Grahamred70

I know I'm no racing snake but the only way I can fasten the seat belt is by putting the seat almost right back, I can't see anywhere that the seat belt is snagged or hung up anywhere and the adjustment is all the way out. Is this a standard feature or has someone modified them in the past?


Graham
(now living on dry bread and water)

MelWff

you can remove the seats and carpeting and attach a metal plate between the belt mount on the body and the seat belt. These plates are available from aftermarket seat belt companies or make your own. The other thing you can do is a seat belt extension but that would be visible. Just make sure any nuts/bolts you use are grade 8.

Frankie S.

I have the same issue and bought the seat belt extensions. Not the best looking thing, but works. I'm surprised there isn't anyone that rebuilds the belts, winding an extra 10" of belt onto the spool.

Grahamred70

As far as I can tell my 70 has fixed belts, or am I missing something somewhere?
I only have the lap strap without a shoulder belt, no slot in the seat back so guess it came that way.
Graham

Alan 71

Hi G,
Have you compared the lengths of the 2 driver's belt parts compared to the 2 passenger's side belts?
Might the driver's side belt been shortened because it became frayed?
I'm sorry I don't have a dimension but perhaps this picture will give you something to compare to. Notice the belt is doubled back on itself about to the front of the seat track.
?
Regards,
Alan

Grahamred70

Hi Alan, thanks for your pictures, with the seat right back the inner strap with the buckle on reaches to the front of the seat cushion so looks like it may be a little longer than yours.
The adjustable strap mounted on the door side is about the same length when fully extended so much shorter than yours, the stitching to the mounting plate looks original so it looks like someone has cut off some of the spare strap for some reason!!


Regards
Graham

7T1vette

Probably at the end of the reel on belt material, so they just finished it with a short belt. Your best bet would be to do the metal extension piece under the seat or replace the driver's seat belt to get the 'normal' length belt.

P.S. You can't add 10" of webbing to the stock spool, because it won't re-wind all the way. You'll just have 10" of extra belt hanging loose.

Grahamred70

I had another look at the straps last night and there is a date in 1973 stamped on the buckle strap so that's not original to the car, this is the adjustable one with the buckle attached to the transmission tunnel.
The other strap with the tongue which is attached to the door side is quite short so I think I'll need to get this strap remade with a longer webbing strap.
The bolt which attaches this strap to the car has a large head which obstructs the for and aft movement of the seat, don't know if this is correct or not?


Thanks
Graham

Alan 71

Hi Graham
As you can see in my picture both ends of the fixed 71 belt system is secured with a large diameter but rather 'thin' headed bolt to clear the seat.
I'd think your 70 would be similar.
Regards,
Alan

Grahamred70

Mine are fixed at both ends so will just get a longer strap sewn on to the tongue end of the strap.

Grahamred70

Yes that's more like what I would expect, I'll have to take the seats out to get the bolts out, if they have the shoulder to let the fitting swivel I'll get a friend of mine to turn down the heads a bit otherwise I'll have to try and get the correct ones.


Thanks
Graham

Grahamred70

OK seat out, seat belts out and both bolts just some random 1/2" UNC bolts with thick washers so will get some made up to put it right then a longer strap for the tongue strap and I should be sorted.

Thanks
Graham

7T1vette

Be sure to use Grade 8 bolts for seat retention and seat belt attachments. And, I would not advise modifying any of those bolts. Grade 8 bolts are very hard on the surface and medium-hardened internally. If you grind off the surface hardness, you weaken the fastener substantially. Not something you want to do with your safety equipment. I'd recommend that you purchase the correct fasteners.

Grahamred70

Went with 1/2" UNC 8.8 bolts with a sleeve to create the shoulder so should be sound, the ones I took out were unmarked so it's anybody's guess what they were!
Thanks
Graham