Seat Belt Mounting Sites '63 Suburban
 

My new '63 Burb has arrived, and I'm looking at the various things needed to get her on the road before winter if possible. I'll be addressing a variety of issues in several threads. Being a '63 she has no seatbelt, original or added. I ID'd several through-bolts and I am wondering if they were placed there for this purpose; they all bolt through a crossmember beneath. The photo shows an example from the passenger side - round spot left of photo.

I also want to add driver/passenger 3 points; I am assuming that if I remove the wide trim strip above the windows that will reveal the doorpost opening for inserting a fastener plate?

Brad

Re: Seat Belt Mounting Sites '63 Suburban
 

I had seatbelts in my 61 but they were anchored behind the seat. Sorry no photos as I took them out.

Also the two sets I had were for the driver and center position area of the front seat and not the jump seat.

Re: Seat Belt Mounting Sites '63 Suburban
 

Turns out it is a rubber grommet in the earlier post, protecting a threaded hole that is bolt-ready for seatbelts. Seems to be a 7/16' 20tpi. The pics show views from above and below.

Also pictured is the doorpost; I removed the screws fastening it down and think i'll have just enough room to slip in a backing plate for a 3-point restraint. The front of the door pillar panel is firmly cemented in at the factory, and I don't want to distort the panel too much. I also think I can do the same for the outside seats in the back row, using the rear panel. I realize not that many people would go the 3-point route, but I'm kinda a safety nut, and expect to be hauling grandkids.

Brad

Re: Seat Belt Mounting Sites '63 Suburban
 

That bolt hole does look factory; I wonder if the 62’s or any others have that as well. Thanks for posting it.

Re: Seat Belt Mounting Sites '63 Suburban
 

My guess is that '63 was the first year, what with the seatbelt laws coming in at that time. Also, in my FIL's '62 Suburban, he had jury-rigged a pipe from wall to wall behind the front seats that the seatbelts went around. I remember because you had to step over it to access the back - where he had replaced the seats with troop-style bench seats with storage, and NO seat belts of course!

Brad