Seat belt orientation - A ? of taste or practicality?

[Marshall V. Daut]

I'm installing seat belts in a Town Sedan with bench seats and am at a crossroads for which way to orient the belt ends. Maybe it's just a tempest in a teapot, but do most guys put the thick receptacle end on the inside or outside of the seat, and does this repeat itself for the other front seat passenger? In other words, do the receptacle ends both go on the outside (near the doors), or on the inside, or do the receptacles sit side by side on the inside or do they both go on the outside? Maybe there's no single answer. It's not a safety or functionality issue; rather, it's a cosmetic one. The way I am running the belts through slots I cut in the front seat's wooden base and mounting the belt anchor ends to the center wooden crossmember, I only get one chance to do this without removing the seat from the tracks to switch the ends around - which is NO fun!

Am I making myself clear? Basically the question is: Is there a preferred orientation for the seat belt ends? Les Andrews doesn't address this in his upgrade installation and options "how to" booklet and most photos on-line either don't show seat belts or they show a combination of all possibilities.
Marshall

[Tom Endy]

This is how I engineered the seat belt installation in my grandson's 1930 Tudor.

https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...s-30-Tudor.pdf

Tom Endy

[ModelA29]

I put the receptacle ends on the inside. That way the lighter ends are on the outside and have less chance of chipping the paint when they inevitability fall out the door hit the splash aprons.

[w.michael]

In my coupe, the heavy receptacle buckle is toward the outside. Unless I am very careful when I get out, the heavy buckle flops out of the car and bangs around on the splash apron, just as ModelA29 pointed out above. I definitely recommend putting ALL the heavier receptacles toward the center of the car, with the lighter inserts toward the doors. Note that most (all?) factory installed belts are done this way.

W. Michael

[JayJay]

M - Female ends inboard, male ends outboard. When I got the car they were installed opposite, and I had the same issues with the heavy ends falling out as noted above. Switched them around and now much better.

Apparently you got your upholstery issues resolved enough to worry about seatbelts, good for you.

[Marshall V. Daut]

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GREAT advice, guys! It all makes perfect sense. I'll follow your recommendations and put both receptacles inboard. Thanks!

"Apparently you got your upholstery issues resolved enough to worry about seatbelts, good for you."

JayJay - Nope. 'Still fighting interior installation and a host of other stubborn issues. I MIGHT finally get around to making that back seat backrest with folding armrest this weekend. That should do it for this restoration. I hope.

M.

[Y-Blockhead]

In my Town Sedan the receptacle are on the inside. The outboard belts have seat belt retractors on them.

[nkaminar]

In my town sedan, the receptacles are on the door sides. I did this because it was easier to put the bottom seat back after getting the stuff out from under it. I can raise the longer belts up so that they are held at the top by hanging them over the top of the seat back. But the shorter receptacle ends sometimes hang over the ends of the seats and keep the doors from closing. But they do not reach the paint. I have been training myself to check the receptacle ends so that they are resting on the seat when I close the door.