1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure harnes

[Stephen G.]

Good Day

I don't post often so please bear with me if my etiquette is off a bit. I have a 72 Coupe that I have just had the seat belts and shoulder harness restored and I am about to reinstall them. I purchased the car in 74 and thoroughly enjoy it. The anchor points (brackets) that the shoulder harness bolts to has deteriorated and needs to be replaced. I have purchased the correct replacement 'reinforcements/bracket' from Corvette Central along with the rivets and special tool. My question is 'Is it possible to replace the reinforcements/brackets without lifting the body off the car?' As a result of the size of the replacement bracket and the bolts on the bottom of the bracket I am running into clearance issues with the body and frame, as well as the fuel related lines on top of the frame on both sides. If I have to lift the body is it possible to basically tilt the body (lift the rear of the car after loosening the body mounts) above the frame to provide the necessary clearance? I was planning on a 'body off' at some point but really don't want to do it now. I would be very interested in any thoughts or first hand experience that my be provided.

Thanks very much and have a great day.

Stephen Gowland

[Terry L.]

Re: 1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure ha

Stephen,

I removed my should harness brackets a couple of years ago to re-plate them while the body was off the frame. I reinstalled the brackets while the body was on a jig and I can't imagine being able to install the brackets correctly without the body lifted above the frame at least 6". What is the special tool you purchased from Corvette Central?

[Stephen G.]

Re: 1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure ha

Hi Terry

Thanks very much for your reply. As you are aware the brackets are secured with aluminum rivets and the tool is designed to compress the rivets - the old fashioned way - with a hammer I am going to look at this again this evening but I concluded last night that I was going to have to either lift or tilt the body to get enough clearance to allow me to install the rivets properly. I thought in the off chance that I had missed something or someone has some trick for doing this I would ask on the forum - I am really not keen on lifting the body in the middle of the summer - definitely a winter project if I want to drive the car this summer. Have a great day. Stephen

[Jim T.]

Re: 1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure ha

Steven in order to lift the body as much as you have mentioned the front and rear bumper bolts will have to come off, anything that attaches the body to the frame will be affected lifting the body. Have you tried removing any of your body bolts? I would recommend that all body bolts unscrewed to to do the lift of either side. Could you install your shoulder belt brackets with stainless steel bolts and nuts until you do you your later body off and enjoy your 1972 until you do this huge task?

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure ha

Once you start messing with the body to frame bolts you are on a one way street to a frame off restoration. I like Jim's idea of using bolts on the holes you can't rivet. I think you can rivet all the seat belt plate holes with a helper.

[Stephen G.]

Re: 1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure ha

Hi Terry

I appreciate your comments. I have not tried removing any of the bolts at this time. I am concerned about the bolts on the rear body mounts and really don't want to disturb them. Good comment about using bolts instead of rivets. I had already concluded that I can do the 2 upper rivets from inside the wheel well and was going to use bolts for the lower 2 that have minimal clearance to the frame. The biggest issue is actually getting the brackets in place because of the size of the bracket and minimal space to work in. I am going to try to remove/relocate the fuel related lines on top of the frame on each side of the car in the hope of creating enough clearance to allow the new brackets to be slipped in between the body and the frame - fingers crossed. If that doesn't work I will likely use a 3" x 8" x 1/8" piece of flat, steel drill a hole in it for the bolt to go through and use that as the backing place for the shoulder harness anchor until this fall when it looks like I will be taking the body off. I will let you know how I make out with this plan. Thanks again and have a great weekend. Stephen

[Stephen G.]

Re: 1972 Corvette Coupe Shoulder harness under body anchor/reinforcement to secure ha

Hi Lyle

Thanks very much for your comments. I agree it is a slippery slope and one that I had not planned on going down this summer. I just replied again to Jim with tonight's plan and will keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again and have a great weekend.

Stephen