Has anyone installed factory shoulder belts in their car? I was wondering how difficult the installation was as well as the cost of the parts?

Also would an early 66 couple have all the brackets needed?

Thanks for the help.

 

Judging from my car (Jan. '66), you probably don't have the body reinforcements, but I think they could be added.

I believe one of the Canadian members added shoulder belts to his '67 - perhaps he'll advise as to the difficulty.

 

I am the Canadian member who did it a year ago. What questions do you have?





I doubt that an early 1966 will have the body brackets but they can be added. Mine were in place already.

 

Thanks for the pictures...Where did you purchse the belts and what was the price range?

 

I purchased the belts from the people at the site below. The price showing is $295. I paid extra for spare webbing to redo my lap belts if need be. It is virtually impossible to get an exact colour match after 38 years of wear-and-tear.

http://www.corvetteusa.com/seatbelts.html

 

I went the self-help approach and put in modern inertial reel lap/shoulder belts in my 67, so I can move and not be strapped down in one position, and the belts will cinch up in a crash. I used to have factory belts, but I didn't like the location of the factory shoulder-belt buckle, right in the middle of my chest. The setup I put in costs around $250 for both seats.







Wish my pics were as nice as yours, Paul -- are you a pro photographer or what?

Louie

 

Louie,
I have always admired your seatbelt setup. Very innovative!

The camera is a Sony Cyber-shot 5.0 Mega-Pixel. I shoot at ~1.260 and dumbdown/edit/sharpen-up to 600 for posting. That preserves the pic quality and fits on the Forum page.

BTW, my car went into the paintshop this week. It is and will remain a certain shade of green . I have the BB hood and this is where I am heading. Not correct (the hood or the black stinger) but I like the look and as many have said, "It's your car!" OK, I do have a redundant position: the SB hood will be painted at the same time in case a future owner wants to be a little more original.

 

Your car sure doesn't LOOK like it needed paint! Good to know you will keep it the perfect color of green.

The lighting in your pics always seems to be perfect. Must be those northern lights

 

Louie,
That lacquer paint was very nice but 15-years-old. I am going for my version of perfection. Not NCRS, but my version, and that is not a knock on those good folks. Pics should be up by May.

 

Paul,
Those will be great pictures to see. With a new paint job, and your picture taking ability, we'll all have to wear sunglasses!

Louie

 

Louie,
What can I say? Lot of dollars involved here. I do not have a Barrett-Jackson wallet. I'm just a person who loves this hobby. And am anxious for the snow and ice to go away and this new 1967 to emerge for summer of 2005!

 

According to Noland Adams' Book, the brackets needed for the shoulder harness were absent until Serial # 17,153 and was only randomly attached (to St. Louis bodies only) until Serial # 18,301, at which point they all had them. Makes sense to me as my conv (14,945) does not have them, while my coupe (18,297) does...

 

Did you get the tan plastic ends that cover the anchor bolts?? I thought they were only available in black? I have a green interior with factory harnesses but the covers are missing and have been looking for some green ones.

 

Several vendors sell them in red, black, medium saddle and blue. I have not seen them in green. But you could take the black and use an interior vinyl green dye. I have used those dyes successfully in the past.

 

All I want to say is, "NICE CAR!".

 

LouisM; Do you know what those belts are out of? That set up is just what I need for my convert!

 

OOxfd,
I got the basic setup from PEProducts, then modified the parts. PEProducts is at (805) 528-7888 and online at http://www.peparts.com/ They're in Morro Bay, CA, a tiny coastal town half way between LA and SF. Tell them you want the lap/shoulder belt set up they sold and installed for me, Louie Marincovich, in spring 2003. They should have that info. I think my 67 is the only old Vette they've ever worked on, so they should remember my green roadster. However, in case they don't, the back, side of the main component, the inertial reel with the belt, has the following markings:
HORNLIN IND. INC.
HL-610
ELR-V

I think the two reels will be $200 or so. I can't find the receipt. As you see in my pictures, the reels are a very easy install and come only in black, I think, but they can be dyed. My impression is that these units are for a late model Volkswagen van, but I'm not sure. The belts did have to be shortened by PEP to work in my 67.

I ultimately didn't keep the PEProducts female end of the buckle, the part that bolts next to the console and that the male end of the buckle snaps into, because it was so long/high that the belt rode too high on my abdomen, instead of low on my hips. I replaced the female end with a piece sold by the Andover Co. In retrospect, I should have just called PEP to see if they had a shorter female unit. Andover seems to be the main retailer out there for replacement belts and harnesses. They are at http://www.andoauto.com/ and (410) 381-6700. The part you will want to buy from Andover is the female part of the buckle (bolts in next to the center console). The Andover part number for this is 008395B and is called "buckle assembly with sleeve, black." They cost $12 each, buy two. The female part just bolts in beside the center console, where the seat belt usually goes. I had to trim the plastic sleeve on this part with an Xacto knifeto make it fit over the built-in stud that the seat belt normally attaches to.

The PEP male part proved unsatisfactory after a few thousand miles because by design it did not slide freely along the belt. I replaced it with a part I got in a wrecking yard that does slide freely (lets you move around in the seat) and, of course, latches securely into the Andover female part. In order to replace the PEP male part with the new male part, I had a sail shop do the switch, since they can to the correct/safe/proper sewing to put everything back together. A parachute shop or a place that makes awnings could do this work too.

I've probably put you to sleep by now, but I want to be as detailed as possible, so that it is less of a hassle for you to add this safety equipment. I can tell you that my convertible now feels LOTS safer and I enjoy driving it way more. Peace of mind and protection is what you are installing, not just parts! Let me know if I left anything out or if I confused you.

I added a couple of pics of my latest upgrade, loops on the seatbacks to keep the belts within easy reach. I got these from a 1980s large Cadillac and modified them to fit. I just had to cut off a sort of leg at the base. I'll dye them to match later, I'm too busy enjoying the car now!

Louie

 

LouisM;
I'm not sleeping at all. Thanks for the details. I'll look into it.
Frank.