Seat Belts for the Rumble Seat - '31 Roadster

[Colonel Biggs]

Are seat belts with a should strap even possible to install in the rumble seat area? If so, has anyone written up this procedure for the "A?" I couldn't find anything in the archives.

[Badpuppy]

From a safety standpoint, rumble riding is a bad idea; should be limited to parades and driving through sheep.

No place for a shoulder strap without permanently bracing the deck open.

[Lona]

I have lap belts and a front rain rail cushion in my '31 rumble seat and also use an adjustable winch strap to hold the lid open. Have 3 point retractables in the cab too but I agree with Badpuppy, you would have to find a way to rigidly hold the lid open if you want shoulder belts. Even then, the strap would have to go from the shoulder straight down behind the lid to the frame. That setup is an invitation for a crushed spine in an accident and not recommended by belt manufacturers. Rumble riding is dangerous but my feeling is lap belts and rain rail cushions are the best we can do and shoulder belts are out of the question.

Glen

[Colonel Biggs]

Thank you both for your responses.

Lona, I read your 2014 post on seat belts for a Roadster. I could not conjure up a fix that I was happy with concerning shoulder belts in the rumble area. Did you go down to the rear axle to secure your lap belts? And, is the cushion to which you referred a self-designed concept, or does someone actually sell such an item that one can mold to the rail's shape?

[Lona]

Colonel,

The rear axle is a little too far forward to attach belts to and there are no structural rails aft of the axle. I installed a 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 steel angle under the rumble floor pan at the break where it angles upward at the rear but made it the full width of the space between the main frame side rails. The steel angle is drilled for the bolts that hold the seat belt brackets. Lots of room there to work so it's a fairly easy installation.
As for the rail cushions, I just slit a standard kid's swimming noodle and slip it over the rain rail whenever kids sit in the rumble area. Could also miter cut the ends and install the same cushions on the side as well. All easily installed and removed as the lid could not be closed with the cushions in place. Good luck with your install.

Glen

[Colonel Biggs]

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Glen --

Thanks for your inputs. It looks like I have some work ahead of me.

GB