1963 with 1964 Caddy Retractable Belt bolt location

[Frank Murch]

I have a 63, and I have, in a box, 2 retractable seatbelts.  The 1963 seat belts bolt through the floor with a huge washer.  The 1964 seems to bolt into the side where it is not obvious place and where the bolt would exit into a void.  It seems there is a cavity on the side with the rockers on the outside and a void inside.  

How can I safely attache the 64 retractable in a 63??  I assume the 64 had factory captive bolts - is this correct??

[Jason Edge]

Both 63 and 64's I have seen had the pre-tapped & threaded "captive" anchor nuts in the floor in the same location near rear corner of seat near base of inside of rocker. . In 1963 the seat belts were evolving, starting with the type you see in 1st 2 pictures then ending up with the "64 style". Regardless, If you remove the door sill plate and peel the carpet back you should find pre-tapped/threaded holes for the seat belts.  Emphasis is on the word "should", I literally learn something new about these cars every day..even after 51 parts cars. 

See pictures below... 1st 2 are of 63, then the 64 setup with retractor: 

[Frank Murch]

Brilliant. I had stripped and painted that whole area with POR 15 years ago, I never saw the plugged holes.  But they are there and the plugs were reused to plug the hole in the floorboards.

 

I was surprised I missed them, but not surprised Jason knew exactly what the situation was. Thank you – as usual, excellent!!

[Jason Edge]

Glad to help!

[24ro8f5mbs2jc]

In my -64 there are holes for rear seat-belts as well. I have not fitted any seat-belts for the rear seat yet, mainly because if I do it has to be original looking (turquoise).

Don't know if there are pre-fabricated holes for a -63, but its very easy to check as you only need to lift the rear seat cushion.

[24ro8f5mbs2jc]

There is also some very good information posted in the Help section:

Misc Seat and Seat Belt Illustrations and Pictures

[Frank Murch]

The rear seats (in mine) have threaded holes.  I had 2 things going on 1) I had the 64 retractable s  I wanted to use (I have now) and I have seatbelts for 6. But front and back center belts did not match the others.  Now they do. So I now have 6 original matching seatbelt sets in the car. 

BTW All of mine were rebuilt by https://www.ssnake-oyl.com  They are good, but not cheap.  I did lengthen the belt length.  The belts are still untidy (as they probably were when new) and I don't have a good way to 'roll them up' without working at it. Worse in the back seat than in the front

[Frank Murch]

The extended length is on the older (non-retractable) sets and on the buckle side.  The retractors are on the tongue side.  Unfortunately, I am a bigger man that I would like to be.  I found the original lengths to be a tight fit.  Passengers had the same issue.