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I recently now have a 1970 coupe (added to my 1999 coupe). Was my father's and he can no longer operate the clutch. Originally a 350/350 4-Speed with AC... that has been completely remade quite well (not perfectly though) into an LT-1 clone. To me that is OK, I can drive and enjoy a beautiful and amazing running machine without worrying about keeping it perfect. In the era of resto-mods, think of it a resto-mod using period only parts.
I'm working on the few items that are not quite right for the clone (yes, the AC is a problem and need to replace the tach). There's two items (so far) that I have not been able to identify. Pictures are attached.
One, are the seat covers.... seems like a cover was used without the shoulder harness pass through. There are no shoulder harnesses in the car. Was this at all a Chevrolet configuration or simply a selection of the previous modifier?
Second, what is this lever that is located in the luggage area on the wheel well? There is one on the driver and passenger side. They move fore and aft about an inch.
Again, thanks in advance to all the forum experts.
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Last edited by John Rambo; Nov 17, 2025 at 04:22 PM.
Reason: Spelling
Hello,
Welcome!
First post!!
Very nice car!!!
Here are photos of the shoulder belt retractor, the plastic cover for the retractor, and the trim on the top of the seat that the belt passes through.
Regards..
The vinyl is not yet cut for the belt to pass through.
One, are the seat covers.... seems like a cover was used without the shoulder harness pass through. There are no shoulder harnesses in the car. Was this at all a Chevrolet configuration or simply a selection of the previous modifier?
Second, what is this lever that is located in the luggage area on the wheel well? There is one on the driver and passenger side. They move fore and aft about an inch.
.
All C3 coupes had shoulder belts as standard equipment starting in '68 -- they were optional on convertibles (that makes sense, right?) until they were discontinued for '76. It looks like the last person to recover the seats did not install the pass-through trim. The front trim piece will tighten the upper part of the cover, but in order to install them, you'll need to access the frame from the back.
I've no clue what the levers are for. Looking in the wheel wells, is there anything connected to them? BTW, I don't see the "coachman" loops for the t-top straps that should be on top of the first step from the storage floor, .
On the seat covers, I have thought the same as you about just the missing trim. But I was unsure about the seam in the headrest area. "Correct" cars have no seam in the center of the headrest area; mine has a vertical seam. Is this just a nuance of the cover used or could there be different seat backs in the car? I don't want to go cutting covers if the frames are incorrect.
I believe the 'levers' that you're seeing are the mounting tabs for the shoulder harness covers. I've circled the driver's side in the photo below. In my photo the bracket appears to be in-line with the back edge of the storage compartment openings, similar to where it appears in your photo. I'm guessing here, but perhaps someone put some sort of black plastic piece on it to make it look less ugly. And if I recall correctly, the bracket, attached with a rivet, would pivot back and forth in a small, short arc, seeming like it may be a lever.
On the seat covers, I have thought the same as you about just the missing trim. But I was unsure about the seam in the headrest area. "Correct" cars have no seam in the center of the headrest area; mine has a vertical seam. Is this just a nuance of the cover used or could there be different seat backs in the car? I don't want to go cutting covers if the frames are incorrect.
Thanks again!
The center seam is right for '70+ and your center vertical panels match '70-'71.
Originally Posted by John Rambo
Thank you. Everyone seems to agree the levers ar part of the shoulder harness trim mount.
Here's another Alan pic from 2017 showing the reel, cover mount, and coachman loop to the left, rear of the shoulder harness mount.
Help identify two items
