Front Shoulder Belts

[csa1861]

Anyone ever put shoulder belts in the front of a '73 Mach 1? I cannot find any info on how to do this or if it's possible. The car may have had t hem at one point, but my grandfather put in a new headliner years ago and they are not there now.

 

[73pony]

The car should have come with shoulder belts in 1973. If you feel around the headliner to the back of and above the front seats you should be able to feel the mounting point behind there. I installed newer style retractable 3 points in mine several years ago as passengers were having a hard time figuring out how to work the originals and they were quite sun damaged and likely not safe.

 

[Kilgon]

The car should have come with shoulder belts in 1973. If you feel around the headliner to the back of and above the front seats you should be able to feel the mounting point behind there. I installed newer style retractable 3 points in mine several years ago as passengers were having a hard time figuring out how to work the originals and they were quite sun damaged and likely not safe.

Pony,

Did the new retractable bolt directly in or did you have to make modifications? Thinking of changing mine.

 

[csa1861]

Do you recall where you got them?

 

[Don C]

If you search the forum for seat belts you'll find several threads about them. To to the More tab at the upper right of this page and pull down Search.

 

[73pony]

They bolted right in. I will have to do some looking as to where I got them.

 

[OMS]

I have these ... if you use your original bolts, they are a direct bolt in for the 71-3's

If you don't have the original shoulder belt bolts / spacers I might have some from a parts car

http://www.ohiomustang.com/store/order_page.asp?itemid=3256

 

[73pony]

I have these ... if you use your original bolts, they are a direct bolt in for the 71-3's

If you don't have the original shoulder belt bolts / spacers I might have some from a parts car

http://www.ohiomustang.com/store/order_page.asp?itemid=3256

That looks exactly like the kit I used.

 

[MustangNJ]

i ordered a set that looks like that from cjponyparts.com. I have not installed it yet. it claims "bolt in", but on my car, nothing is easy. It takes only 1 corroded factory hole that needs to be retapped, or a problem with a bolt on the bottom end, to turn a 2 hour project into a 2 week project. I don't have an inside work area where I can leave my car dissembled, so I am pretty cautious when it comes to starting any project.

 

[7173Vert]

They became mandatory as of January 1, 1972 models...

 

[MustangNJ]

apparently not in Mexico...

 

[7173Vert]

apparently not in Mexico...

If you have a Mexican built Mustang, yes, different rules applied...

 

[midlife]

They became mandatory as of January 1, 1972 models...

Ummm...I think shoulder belts up front became mandatory for the 1968 model year.

 

[7173Vert]

They became mandatory as of January 1, 1972 models...

Ummm...I think shoulder belts up front became mandatory for the 1968 model year.

My bad... I was thinking about the seat belt retractors. In ‘71, they did not have mandatory retractors. As of January 1, 1972, All Ford car’s incorporated them... Right date, wrong application... Thanks for clarifying.

 

[OMS]

apparently not in Mexico...

The body shell was still built in Dearborn, correct ?

If so,  would think all the weld nuts are there.

 

[MustangNJ]

i believe the holes are there under the headliner around the coat hook. I have not looked yet

 

[73pony]

They should be.

 

[csa1861]

So do I just feel around until I find the mounts and then cut a hole in the headliner?

 

[73pony]

That would be my approach. Or possibly someone else with a Mach or Sports roof can get some measurements for you to get you close.