Seat Belts

[TimAT]

I'm finally getting around to new carpet in the 69.. Only had it for 2 years, don't know why I'm in such a hurry!

Anyway, the original seat belts look pretty much OK for 40 years old. I know I should replace them but cheap is the word for now.

Question is, How do I wash them? The buckles would beat the crap out of the washer and dryer. So just scrub them in a bucket? What soap?

 

[MYBAD79]

Rear 93-02 F-body seatbelts are $50 on Ebay (or www.car-parts.com).... it's really not worth the effort and time cleaning yours..... The F-body belts fit your Vette just fine ... Sell your old seat belts for $1200 NCRS correct dollars on Ebay.... :2nd::2nd::lol:

 

[BBShark]

I washed some with Woollite. It is supposed to be less caustic than detergent cleaners.

 

[AJ77]

I used a can of spray foam carpet cleaner on mine. They came out almost like new.

 

[TimAT]

Thanks all for the input.. Didn't have any Woolite- Ended up with some Dawn dish soap in a bucket. Amazing how much dirt came out of that webbing. Rinsed and hung up to dry. Look nearly new.

 

[mrvette]

Thanks all for the input.. Didn't have any Woolite- Ended up with some Dawn dish soap in a bucket. Amazing how much dirt came out of that webbing. Rinsed and hung up to dry. Look nearly new.

Dawn is the majic cleaner used by pro window washers....dunno jack about what it would do to the webbing over time though....

:sweat:

 

[TimAT]

I figure if it's good enough to get the oil off those sea critters that got dunked by Exxon Valdez, it's good enough for my seatbelts. And they're going to get replaced with some good harness types later anyway.

 

[denpo]

Rear 93-02 F-body seatbelts are $50 on Ebay (or www.car-parts.com).... it's really not worth the effort and time cleaning yours..... The F-body belts fit your Vette just fine ... Sell your old seat belts for $1200 NCRS correct dollars on Ebay.... :2nd::2nd::lol:

Would previous generation (89-92) camaro rear seatbelt work too?

 

[MYBAD79]

Would previous generation (89-92) camaro rear seatbelt work too?

Don't know for sure but I think they're the same in the 82-92 and 93-02 F bodies.... I'd prefer the ones from the newer model just because they're newer (age).

 

[denpo]

That's it, found a pair of camaro 94 seatbelt from the scrapyard.
I found the stock seatbelts impossible to remove with the hardware I have, does it take a pneumatic drill to remove?

 

[mrvette]

Kroil, or other penetrating oil for loosening rusted/frozen bolts, let soak for a day or so, maybe WD40 which I like just as well, but other guys don't.....

course I have impacts and air supply.....:banghead:

 

[denpo]

Reviving an old thread.
5 month after I've bought those Camaro rear seatbelt, I'm finally approaching the put it back together moment, and yet another stupid question.
I guess you have to unseal the fabric to change the shoulder guide, right?
If so how do you sew them back? The seams seems very tight and dense, looks like it take an industrial sewing machine, or maybe a specialized machine.
How did you do?

Note: as a follow up, I never managed to remove the bolt at the rear, good thing I'm putting 'new' seatbelt in a 'new' birdcage.

 

[mrvette]

Reviving an old thread.
5 month after I've bought those Camaro rear seatbelt, I'm finally approaching the put it back together moment, and yet another stupid question.
I guess you have to unseal the fabric to change the shoulder guide, right?
If so how do you sew them back? The seams seems very tight and dense, looks like it take an industrial sewing machine, or maybe a specialized machine.
How did you do?

Note: as a follow up, I never managed to remove the bolt at the rear, good thing I'm putting 'new' seatbelt in a 'new' birdcage.

Years ago on another car, up north, I had a similar problem, took it to my trim guy, and he told me that IN FACT he was NOT ALLOWED to restitch seat belts....I just glared....he explained it was against federal? law....highway safety shit....it was Maryland, after all, about as anal as Kalifornica on that sort of shit....so seeing as I was a good customer over many cars, he did it anyway on his super duper machine....that thing could stitch steel to concrete....he did the whole pattern and rep rate just fine....some time later he did a modification to a seat belt for my job useage...special tie down strap stronger than dirt.....

:crap::quote::surrender:

edit....I have had various belts apart and slid the webbing off the rotor/catch and then put back together, been fine....I even modified the catches on my generic belts from Carlisle for use under the seat in my '72 vert here....no shoulder belts....the largest issue is getting that silly white plastic housing off there with that 50 mile long coil spring inside it.....shaft slot on the hooked spring end....rewinding that SOB is one tedious job......it flys you too will think it's a 50 mile spring length....

 

[denpo]

Reviving an old thread.
5 month after I've bought those Camaro rear seatbelt, I'm finally approaching the put it back together moment, and yet another stupid question.
I guess you have to unseal the fabric to change the shoulder guide, right?
If so how do you sew them back? The seams seems very tight and dense, looks like it take an industrial sewing machine, or maybe a specialized machine.
How did you do?

Note: as a follow up, I never managed to remove the bolt at the rear, good thing I'm putting 'new' seatbelt in a 'new' birdcage.

Years ago on another car, up north, I had a similar problem, took it to my trim guy, and he told me that IN FACT he was NOT ALLOWED to restitch seat belts....I just glared....he explained it was against federal? law....highway safety shit....it was Maryland, after all, about as anal as Kalifornica on that sort of shit....so seeing as I was a good customer over many cars, he did it anyway on his super duper machine....that thing could stitch steel to concrete....he did the whole pattern and rep rate just fine....some time later he did a modification to a seat belt for my job useage...special tie down strap stronger than dirt.....

:crap::quote::surrender:

edit....I have had various belts apart and slid the webbing off the rotor/catch and then put back together, been fine....I even modified the catches on my generic belts from Carlisle for use under the seat in my '72 vert here....no shoulder belts....the largest issue is getting that silly white plastic housing off there with that 50 mile long coil spring inside it.....shaft slot on the hooked spring end....rewinding that SOB is one tedious job......it flys you too will think it's a 50 mile spring length....

Thanks you Gene.
You're always near, hidden in a dark corner, ready to stab me with a reply.:clap:
If I read you well in you edited in part, you're saying it would be easier and more legal to dismantle the rolling mechanism, insert the correct guide and put it back together?

 

[mrvette]

Reviving an old thread.
5 month after I've bought those Camaro rear seatbelt, I'm finally approaching the put it back together moment, and yet another stupid question.
I guess you have to unseal the fabric to change the shoulder guide, right?
If so how do you sew them back? The seams seems very tight and dense, looks like it take an industrial sewing machine, or maybe a specialized machine.
How did you do?

Note: as a follow up, I never managed to remove the bolt at the rear, good thing I'm putting 'new' seatbelt in a 'new' birdcage.

Years ago on another car, up north, I had a similar problem, took it to my trim guy, and he told me that IN FACT he was NOT ALLOWED to restitch seat belts....I just glared....he explained it was against federal? law....highway safety shit....it was Maryland, after all, about as anal as Kalifornica on that sort of shit....so seeing as I was a good customer over many cars, he did it anyway on his super duper machine....that thing could stitch steel to concrete....he did the whole pattern and rep rate just fine....some time later he did a modification to a seat belt for my job useage...special tie down strap stronger than dirt.....

:crap::quote::surrender:

edit....I have had various belts apart and slid the webbing off the rotor/catch and then put back together, been fine....I even modified the catches on my generic belts from Carlisle for use under the seat in my '72 vert here....no shoulder belts....the largest issue is getting that silly white plastic housing off there with that 50 mile long coil spring inside it.....shaft slot on the hooked spring end....rewinding that SOB is one tedious job......it flys you too will think it's a 50 mile spring length....

Thanks you Gene.
You're always near, hidden in a dark corner, ready to stab me with a reply.:clap:
If I read you well in you edited in part, you're saying it would be easier and more legal to dismantle the rolling mechanism, insert the correct guide and put it back together?

Yes, that is the short form description of what I have done on several occasions over the years....also to include the shark....both shoulder straps and belts.....I just stayed with the belts the way the shark came....even though I do have the hole for the shoulder belts....but like I said, be super duper careful when removing that white housing, you let that spring outta there it's like trying to put a fart back in.....:shocking::beer:

 

[Fuelie74]

When I did mine I just removed the male buckle from the seat belt and fished it threw the shoulder harness loop.
Here you can see that with the buckle removed you can fish the belt through and don't need to mess with the stitching.

 

[denpo]

When I did mine I just removed the male buckle from the seat belt and fished it threw the shoulder harness loop.
Here you can see that with the buckle removed you can fish the belt through and don't need to mess with the stitching.

Thanks fuelie, your picture is worth thousands of words. It make realize I was thinking the whole thing the wrong way.
First I'm gonna forget about killing my stock seat belts just for the shoulder guides, that's plain stupid I'll get another pair at the scrapyart, and then, as you said, removing the male buckle.
I'm going a little further, removing the plastic housing and the little plastic guide, because it puts the belt in the wrong direction and when breaking would had some loose to the belt in case of crash. Looks like the stock plastic casing can be put back.

 

[Fuelie74]

I used the shoulder harness bracket off a S10. I would of rather used a Corvette bracket because it positions the belt lower on your shoulder or neck. Also if you want to keep you stock metal female buckles like I did then you can use the male ends from the rear metal lap belt in a mid 90's GM car.

 

[denpo]

I used the shoulder harness bracket off a S10. I would of rather used a Corvette bracket because it positions the belt lower on your shoulder or neck. Also if you want to keep you stock metal female buckles like I did then you can use the male ends from the rear metal lap belt in a mid 90's GM car.

Being 6'6'' I'm not sure I want the shoulder bracket at the stock position, however I'll have a look male buckle you're talking about.
Thanks.

 

[mrvette]

Being 6'6'' I'm not sure I want the shoulder bracket at the stock position, however I'll have a look male buckle you're talking about.
Thanks.

Jesus man, I"m 6'5" and for that reason I never messed with the shoulder straps in the shark....the motor home don't have them either, but like my old Dodge work vans, the seat belts probably would get slammed in the doors all the time there, chebby or not....so once again, not to bother, but I do think second thoughts for Linda....:shocking::idea::search: