Aussie
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Newcastle Australia
Aussie
i have just had my 1981 C3 delivered to Sydney what is the go with the seat belts as they do not lock up I previously had a C4 it was the same I replaced its belts am I wasting money is their an easy fix.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,651
Likes: 3,110
From: Shamong, NJ
Are you saying the retractors won't lock up at all, or that they keep the belts tight against you at all times?
The early retractor belts lock under braking, by a sort of inertia switch, but they do not lock any other time. Unlike the retractor in newer belts, that lock and hold a position, when you put the belts on, the older retractors keep constant pressure on the belts. If the retractors are working properly, a really quick, sharp pull on them, should lock them up, but they should move freely the rest of the time.
The early retractor belts lock under braking, by a sort of inertia switch, but they do not lock any other time. Unlike the retractor in newer belts, that lock and hold a position, when you put the belts on, the older retractors keep constant pressure on the belts. If the retractors are working properly, a really quick, sharp pull on them, should lock them up, but they should move freely the rest of the time.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,177
Likes: 7,780
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I am in Queensland. However, it makes no difference. Seatbelts in Australia MUST be Australian standard. You must take out the good ones and put in the junk single retractor orange buckle garbage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia