On a stock Ford 3 passenger bench seat the seatbelts bolt to the bench seat uprights. Each upright has a threaded hole that you use. (Obviously, one half of the seat belt attaches to one upright and the other half of the seat belt attaches to the other upright.) I'm talking about the middle seating position, the outboard positions are shoulder belts. The standard seatbelt bolt that you use is made by Ford and its a Torx 50 head. The seat bracket (that bolts to the floor) that the uprights attaches to also uses a Ford bolt and its a Torx 55 head. Be careful using the Torx bit, they wobble easily. I used a standard 1/4 in socket wrench to start them then finished with a 3/8 in socket wrench.
I have tried matching up the Ford seat bracket bolt at HomeDepot and OSH but have come up empty. It appears to be neither SAE or metric, coarse or fine thread. The only reason I mention this is because of the threaded reinforced holes at pre-determined locations for the bench seat brackets. If you have a passenger van then just any bolt will not thread properly.
Thanks for the great write up. You were 100% correct. I did manage to get a bolt that worked on both seat belt holes but they are tight. Seems odd that Ford would have such as strange threaded bolt hole?
Tonight I am installing the new bench seat. I am going to try and use the holes that are already in the floor. If not, I am going to have to drill through the floor. Any suggestions on how seal the holes? I assume some silicone glue from Home Depot will do it?
Personally I'd use some anti-seize on the threads. Seatbelt bolts are weird, and tough enough to get out with anti-seize. I'd guess it has something to do with having them not back out, etc, but I would try a Ford dealer or wait for the right bolts.
If I can find/locate a source of replacement bolts for the floor I'll let you know. I don't like the Torx and would prefer a simple hex head. That way you're unlikely to strip it (as opposed to a Torx head) and its a lot easier to put in and later take out.
To 'seal' the holes in the floor I didn't want anything like silicone or caulk or any other kind of goop in case I wanted to use the the holes again. (I didn't want anything that could clog or booger up the threads.) A rubber plug might work but I couldn't locate anything I liked so I used packing foam for lack of a better description. It is not styrofoam but is pliable. You often find this material when you purchase small electronics or computers. Cut a piece about 50% bigger than the hole then use a small screwdriver to help cram the 'plug' into the hole.
Sealing off the holes makes the van a little quieter. The plug costs essentially nothing and it doesn't gum up the threads. Because its pliable it doesn't fall out. Worse case it does and you put another piece back in.
About the existing floor holes ... some are easy in that you can see the ground below you. Some are not, they sit above something like the fuel tank or muffler or something. If you have to drill new holes be careful.
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