[gto4evr]

Hello,

body shop forum that says it's for "general questions that don't fit into other forums" so I'll drop this here.

I was just going through my 74 TSB and came across this bulletin. I've had a 74 Cat, and it definitely didn't not start without the front seatbelts engaged.

Was this some safety plan that never actually took affect? I'm sure there was quite a lot of push back on forced seat belt use back then.

[kingbuzzo]

There is another thread about this somewhere - yes, a '74 only controversial option for sure that owners quickly "fixed"

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by gto4evr

Hello,

body shop forum that says it's for "general questions that don't fit into other forums" so I'll drop this here.

I was just going through my 74 TSB and came across this bulletin. I've had a 74 Cat, and it definitely didn't not start without the front seatbelts engaged.

Was this some safety plan that never actually took affect? I'm sure there was quite a lot of push back on forced seat belt use back then.

It was a safety plan that did take effect.

My '74 Chevelle had the seat belt lock system, and came with a module underhood with a button for an override.

K

[gto4evr]

interesting. my 74 cat must have had the snip and twist treatment long before I got it. thanks for the knowledge update!

[Goatracer1]

I was working at a new car dealer at the time. The new cars came through with Seat Belt Interlock. There was such an out cry from drivers that part way through the year we were allowed to by pass the system. In emergency situations people were panicking and couldn't get their cars started. FYI there was a button in the engine compartment that could be pushed to by pass the system.

[Greg Reid]

My mother bought her first new car when I was 16. It was a 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo and it had that deal where you couldn't start the car unless the seat belt was buckled. I used to buckle it behind me it and sit on it...lol

[72projectbird]

A stupid safety measure, that was so stupid GM reversed course by the next year.

[Entropy11]

I wonder if this measure was a governmental standard across the board in ‘74. I haven’t started working on it yet but our ‘74 ‘Cuda has the seat belt interlock deal with an under the hood mounted override. Was the interlock/disable eventually just downgraded to the annoying buzzer or repetitive chime we have today?

[Keith Seymore]

Yes.

K

[Formulabruce]

I will add. Since I worked on these at my Dealership a few times.
They had a SEAT switch, as well as a seat belt Switch.
We had what they called a "clean bag" in the parts room which was a sand bag, in another plastic bag, and in a clean pillow case. We would connect the seat belts and put this bag on the seat to be able to start automatic cars by just reaching in.
If you had a 4 speed, those two items were also tied into the clutch pedal And reverse lock out.
This involved a module on the firewall, and about 60 feet of wire..
At the dealer, if the car was still under its 5 year warranty, " no touchie" was the word.
I pulled out a huge mess from a Firebird couple years ago.

[tooski]

My 75 FB had an irritating continuous buzzer if the seat belt was not attached with the engine running.