SmooveP
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2066
Age: 43
Loc: Denver, CO
Reg: 04-04-02
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 10-26-18 07:00 PM - Post#2749643
Anyone here add seatbelts in the front (59 impala hardtop) if so.. how, where? I'm sure the seat needs to come out, Been years... any special tools needed.. anyone know sizes needed?
Thanks!
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cahartley
Contributor
Posts: 355
Loc: Central Wisconsin
Reg: 01-16-14
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10-26-18 08:49 PM - Post#2749655
In response to SmooveP
It's a struggle with a bench seat.
When I had the front bench seat redone in my '59 Bel Air my guy told me he needed the seat belts before he started when I told him I was adding front seat belts.
There is virtually no way to thread the belts through the assembled seat assembly.
Seat Belts
Seat Belts Anchor
The above photo doesn't show how they are anchored very well but it's what I have saved.
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 DonSSDD
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 6947
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
Reg: 08-21-01
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10-27-18 01:10 AM - Post#2749657
In response to cahartley
I don’t remember if the 59 has the nuts welded into the floor braces for mounting the seat belts or not but check for them. If there is an rpo for seat belts in the assembly manual, it will show you how to bolt them in Pierre.
63 Pontiac Parisienne Sport Coupe(CDN Chev mechanically (409, 4 speed),62 Bel Air SC (sold), 59 El Camino (sold), 62 Bel Air SC(sold), 63 SWC Vette (sold),
Member #2194
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TYTILIDIE
Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 157
Age: 42
Loc: Colorado Springs
Reg: 10-21-15
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10-27-18 09:38 AM - Post#2749694
In response to DonSSDD
What kind of seat belts? Lap? 3 point?
I did 3 point 8n mine.
1959 Biscayne with Impala Moldings, 5.3l LS Swap, 4l60e trans, factory PCM
1992 GMC Typhoon - Bowtie block and heads, forged everything, PTE76mm Turbo, 4L80E, Stock PCM's
"You'll never get anywhere if you keep starting over".
Me |
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 PLS
"7th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1141
Loc: Smyrna, Georgia
Reg: 06-07-12
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10-27-18 12:45 PM - Post#2749708
In response to SmooveP
I purchased my seat (lap) belts from Ciadella along with the complete set, headliner, sun visors, door panels, seat covers and carpet for my ’60 Impala 2drht. Here is a link to instructions for ’60 belt installation, I would think that the location would be the same for the ‘59. There were dimples in the floor pan and I just drilled the holes there. http://www.60impala.com/pictures/chevy839/360 3.htm At the bottom right side you can click on NEXT for more info.
While I was searching for ’59 belt information it referenced this post on CT as one source, the last post was your about having to install front seat belts in a few years, this was back in 2013. 
https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?t... Hope that this helps, Lamar
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 JayChicago
"8th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 338
Loc: Chicago
Reg: 01-03-13
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10-28-18 11:37 AM - Post#2749778
In response to cahartley
It's a struggle with a bench seat.
When I had the front bench seat redone in my '59 Bel Air my guy told me he needed the seat belts before he started when I told him I was adding front seat belts.
There is virtually no way to thread the belts through the assembled seat assembly.
I think that's true only for the four-door cars. I think on a two-door, the belt can come up from behind the seat bottom and slip right in under the tiltable seat back.
I got good belts from this source: https://www.seatbeltsplus.com/
BTW, they recommend 60 inch belt length for the front seats. That's what was in my car when I got it, and it left a lot of extra belt unattractively laying on the front seat. When I replaced my belts I went with the next shorter length, 48 inch I think it was. The 60 inch length is probably only necessary when the seat is slid all the way back and holding a very big-bellied person.
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TYTILIDIE
Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 157
Age: 42
Loc: Colorado Springs
Reg: 10-21-15
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12-06-18 09:46 AM - Post#2753628
In response to JayChicago
Here is how I mounted my buckles
Not the end of the world but not that easy either. I just drilled a hole in that center seat swivel area and got a nut in there. Took about 30 minutes and $1 in parts.
1959 Biscayne with Impala Moldings, 5.3l LS Swap, 4l60e trans, factory PCM
1992 GMC Typhoon - Bowtie block and heads, forged everything, PTE76mm Turbo, 4L80E, Stock PCM's
"You'll never get anywhere if you keep starting over".
Me |
Edited by TYTILIDIE on 12-06-18 09:48 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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DonSSDD
Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 6947
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
Reg: 08-21-01
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12-06-18 03:04 PM - Post#2753655
In response to TYTILIDIE
In my opinion you have to connect the seat belts to the floor and make sure you have solid backing behind the nut on the underside. That is the factory away this was done. Fastening to the seat means all the load of the seat and you goes to the seat bolts and in an accident that’s likely not good.
63 Pontiac Parisienne Sport Coupe(CDN Chev mechanically (409, 4 speed),62 Bel Air SC (sold), 59 El Camino (sold), 62 Bel Air SC(sold), 63 SWC Vette (sold),
Member #2194
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 Aussie_Chevy_Nut
"4th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 555
Loc: Australia
Reg: 11-26-02
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12-06-18 03:37 PM - Post#2753658
In response to TYTILIDIE
Such an installation (bolting to the seat frame) would be illegal in every state of Australia.
John
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 59fins
"17th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 2155
Age: 58
Loc: Surprise Az USA
Reg: 04-07-00
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12-07-18 11:27 AM - Post#2753750
In response to SmooveP
Hope this helps
 Attachment: scan.pdf (1.88 MB) 20 View(s)
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TYTILIDIE
Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 157
Age: 42
Loc: Colorado Springs
Reg: 10-21-15
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12-12-18 05:12 AM - Post#2754224
In response to 59fins
Yeah, maybe so. All I can say is, to run them through the seat would require some effort and cost. The seat belts I got have a fairly short buckle strap. I suppose I could order longer ones and go to the floor. I actually first had a floor mount but it was located directly under where your butt would go if you sat in the middle. When I started putting the interior together I just came to the conclusion that it didn't make much sense.
1959 Biscayne with Impala Moldings, 5.3l LS Swap, 4l60e trans, factory PCM
1992 GMC Typhoon - Bowtie block and heads, forged everything, PTE76mm Turbo, 4L80E, Stock PCM's
"You'll never get anywhere if you keep starting over".
Me |
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threeimpalas
Senior Member
Posts: 1162
Loc: Central Iowa
Reg: 02-21-02
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12-12-18 07:41 AM - Post#2754234
In response to TYTILIDIE
Yeah, maybe so. All I can say is, to run them through the seat would require some effort and cost. The seat belts I got have a fairly short buckle strap...
So, a few bucks over safety? The effort required would be minimal.
If you're really that cheap, swap the latch to the outside and the adjustable portion to the inside. Yeah, it's "backwards" from standard practice, but will get the job done.
Mike
'58-62s and 348/409s |
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