Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Has anyone installed a set of modern type shoulder and lap belts in their 21st or 22nd Series Packard? If so, could you please share what it took to do the installation, and where you got your belts. The shoulder and lap belt combination seem, to me, to me a better solution than just lap belts. Thanks.

Also interested.

My Patrician can with the floor mounts for lap belts but no belts. And the cop of my cars order from studebaker doesn't show that for install.

Have you taken a look at PackardV8's thread "shoulder strap 55 executive"?

Idk if he explained his install but I'm sure he'd be mor than happy to provide you with details.

Hopefully this link works.https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_Id=2907&viewmode=flat&order=asc&mode=0&start=0

[Edit] sorry my link doesn't work, but if you search that topic it will come up.

Any ideas on why it returns no topic selected?

Bandon, I have been following PackardV8's thread on the install of the belts in his '55. What I would like to find out is, if anyone has done this on a 21st or 22nd series car, how they fastened the shoulder belt anchor to the door post. PackardV8 posted a photo of his door post stripped of the trim. I was just wondering what the structure of the door post on the earlier cars looks like. I do not want to take the trim off of my '47 without knowing what is underneath. Maybe a body manual will give me some information.

You can try looking at the 48-54 "Parts List" Plates that are in the Photo Archive. They are various plates of the Body construction in there.

Haha thats waht i get for visiting this forum on my phone!

Sorry, and good luck!

There is a photo of the body parts in the 1946-1950 Shop Manual. It is a small image, but may be useful. I just hate to strip off the trim with so little knowledge as it is original.

John, The metal body plate between the doors is where I intended to put a shoulder harness also. The metal inner panel is solid with no access holes but I believe there is room between the inner and outer panels at the top to perhaps lower a nut and reinforcing metal plate and attach the shoulder belt bracket through a hole you would drill. I had my trim panel off when I rewired and upholstered the car and it is held on with metal studs which simply pull off. The problem may be with the windlass material which is nailed onto a strip of wood IIRC at the top and sides and possibly the headliner.Alternatively I would think that if all the upholstery was out of the car a plate and nut could be welded onto the inner panel.When I am driving and only have a lap belt I think about what that steering wheel and metal dash board would do to a body in an accident. I also have doubts that the metal door post would be strong enough without serious reinforcement to withstand the force of a body weight against the belt in an accident and that is why I didn't bother. It might be false security.

Here are some photos of the drivers side pillar for a 22nd Series that I saved. It should be the same as the earlier Clipper bodies. There is a rectangular opening lower down on the pillar that could be used to fish in a small reinforcing plate. I don't think that the original sheet metal would be strong enough to support the load from a shoulder belt.

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BdeB, These photos show the structure detail I am looking for. They also look like the photos in the Body Section of the 1946-1950 Service Manual, but yours easier to examine. You and Clipper47 make a good point about the strength of the door post. Thanks to you both. I found a site for seat belts, lap only and lap and shoulder. Finding room for the floor mounted inertia reels may be a problem.