1965 Seat Belts???

[Strodder]

Did 65's come with seat belts? Or was it an option. I don't want to install them if I don't have to. It's the law here to wear them.

[Chionos GMs]

Originally Posted by Strodder

Did 65's come with seat belts? Or was it an option. I don't want to install them if I don't have to. It's the law here to wear them.

Why wouldnt you install them if its the law?? Seat belts were required by government so it became standard in 66. Im pretty sure it was an option before because my 62 had em from the factory

[Fursphere]

nvm

[Northern lights]

Originally Posted by Chionos GMs

Why wouldnt you install them if its the law??

Can't speak for CA but here, the seatbelt law only applies to vehicles that came from the factory with belts. If the vehicle came factory without, we are not obligated to put them in.

[onequickchevy]

Pretty sure they were optional. I put in three point out of a suburban. I like my kids to cruise with me. I also have been wearing seat belts religiously since the eightees. Something about two close friends being launched through a windshield brings it close to home. They both miraculously survived, but have never been the same.

[Rich 5150 69]

Calif requires all vehicle to have belts. I used `05 siverado seats with the integregated seat belts.

[blackedoutharley]

California law does not require vehicles to be retrofitted with belts if not originally equipped.

I got a ticket in my '65 years ago for not wearing a seat belt and beat it in court... even after pleading not guilty and the judge asking me "are you sure that is how you want to plead on this?".

The officer wasn't hearing any bit if me telling him that it didn't come with them so I replied to the judge: "oh, I wasn't wearing a seatbelt Sir, but I would much rather explain it all at my day in court".

As far as I can remember the federal law requiring seat belts in pick ups was either 1968 or 1971 and these dates may have to do with unladen weight.

[Chionos GMs]

My sources say 66 required seat belts. But I dont know

[jonzcustomshop]

pretty much every 66 i have seen has the same style factory belts in them, they have priovisions for belts welded in, 65's do not.

[Strodder]

Thanks you guys. I got the answers I was looking for. I probably will install seat belts anyway. Even though I hate them on old vehicles.

[chopped65]

The CA law is correct, it is only mandatory if they came factory. Only the 1/2 tons came factory on these trucks in 65 I believe. The 3/4 tons and up were considered as commercial trucks and were not mandatory until the federal government made it mandatory on all vehicles. So in 65 the 1/2 tons I believe all came with them standard.

[Rich 5150 69]

Not sure what the big deal is, its for your own safety, if not yours maybe your passenger would desire them to keep their teeth out of the dash or worse....

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by Rich 5150 69

Not sure what the big deal is, its for your own safety, if not yours maybe your passenger would desire them to keep their teeth out of the dash or worse....

Like I said "I will probably install them" I didn't say I would wear them. If I get stopped by a Cop, I'll click um on. Shoulder harness belts are to notice able.

[blackedoutharley]

If you install them, even if they were not required from the factory, you then become a slave to the law and must wear them at all times.

It is a good idea and I will be installing them in my '65 when I replace the carpet kit and paint the interior.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by blackedoutharley

If you install them, even if they were not required from the factory, you then become a slave to the law and must wear them at all times.

It is a good idea and I will be installing them in my '65 when I replace the carpet kit and paint the interior.

Yes I knew that. Big Brother is always watching.

[jocko]

while i'm a believer in seat belts (took me a while, but...) I also don't like the old ones flopping around all over the place. My plan for the current truck (66 C10) is to mimic the factory setup on my 65 impala. Going to swap the male/female install (or at least the way it currently is - no way of knowing how the factory did it - I've asked on a previous thread and replies were 50/50 as to how each guy's truck happened to have them).

Long story short - I'm anchoring the male end (short belt) on the outer insides of the cab - and anchoring the female (latch and adjustable strap belt) at the inboard/center anchor points.

Then install some auto-rewinder factory option thingy's (my 65 Impala had them from the factory) on the short belt (male end). This way, the belts near the doors can be auto-wound and not flop around and the inner belts are the long ones and - yes - they do still have to lay on the seats. But is is a bit of a more slick setup. Here's a pic and part # of the imapla part I ordered - worked great on my 65 Impala (but I am a bit concerned that I may not be able to wid it up far enough to keep it out of the way of the door - will let you know when I find out). Part # T6502. There are less expensive ones out there, I just had these on my 65 Imp so that's why I remember them.

http://www.impalas.com/1965-1972-imp...air/t6502.html

[aerotruk63]

1963 Custom Accessories Installation Manual.



1960-66 Assembly Manual ( 1966 Section )

[jocko]

thanks aerotruk, that confirms what I was hoping for. I'm guessing someone swapped my seatbelt anchor points somewhere along the way. It's a weird setup because the outboard anchor point is solid, but yet the belt itself clanks around as if the mounting bolt is too tall. I need to dig into and re-do it right. Your photos help. I didn't realize a shoulder belt option even existed that early.

[aerotruk63]

Let's not put to much faith in the shoulder belt till we get more of a response. LILRED66 has the 66 Custom Accessories Installation Manual. If it's in there then I would feel more comfortable with it's existence.

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

1963 Custom Accessories Installation Manual.



1960-66 Assembly Manual ( 1966 Section )

Thanks, this is good to know.

[aerotruk63]

Greeeeaaaaat, now two buckles to undo to get out of the truck!

[mr48chev]

Well, you may think it is "cool" to drive or ride in your rig without them but My wife still has the scars on her cheek and Knees from falling out of the 48 backwards 32 years ago and landing in the street when we turned the corner and she was leaning backwards against the passenger door. She by the way still hates seat belts and has to be told to buckle up every time we get in a rig even though it is mandatory in this state. I'm not sure about the grandfathered pre 68 thing as far as not having or wearing them but keeping my family safe is a lot more important than thinking the truck is too old to need them or it isn't cool to wear them.
We lost a beautiful 28 year old gal from here in town a week ago because she didn't have her belt fastened in her late model and got thrown out during a soft roll over. I saw that car and you could have rolled it on it's wheels and driven it off as it wasn't torn up that bad.

Think about it a bit, do you want you and yours to stay in place if the truck gets in a wreck or out of control or would you rather have you or your significant other hit the windshield, dash or get thrown around in the cab or out of the cab in an accident or even near accident. Up to you.

[Strodder]

I wear seat belts all the time in our 06 Silverado, and the Corvette. Just don't like them in a old Vehicle. Got me thinking though. I will install them, and will probably wear them. $hit could happen in a old car as well as a new one.

[collins10672]

1965 chevrolet trucks had seat belts optionally installed.starting in 1966 required by federal law chevrolet trucks had seat belts,2 speed windshield wipers and backup lamps installed as standard equipment.starting in 1968 cars and trucks had to have side marker lamps installed also.very few 1965 chevrolet trucks came with seat belts since not many people were into safety features at the time.hope this helps.

[Captainfab]

If I'm not mistaken, 1966 was the first year for the shoulder belt option.....the weld nuts in the B-pillar.