My '61 Impala bubble top doesn't have seat belts. I'm wondering if I should put lap belts in? I bought a set from Eckler's and just haven't
done it yet. Would you drill through the carpet or take it out? Not
sure what to do. Suggestions?:confused:
Carol

Personally, I would add them. But, do not drill through the carpet! It will wrap around the bit and pull a thread all across the floor. Take the carpet up, decide where to mount the belts (be careful of what's underneath), drill, and then put the carpet back down and cut out the hole.

Yes install the belts. Early cars have no crush zones to absorb impact forces. They are all transferred to the passenger compartment. I worked for a decade as a street cop back n the late sixties and early seventies and saw a number of wrecks involving these cars. They would hose off the dash and install a new steering wheel and resell the car to the next owner after a bad wreck.

You have to reinforce the floor pan anyway to make the seat belts work. As said lift up the carpet and cut an "X" with a razor blade about a half inch across should be enough to get the bolt through the hole.

Big Dave

So what's this about reinforcing the floor pan?
Carol

I'm not sure about 61's but I think seat belts were stanadard in 64's. The floor brace has a hole drilled in it and a nut weiled on the back side. If it was an option in 61 I bet the hole is there and the nut is welded on. Look under your car near the rear of the frount seat there is a brace there and see if it is there. I hope this helps.

If not weld in (or sandwich the reinforcing metal with a case hardened washer) a piece of 10 gauge metal about six inches square centered on where the bolt goes through the floor pan. This is to keep you from pulling the bolt out through the floor pan in an accident (yes there is enough force on the parts to rip it right through the sheet metal).

Big Dave

Will do....thanks so much for all this help. May try to do this tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Have a good weekend....
Carol

I was at the local cruise today and there was a nice 61 Impala 2dr ht there. It didn't have seatbelts either so I checked the floor brace were they would be connect to bad new there was no mount for them. I will try and take a pic of my 64 Impala floor brace so you can drill the hole in the right place. 61-64 have the same flloor pans and braces.

Man, I'm so chicken to drill any holes in this car. I'm going to make sure we know what we're doing first. Checking it out, taking the time needed. I sure appreciate all the help and suggestions. We'll do it and it'll be right when we do. Thanks a bunch.
Carol