Morris retractable belts. So far I haven't had anyone ride in the back seat so the inconvenience has been a problem.

x3:thumbsup:. I feel much safer driving in the Chevelle than I do in the Camaro without the three pointers.

I was going to install brakes on my Chevelle next, then I will look into upgraded seatbelts. I installed some parts store lap belts the day it was delivered.

Never thought much about it until after I bought it, but the Chevelle lacks a lot of safety features that my $50 race car body (82 Mustang) came with, absorbing steering column, retractable shoulder/seatbelts, dual master cylinder, door side beams, 5 mph bumpers, brake warning system, etc. Consequently, I have not removed any of them in the name of weight saving, yet. I did find and install aluminum bumpers. A rollbar is the next item to go into it.

One of the areas where cars have made good progress, I guess.

Still waiting for someone to post on the internet how to hack into airbag computers...

I was going to install brakes on my Chevelle next, then I will look into upgraded seatbelts. I installed some parts store lap belts the day it was delivered.

...

If you didn't read up on the first post of the subject, you can go to http://thehoffmangroup.com and they sell 21+ colors of 3-point seatbelts for $60 for the regular style buckles and like 80 or something for the airplane style buckles.

Best deal on the market I think

If you didn't read up on the first post of the subject, you can go to http://thehoffmangroup.com and they sell 21+ colors of 3-point seatbelts for $60 for the regular style buckles and like 80 or something for the airplane style buckles.

Best deal on the market I think

I have checked out Hoffman, Morris, Summit, OPGI and a few others, and I think I am going with Andover Restraints... Alot of these seem like the sell the same belts...

http://www.andoauto.com./Chevelle.htm

http://www.andoauto.com./deck.htm

several reasons I am leaning toward Andover...

They offer 22 colors, and can even do "custom" colors (if webbing is available).

3-point retractible setup, and they have a "specific" product for Chevelles (well, for 68-72 anyway). they offer several different buckle styles, $70-$78 ($140-$155 for BOTH front seats) But for me, I like the "Deluxe Starburst pushbutton" buckle. It has a brushed metal outer housing, similar to GM's 'deluxe" belts (similar, not the same), so it looks at home, IMO... The price is $170 or $175 for the pair (both front seats)...

but the deciding factor for me (so far) is that they offer a matching "rear deck" mounted (or wheel well mounted) 3-pt retractible for the back seat ($180 for the pair)... I have 2 little kids, so I'd like those 3-pt in the back... And matching the fronts...

I plan on mounting the retractors UNDER the deck (bolted to reinforcement plates in the wheel well), and routing the belts up through the deck panel/package shelf like modern cars...

So for the optional buckles I want, about $400 for the entire set, with hardware, reinforcement plates and shipping ...

I've always wondered weather or not anyone made rear 3-point seatbelts, but didn't know how or where it'd mount to. I figured like most back seat ones, you'd have it run through the back cushion of the seat(having to cut it and put in a plastic plate or something) but that is really great. Considering the only people I'd haul around back there would be friends that don't usually wear seatbelts in the backseat would make me think twice about putting them back there, but I'm sure I'll have a little one I'd have to ensure the safety of back there. Thanks for the link Tony!

Oh and Tony when you get your harnesses installed...

PLEASE post up pictures, I would really like to see what it looks like for the deck to have a retractor on it.


That goes for anyone else who may have done this,post pics on here!! :)

Thank You all for the Compliments and Purchase of our products.
Other companies will tell you that their seat belts fit specific models and years when actually they are all generic with a lot of brackets and bolts. A national company that we sell to did a side by side comparison of the other companies seat belts because their seat belts were cheaper.Look at the single bolt in the top mount a 5/16 there should be 2 bolts in the top mount. Well Cheaper is the key word. The other company was told their product was not as good a product as Morris Classic Concepts.
Our seat belts have powder coated stainless steel brackets and grade 8 bolts, also our brackets use all of the factory mounting holes. Year and model specific. We have about any color you want. GM Mark of Excellence buckles and all other types available.
The seat belts can't run across any metal as this will cause them to shear when force is applied.You can be assured that all the major car companies tested extensively for the safest mounting points. Billy, Morris Classic Concepts, LLC.

Same here. I really like the Morris retractable belts. So far I haven't had anyone ride in the back seat so the inconvenience has been a problem.

same here

Oh and Tony when you get your harnesses installed...

PLEASE post up pictures, I would really like to see what it looks like for the deck to have a retractor on it.


That goes for anyone else who may have done this,post pics on here!! :)

Check here... read the whole post, Pictures of a rear install
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209840
MadManMark added the rear belts. IIRC, He mounted them to the deck.