Seat belt re-install HELP

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Nov 20, 2005 | 08:49 PM

A72COUPEDT

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 440

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From: Jupiter fla

Seat belt re-install HELP

Fresh carpet...and I am re-installing my fresh sSnake-Oyle restored seat belts. My vehicle NEVER had shoulder belts since my ownership, that's why I'm asking for help here. I need help with the shoulder retractors. One side of the retractor has a round spool and the other side is tear drop shaped. Is there a "correct" installation for these shoulder belts? Or simply put...round side(spool)facing the outside or facing inside? Let me have it.

Thanks!

Dave

Nov 20, 2005 | 09:17 PM

Sprzout

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 1,078

Likes: 0

From: Santee CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by A72COUPEDT

Dave

Well, you should have 2 retractors on each belt. The one that looks like a spool bolts to the bottom of the car, under the seat, with the spool feeding out towards the door. The other one sits behind the seat above the rear tire, and feeds off towards the steering wheel.

Make sure you you have the belts twisted properly (get the retractors bolted in first and do a test buckle to make sure that the belt isn't twisted wrong where it's going to annoy, or worse, bind every time you pull the belt) BEFORE you bolt the covers/trim work/seats down!!!

I installed the seats, covers, etc. and then jumped in the driver's seat, only to discover that I'd not paid attention to the strap twisting and had to pull it all out of the car to fix it. Pain in the butt!

Nov 21, 2005 | 12:37 AM

A72COUPEDT

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 440

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From: Jupiter fla

I just wanted to make sure

on the shoulder belts proper position.
They seem to work on either side....
There has to be a LEFT and a RIGHT!

Thanks for your time to explain your shortcut.

Dave

Nov 21, 2005 | 02:29 AM

Sprzout

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 1,078

Likes: 0

From: Santee CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by A72COUPEDT

I just wanted to make sure

on the shoulder belts proper position.
They seem to work on either side....
There has to be a LEFT and a RIGHT!

Thanks for your time to explain your shortcut.

Dave

Yes, with the factory belts, there IS a left and a right side. Easiest way to determine this is that the buckle should point towards the front of the car.

If they're pointing towards the ceiling and there's no twist in the belts, then you've got them installed on the wrong sides of the car.

Now, with some of the other brands of belts, left and right don't make a bit of difference. The ones I just installed don't matter which side you install them on because of the fact that there's just one retractor and a sliding buckle. They're not as nice as the factory ones, but when I look at the cost of what I paid for them and what I would have paid to get new belts, I'm not disappointed.

Nov 21, 2005 | 09:18 AM

LYLE

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 2,140

Likes: 7

From: Ohio

Original seat belts for 71-73 Corvettes have no left and right. They are all the same both lap and shoulder.

Nov 21, 2005 | 10:37 AM

A72COUPEDT

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 440

Likes: 0

From: Jupiter fla

Quote:

Originally Posted by A72COUPEDT

I just wanted to make sure

on the shoulder belts proper position.
They seem to work on either side....
There has to be a LEFT and a RIGHT!

Thanks for your time to explain your shortcut.

Dave

As you can see "they seem to work either side"
I kinda thought it DID NOT make a difference.

Thanks for ALL the kind responses!