Seat belt question

[Ecode70D]

     I took these seat belt brackets out of a donor 57 Ford parts car that I had a few years ago.  After I clean up and refurbish them,  I want to install them in my 57 Ford.  The question is How do I attach seat belts to these brackets?  It seems like in the old days, the ends of the belts got wrapped around the brackets and woven through some sort of a flat plate with slots in it.
     I know that I can just drill holes in the floor and bolt seat belts through them,  but that's not what I want to do.  Any and all help would be appreciated.  Thanks Jay   

   

[hiball3985]

Jay, I think they used this type of attachment on the end of the belt.

[JimNolan]

After I installed my brackets I just ordered longer belts than I needed, cut the ends off and heated the nylon until it melted and smoothed it out. I used the flat plates as the original configuration did. The question I would have is " why go to the expense and trouble to use original brackets if you didn't plan on using the original belt mounting.

[RICH MUISE]

Jim, I read his question as he wanting to do an oem mounting/assembly and is looking for info on how that was done.

[hiball3985]

Jim, I read his question as he wanting to do an oem mounting/assembly and is looking for info on how that was done.

OK, I thought the question was how to attach the seat belts to the original type brackets? I'm on my way to my father-in-laws funeral and maybe not thinking straight.

[RICH MUISE]

Isn't that what I said, lol? maybe not. I think he want to use the original brackets and attach the belting in the original manner.
Sorry about your father in law, Jim. My condolences to you and your wife.

[Ecode70D]

Jim
     I intend to use the original floor mounting  brackets that I have.  I will order longer belts like you stated and that's a good idea of cutting the end pieces off and using heat to melt the ends together instead of stitching them.  That brings me back to the question about the plates.   I don't remember what they look like or where to get some.  I will need 4 of them , or if I had just one of them. I would try to make a set  .  Did you take a picture of yours before you installed them ? 

Thanks Jay

[Ray]

If you need a template for the front seat brackets, let me know. I can mail you a copy. Also, the tunnel brackets don't fit on a convertible, The backings just don't fit under the tunnel. The original belts used a chrome buckle to hold them in place. I see them on e-bay every once and a while. The crazy Iowa guy has a set up for $450.

[RICH MUISE]

Jay, if I read Jim's post correctly, he used the heat on the ends to keep the fabric from fraying, not as a replacement for the sewing. Much like I do when I cut plastic or neoprene rope.....melt the ends with a cigarette lighter.
What I'm thinking about typing that, is the late model cars that are sewn together after the belt passes thru the loop.

[Ecode70D]

Ray
    I had no idea that the that the tunnel brackets could not be used on a convertible.
    I would very much like to have a template of the front seat belt brackets.  I will send you a PM with my contact information.   If you actually have one of those plates , would you please give me all the measurements just in case I am not able to find a set and have t o make them. 
Thank you very much. Jay

[JimNolan]

Here is a drawing of what I'm talking about. I couldn't find a picture of one on ebay. I guess they aren't as plentiful as I thought. They are thick chrome plated steel. You just thread the belt thru the slots one way, loop the belt into the floor mounted brackets and back thru this bracket. A belt with sewed ends will be a tight fit and the sewed end really isn't nessecary.

[CobraJoe]

Jim, when you drew the picture it reminded me of the Simpson Racing harness adjustment pieces we used to use, they are called 2" Wide 3 Bar Slides; they also come in 3"



Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/RaceQuip-700085-Wide-Bar-Slide/dp/B004QMJ8SS


This is some of their other hardware that we used to use if it helps:

[djfordmanjack]

Jay this set is advertised on ebay as oem 56-63 FoMOCO eqpt.
obviously the ends have no loops or sewing whatsoever. indicating to what our knowledgable guys have stated above.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1956-1957-1958-1959-1960-1961-1963-Ford-Galaxie-Blue-Seat-Belts-OEM-FoMoCo/311846465791?epid=754646640&hash=item489b7f70ff:g:JnAAAOSwIWVY-N3L

[RICH MUISE]

1200.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And shipping not included. All ya can do is laugh.

[Ecode70D]

WOW!   Only $1200.   What's happening?   Are those people serious?
Jim   Thank for the drawing.   That's what I had in mind.  It was not my imagination.
Joe   Thanks for the link and now I know the proper name is Bar slides.   
Hiball Jim  The boys found the plates that I need.  I'm very sorry to hear about your father in law.