Posted By: cudabitten
Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bolts? - 12/12/09 11:23 PM
Hi, what is the purpose of these pads? What are they made of? Are they available? Any info is appreciated.
Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bolts?
Posted By: bobbyb
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bolts? - 12/13/09 03:51 AM
I think I had the same thing on my car. Its a 69 RRunner and it had what looked like stainless or aluminum squares stuck over the seat belt holes. It was kinda odd cause it looked like they had been there awhile. I have no reason why they were there, but hope maybe someone might have an explanation.
Posted By: Snoopy
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bolts? - 12/13/09 05:16 AM
What year and model.
Posted By: Runnin74
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 06:48 PM
Like these? I think they were seals on the seatbelt bolts that went through the floorboards. These are from my 74 Road Runner.
It is a rubbery material and there are voids (air bubbles) in the face that was against the floorboard. I doubt it was something applied wet on the floorboards - more likely they were made on some other substrate then peeled off and applied to the floorboards before the bolts went in.
Upon further consideration the color on the topside is gold overspray from when the car was painted. These were definitely in place well before the bolts went into the holes. Could have been applied wet to the floorboards, although that would be awful time consuming on an assembly line.
It is a rubbery material and there are voids (air bubbles) in the face that was against the floorboard. I doubt it was something applied wet on the floorboards - more likely they were made on some other substrate then peeled off and applied to the floorboards before the bolts went in.
Upon further consideration the color on the topside is gold overspray from when the car was painted. These were definitely in place well before the bolts went into the holes. Could have been applied wet to the floorboards, although that would be awful time consuming on an assembly line.
Posted By: Snoopy
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 07:16 PM
I wonder if someone on the line failed to remove the paint plug before installing the seat belts?
Posted By: Runnin74
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 07:21 PM
I'll bet that's it! Thanks Snoopy.
Posted By: 1_WILD_RT
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 07:44 PM
Quote:
I wonder if someone on the line failed to remove the paint plug before installing the seat belts?
Ding Ding Ding Winner Winner Chicken Dinner...
Posted By: cudabitten
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 09:17 PM
Thanks,
If thats true then I will remove these before I re-finish my floors. I was thinking they were a gasket to seal out water? Found some missed welds too, so this does not surprize me.
If thats true then I will remove these before I re-finish my floors. I was thinking they were a gasket to seal out water? Found some missed welds too, so this does not surprize me.
Posted By: Snoopy
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 09:22 PM
I looked through all my parts books and the few assembly drawings I have and was unable to find any reference to anything between the seatbelt anchor and the floor.
It wasn't until Runnin74 posted his pictures that I connected them with instruction number 1 on one of the assembly prints.
Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words.
It wasn't until Runnin74 posted his pictures that I connected them with instruction number 1 on one of the assembly prints.
Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words.
Posted By: burdar
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 10:17 PM
Snoopy, what year is your assembly print from. Is is possible that in earlier years, they were supposed to remove the plug...but then discovered later that it was a waist of time and just left them on? I found some reddish/brown RTV like stuff under the seat belt bolts on my 73 Challenger. It looks to be the same thing as was pictured.
Posted By: 44D6PAKCUDA
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 10:26 PM
My '70 Duster still has them on the floor pan on every seat belt hole.
Posted By: Snoopy
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/13/09 11:50 PM
Quote:
Snoopy, what year is your assembly print from. Is is possible that in earlier years, they were supposed to remove the plug...but then discovered later that it was a waist of time and just left them on? I found some reddish/brown RTV like stuff under the seat belt bolts on my 73 Challenger. It looks to be the same thing as was pictured.
Feb 3, 1970. My guess is that it wasn't a make or break thing for inspection. The only down side would be the loosing of the bolt do to the compressibility of the soft plug. Because the bolt goes into a weld-nut, the pad would serve no purpose . If sealing was a problem, they could have used a sealant on the bolt threads or used an encapsulated nut.
Posted By: RestoRick
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/14/09 02:10 AM
I believe these are sealing squares used over the seat belt bolt holes, much like the smear of tar often found.
I think the plugs used in the seat belt bolt holes referred to in Snoopy's document are the black rubber plugs seen in the picture below.
I've found them under carpeting numerous times.
Rick
I think the plugs used in the seat belt bolt holes referred to in Snoopy's document are the black rubber plugs seen in the picture below.
I've found them under carpeting numerous times.
Rick
Posted By: mopargem
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/14/09 03:01 AM
Quote:
Thanks,
If thats true then I will remove these before I re-finish my floors. I was thinking they were a gasket to seal out water? Found some missed welds too, so this does not surprize me.
I've had lots of cars with these square seals, cant remember which cars but have seen it alot.
Posted By: Snoopy
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/14/09 04:47 AM
Rick,
How do explain the paint on the pads?
Maybe the pads where used after the drawing I posted? Assuming that the plugs referenced were like the ones you show in your picture, the pads may have been an engineering solution to disposal problem with the black rubber plugs. It would make since to replace a pain in the butt part that required removal and disposal with a part that could be left in place. This would explain why cars like mine did not have the pad and there was no sign that it had been there and then removed after paint.
Maybe someone with a later drawing can shed some light on the subject.
How do explain the paint on the pads?
Maybe the pads where used after the drawing I posted? Assuming that the plugs referenced were like the ones you show in your picture, the pads may have been an engineering solution to disposal problem with the black rubber plugs. It would make since to replace a pain in the butt part that required removal and disposal with a part that could be left in place. This would explain why cars like mine did not have the pad and there was no sign that it had been there and then removed after paint.
Maybe someone with a later drawing can shed some light on the subject.
Posted By: MonGoo$e
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/14/09 04:58 AM
I have always seen those in my cars i removed carpet on. Thought they were a seal of some sort.
74 Duster
73 Dart Sport
74 Dart Sport
74 Challenger
73 Duster
74 Duster
73 Dart Sport
74 Dart Sport
74 Challenger
73 Duster
Posted By: RestoRick
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/14/09 05:18 AM
Quote:
Rick,
How do explain the paint on the pads?
Maybe the pads where used after the drawing I posted? Assuming that the plugs referenced were like the ones you show in your picture, the pads may have been an engineering solution to disposal problem with the black rubber plugs. It would make since to replace a pain in the butt part that required removal and disposal with a part that could be left in place. This would explain why cars like mine did not have the pad and there was no sign that it had been there and then removed after paint.
Maybe someone with a later drawing can shed some light on the subject.
I'm speculating too...
Paint on them would be a matter of when they were stuck on... the tar sealer they used was smeared on after dip gray, but before topcoat painting.
Yes, I could see where it could've been a two-part solution... seal the threads from paint & later poke the bolt through with no rubber plugs laying around.
I can imagine those plugs ending up on the floor could've been a real tripping-slipping hazard!
Posted By: Snoopy
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/14/09 06:50 AM
Quote:
I'm speculating too...
Me too.
I am afraid that without a source to every factory print, engineering change notice, memo, TSB and anything else Chrysler used to convey production line changes. Sometimes we are reduced to educated guesses. I am glad that we have people like you, Joe, Barry, Terry, Jules, Dave Walden, Bill and all the other people that take the time to document unmolested cars and are willing to share their knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.
Posted By: aarcuda
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/16/09 06:04 PM
my theory is the pads were protection to the floor from the seat belt mounts and a seal to keep out moisture from gathering in the recessed area which could weaken the seat belt attachment area.
this is MY theory
this is MY theory
Posted By: cataclysm80
Re: Square sticky pads on floor pans under seat belt bo - 12/17/09 02:38 AM
Tav