Seat belts ‘58 Roadmaster

[highcking]

Problem I could not solve today on my 4-dr 58 Roadmaster.  I mounted the male front seat belts near the doors using existing holes. Then you have to thread the ends of the female belts through the gap in the front seat and anchor them to the floor behind the seat. I’ve done this job at least 20 times on other cars from 1931 onward.
 

But on the Roadmaster? Seemingly impossible. When you reach between the seats, your hand hits a hefty steel channel that runs the length of the seat. It has no openings. There may be a narrow slit which I tried to get under or over without success. Of course you’re working blind. 
 

Ideas? I know I installed seatbelts on my 58 Century years ago, but that was a different style of seat.

 

Bill in Luray
 

 



[lancemb]

Use a looped wire, or even connect the male belt and use it to fish it through.  It's much easier to get the smaller piece through.  Alternatively just put female belt on the outside.

[highcking]

I tried the "fish it through" method using a piece of  rope tied through the anchor hole. The rope by itself, being soft and flexible, managed to work its way over the steel frame and out the back enough so I could snag it. Pulling the end of the belt through that way proved to be another story. It's not easy to describe ... the metal anchor can't go straight through, it has to go up over the steel brace and then down through a narrow slot. But that presumes that you can do all that maneuvering with your hand squished between the back and the bench and various springs. My hand won't bend in that many directions.

 

Yes, I can put the female belt on the outside ... but you still have to get the anchor end of the male belt through the seat from front to back, i.e, you have the same problem. And there's no way to work from back to front. The tiny slot opening is blocked by a fabric piece about 4" wide that is sewn to the seat back on both ends.

 

I haven't looked yet, but I wonder if the 57-58 Service/Product bulletins say anything about this.

[lancemb]

All I can say is I have fished them through on my 57 without too much grief, so I know it's possible.  If you can't get it, it might be easier to take the seat back loose.

[highcking]

I'll give it another try tomorrow.

[old-tank]

The seats should come apart.  Remove the seat back, install the belts then replace.  That is the only way on my 55's.