Author Topic: Child Car seat in an Cuda  (Read 7771 times)

Offline GreenFish

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Child Car seat in an Cuda
« on: July 11, 2012 - 09:16:58 PM »
Hey guys, any of you put a car seat in your Cuda or Challenger to take the little ones for a ride? How did you mount it?  Rear seat belts? did you rig up a more secure solution?

thanks
70 cuda, 440, KB pistons, 10.5:1 compression, edlebrock heads,RacerBrown cam, 5-Speed Tremec, Megasquirt EFI




Offline burdar

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2012 - 09:29:27 PM »
My guess is that you'd have to attach a top anchor to the package tray.  Just the lap belt isn't going to be enough.  Package trays are cheap.  You could always buy another one after the kids are older.  It might be a good idea to put a thicker plate on the trunk side of the package tray.  I'd be afraid of the anchor pulling out.  As long as the anchor was tight, you probably wouldn't have to weld that plate in.  Tension would keep it from rattling.

I don't know how you'd secure a booster seat though.  You'll need a shoulder strap for those.  I wonder what the laws are on this?  I might check with the local PD or DMV and see what they say.  When it comes to child safety, you don't want to mess around.  People get arrested for the littlest things anymore.

Offline GreenFish

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2012 - 09:50:07 PM »
I was thinking the same thing,  a third anchor point welded in. Possibly in the trunk and route the strap through the package tray. Going to have to give this one some thought.
70 cuda, 440, KB pistons, 10.5:1 compression, edlebrock heads,RacerBrown cam, 5-Speed Tremec, Megasquirt EFI

Offline 72cudamaan

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2012 - 10:27:46 PM »
My guess is that you'd have to attach a top anchor to the package tray.  Just the lap belt isn't going to be enough.  Package trays are cheap.  You could always buy another one after the kids are older.  It might be a good idea to put a thicker plate on the trunk side of the package tray.  I'd be afraid of the anchor pulling out.  As long as the anchor was tight, you probably wouldn't have to weld that plate in.  Tension would keep it from rattling.

I don't know how you'd secure a booster seat though.  You'll need a shoulder strap for those.  I wonder what the laws are on this?  I might check with the local PD or DMV and see what they say.  When it comes to child safety, you don't want to mess around.  People get arrested for the littlest things anymore.

Unless car seats have changed that much, our car seats always attached in the back seat
only by the lap belt. Now that I think about it I guess that was 14 or 15 years ago.
If I cant fix it, it's broke
 
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Offline Sleepychallenger

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2012 - 10:31:48 PM »
I have put my kids in there with just the lap belts. My car seat when I was a small on (26 years ago) it was held in the same way.

Offline HEMIHUNTER

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2012 - 11:06:53 PM »
the quick release seats ONLY require the lap belt... the full race car style seat will need the strap through the package tray
1971 Barracuda Convertible  #'s 318/904
1968 Barracuda Fastback   Built 360/ R727
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Offline burdar

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2012 - 11:35:26 PM »
The very first seat my son used had a base the the seat snapped into.  The base just used the lap belt.  That was for rear facing use only.  When we turned the seat around, it used an upper strap.  The booster seats don't accually get strapped to the car.  The kid just sits in it and you use the regular seat belt.(with shoulder strap)  I doubt you can use those with just a lap belt.  That's what I'd talk to the PD about.  They have classes every year around here where they show you the proper way to install a car seat.  They should know what to do.

In a situation like this, I wonder if you are allowed to put the car seat in front?

During the 4th, there were classic cars in the parade we watched.  There were small kids sitting on their parents laps.  I was shocked that they were allowed to do that.  Yes, the speeds are very low but it only takes one person complaining to the PD and you'll be arrested.  I wouldn't have a problem doing that in a parade but other people are way too uptight.  I'd be the one to get arrested on felony child endangerment.

Offline Super Blue 72

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2012 - 11:42:55 PM »
A lot of the newer car seats use the LATCH system.  It basically has clasps that attach at the top of the seat and a strap that has the clasps on both ends.  Newer cars have anchor points that these clasps hook on to.

http://www.fourby4.com/?tag=latch-installation




1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

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Offline burdar

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2012 - 11:47:30 PM »
Yep, if you add a thick plate under the package tray in the truck, you could use that strap.  No need to go down into the trunk floor.

Offline Super Blue 72

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2012 - 11:49:47 PM »
Oh, while on this topic, I saw this 12 second Buick...with a full roll cage and a baby seat in the front!  Rear seats were taken out for the cage.  Not sure how the baby seat strapped in.
1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

Pic #2 and 3 of my ARII 1/24 scale model car 

Phil in New England-Massachusetts  Always thank God for what you have!

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/456046/1972-dodge-challenger

Offline nqkjw

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2012 - 05:59:05 AM »
We in Australia are well versed in this.
As part of our compliancing to register an imported car in Australia seatbelts must be upgraded to Australian Design Regulations which includes baby restraint anchors.
The anchors are a 5/16"UNC nut welded to the underside of a 2"x1"x1/8" plate.The corners of the plate are to have a 1/4" radius and the upper edge of the plate is to be chamfered.
The plate is then attached (pop rivetting is acceptable)to the underside of the parcel tray.
To finish it off neatly I just push in a ChristmasTree clip.
Australia has the most stringent regulations in the world governing seat belts and anchor points.
Hope this info helps.
Burnouts are cool but Traction is the Action

Offline spamtank

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2012 - 06:16:00 AM »
I once put my daughter in a booster seat in the back of the challenger.  Because of the geometry, the lap belt pulled down over her the top of her thighs.  I felt this was much more dangerous than putting her in without the booster seat, since the belt was not on her torso in any way. 

Our daughter will be 6 in a few weeks, so I will no longer be breaking the law.  But I'm going to inquire with the PD just the same.

In NH, our law reads:

"Child Car Seat

Kids under six or under 55 inches tall must ride in a federally-approved safety seat or booster.

If you're in the market for one, you can shop online for a child car seat any time of day. When ordering, make sure the car seat matches your child's weight, height and age."
Rick, Manchester, NH
1970 SE 383 2V AT Challenger
1977 M882/W200 Power Wagon
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Offline Jesus H Chrysler

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2012 - 06:39:55 AM »
I'm a certified child safety seat installer for my agency.  I have had MANY vehicles come in to put seats in, but never a vintage car.  That being said, as long as your seat belts are in good shape (you do inspect them, right?) they should be fine to secure a child seat into a car.

There is a system called LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tethers) that makes it MUCH easier to install modern seats in modern cars.  The upside is that manufacturers have LATCH retrofit kits for some vehicles that allow you to put the lower anchors in.  Unfortunately they don't go back to the 70's but you may be able to modify the kit to fit.  Understand you're taking all the liability at this point.  And I said easier, not safer.  Seat belts in good condition are just as safe as a properly installed LATCH system.  The LATCH is better only because its far easier to use and harder to make a mistake. 

Also from a legality standpoint, to my knowledge you can have a child seat in the front of a NON air bag equipped car.  Air bags and child seats have been proven fatal when used together (the air bag is expecting a 150 pound adult, not a 7 pound child encased in hard plastic).  But before you do, check local laws or run it by the PD.  Realize some cops may not know the law intimately so do some digging online for the actual chapter and section if you can find it.

Personally, I'd be fine with putting my child in the back seat (front only if necessary, or parade) with only good safe factory belts holding the seat in.
Yes I own a 1972 Dodge Challenger Convertible T/A S/E with a 440 Six Pak. Can it get any more wrong?

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Greg, in the middle of MA has:
1970 Dodge Coronet 440 "Zom Bee"
1972 Dodge Challenger convertible 440 5 speed.
1973 Dodge Challenger 318 "Brown Bomber"
2012 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Blackberry Pearl.
2001 Jeep Wrangler locked, lifted and lighted.  "Jeep is a registered trademark of Chrysler Corporation"

Offline GreenFish

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2012 - 08:20:24 AM »
Thanks for the replies guys.  Yes I was referring to using the new LATCH system car seats in the cuda, but my car seat also allows for the use of just a seat belt to secure it. I think I would still like to have the upper strap attached so I may be doing a slight modification to the package tray.  New seat belts will be on order soon as the old ones are original to the car. I upgraded the fronts to the retractable 3 points from XV.  (By the way I really like those belts)
70 cuda, 440, KB pistons, 10.5:1 compression, edlebrock heads,RacerBrown cam, 5-Speed Tremec, Megasquirt EFI

Offline burdar

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Re: Child Car seat in an Cuda
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2012 - 08:50:46 AM »
The only other idea I had was if you could run the top strap between the seat back and the package tray....then down under the seat and use an existing seat belt bolt.  It would be a chore getting it hooked up but you wouldn't have to mod the car in any way.  You'd just need to put something between the seat back and the strap so it didn't dig into the vynal.