2019GSTX

Hey
Anybody know if the rusty bar the belt goes around will come out of the buckle?
these belts have been stuck for years and I wanna clean them up and put them back together.
‘Thanks in advance!

7T1vette

I would not want to trust my life to those sun-faded, UV damaged seat belts. I don't know how deteriorated the webbing is from many years of sun on them (the most damaging thing for plastics), but I'd guess they have less than 50% of the intended holding power left in them. If "originality" is more important than your life...or those of folks who ride with you....just clean them up. Otherwise, find some replacement [new] webbing material and have those belts refurbished. If all the metal components are still there, you just need to take the complete belt sets and new webbing to someone who has the proper stitching equipment to rebuild those belt sets.

Take lots of pics on how the belts are assembled to aid the 'rebuilder' in how the belts are configured. Cut the buckles off and you can then do any repair on them as needed. When you cut the webbing from the center spool, leave at least 6 inches of the original webbing attached to the spool. This webbing has never seen the light of day and should be almost as strong as when new. This STUB will be used to attach the new webbing using appropriate thread material and stitching pattern.

Clean up your metal pieces and take the photos, metal pieces and webbing to your repair place. They should assemble them in short order (only have to stitch them together) and you can put them back in the car.

I might ask how you got the flexible plastic covers off the buckles and clips? If you haven't removed them yet, YOU DO NOT WANT TO CUT THEM OFF; you need to stick the whole buckle and plastic boot in a big mug of nearly boiling water for about 30 seconds. This will soften the boots and you can pull them off the buckles. Replace them with the same process. Or, it might be that the '68 didn't have those boots;

2019GSTX

Thanks 7T1.....
As for the "plastic covers" and "spool", no such thing on this '68 Vert. Just webbing and the buckles.
I'll see what SSnake-Oyl can do for me since they are in state....
Agree they are due a change!

7T1vette

Dandy. I will only say that new S-O belts will cost you about $300. New webbing material and repair of your existing belts would be less than $100. Just sayin'....

2019GSTX

Cool...thanks for the pricing info....I'll take them off tonite and send 'em over for an eval....hardware/buckles are all good, just need new webbing.

7T1vette

You can find belt webbing on-line or at larger fabric warehouses. They buy up all the excess production stock.