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NOS Dash Clock

1.20.09

I traded my original dash plaque for a NOS clock.  I had been looking for a clock for some time, but didn't want to pay e-bay prices for one.  Out of the blue, a fellow with a '50 Plymouth e-mailed me and asked if I would trade him straight across for my dash plaque.  Apparently he had an aftermarket heater box and the clock wouldn't fit.  I took him up on the deal, and love the clock in the dash.

Pete

dashclock
dash clock
dash clock
dash clock
NOS clock
backside of clock
inside clock
 
       
dash clock
dash clock

 
clock installed
Dash before clock install




 
Seat Belts:

I decided that I wanted the car to be as safe as possible for my family of four, so three point seat belts were a must.  As it turned out, adding these belts to the car was far easier that I imagined it would be. 


Front Seats:

On the four door cars, the holes for the retractor and the third point above your shoulder are already in the b-pillar, in the perfect spots, under the existing upholstery.  What could be simpler?  All I had to do was bolt them in. 

The top mount was a bit tricky, in that there is no way to get a wrench in to tighten the nut inside the pillar.  My solution was to weld the nut to a steel plate that just fit through the rectangular hole in the top of the pillar.  I hung the plate on a wire down the hole and then screwed the bolt in place.  After a few minutes of fumbling it went right together.  The plate also acts a a big washer to prevent the nut from pulling through in a collision. 

The bottom mount for the retractor is a simple bolt on, since the bolt hole in the pillar goes into the lower hinge pocket, and it is easy to get a wrench in to tighten it.

The buckle belt that is in the seat simply bolts through the floor with large washers to prevent pull-through.

The only problem I have found is that the depth of the retractor prevents the seat from moving all the way back.  This may be an issue for taller folks, but isn't for me, since it works with the seat where I normally have it.

top mount
bottom mount
finished
 
top mount hole
bottom mount hole
finished belt
 
       
third point
retractor
retractor bolt
 
third point 
retractor
retractor bolt



 
Rear Seats:

The rear seat shoulder belts were just as easy to install as the fronts.  The retractor is mounted in the trunk, and runs up through the package tray, down over the seat, and bolts to the floor near the side of the seat.  The third point bolts to the package tray from the bottom, keeping the belt from rubbing on the package tray metal.

rear belt
rear belt
rear belt
rear belt
rear seat belt
rear seat belt buckled
belt running down through package tray into trunk

rear belt
rear belt
rear belt
rear belt

retractor mounted in trunk
looking up at the bottom of the package tray
seatbelt in use...





Upholstery:

I have narrowed down my selection of upholstery fabric for the interior.  These samples are from Lebaron/Bonney.  I bought a sample kit from Lebaron/Bonney, which included all of their fabrics, leathers, vinyls, headlining, windlace, and carpet.  The kit was a very handy way to select a complete color scheme for the car.  Let me know what you think of the choices. 

I have chosen a scheme that is a bit different from the original, it will be a two tone layout with wool broadcloth and vinyl.  The body of the seats will be the wool, and the top 1/4 or so of the seat back will be the vinyl, and well as the leading edge of the seat bottom.

EDIT:  I have not ordered these fabrics, which were chosen for the project in 2001.  Since that time, I have looked at many fabrics, and will most likely not use the fabrics from Lebaron Bonney, but something similar available locally.

wool
vinyl
headlining
windlace
carpet
wool broadcloth
vinyl
headlining
windlace
carpet
 


 
 
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