Seat Belts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
Seat Belts
I am looking for new 3-point seat belts. Wesco performance has 2 sizes, 120" and 140". Should I get the 120" ? Their price is around $140/set. Are there any other good options? I've heard people use camaro reat belts, but they probably come with the floppy end for a bench seat. By the way, I have the original belts, but they won't work since Bubba has already welded up the retractor compartment under the seats!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I am looking for new 3-point seat belts. Wesco performance has 2 sizes, 120" and 140". Should I get the 120" ? Their price is around $140/set. Are there any other good options? I've heard people use camaro reat belts, but they probably come with the floppy end for a bench seat. By the way, I have the original belts, but they won't work since Bubba has already welded up the retractor compartment under the seats!
If he just welded the pocket shut on the top, just use a grinder and cut out the plate. Don't let Bubba muck up your seatbelt plan.
Unless you're a very girthy guy, the 120" should be fine.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
The original compartment rusted through, so it is gone. I suppose I could fabricate a new compartment. I really don't want to put in new pans. I think I'll just go with the 120" 3-point. Thanks. By the way, the original belts work fine, they just have rust around the retractors. Maybe I could sell them to pay for the new ones?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The original compartment rusted through, so it is gone. I suppose I could fabricate a new compartment. I really don't want to put in new pans. I think I'll just go with the 120" 3-point. Thanks. By the way, the original belts work fine, they just have rust around the retractors. Maybe I could sell them to pay for the new ones?
So long as you have access to some metal tools, you can make a pocket by cutting and bending a sheet of S/S into new pocket, and dropping it through a cutout. Maybe not pretty but it will work. Then either weld it or rivet it in place tot eh existing floor pans.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Kennesaw GA
Hey BillsFan,
If you get the full set of seatbelts from a newer Firebird or Camaro, You can mix and match the set. Use the retractors from the rear seats and the rigid receivers for the front seats. I put a set in my '69 and love them. I had to make up some new brackets for the rear, but overall very worthwhile.
If you get the full set of seatbelts from a newer Firebird or Camaro, You can mix and match the set. Use the retractors from the rear seats and the rigid receivers for the front seats. I put a set in my '69 and love them. I had to make up some new brackets for the rear, but overall very worthwhile.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Hey BillsFan,
If you get the full set of seatbelts from a newer Firebird or Camaro, You can mix and match the set. Use the retractors from the rear seats and the rigid receivers for the front seats. I put a set in my '69 and love them. I had to make up some new brackets for the rear, but overall very worthwhile.
If you get the full set of seatbelts from a newer Firebird or Camaro, You can mix and match the set. Use the retractors from the rear seats and the rigid receivers for the front seats. I put a set in my '69 and love them. I had to make up some new brackets for the rear, but overall very worthwhile.
Can you walk me through that again? More details? I want to get a set of Camaro/Firebird belts, but I'm not even sure which ones to get, and how to mount...or mix and match with the stock stuff. Thanks for the extra details.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
I have the F-body seatbelts in mine. I used the original plastic sleeve off the old ones to make mine ridged.
seatbelt install
seatbelt install
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Kennesaw GA
Durango,
I think mine were from a '93 Firebird (That's what I was told anyway). I'll take some better pictures today when I get home. My biggest problem was that the retractors on the wheelwells had to be mounted 90* from the originals so the locking mechanism would work properly, and I had to make some brackets.
I think mine were from a '93 Firebird (That's what I was told anyway). I'll take some better pictures today when I get home. My biggest problem was that the retractors on the wheelwells had to be mounted 90* from the originals so the locking mechanism would work properly, and I had to make some brackets.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Durango,
I think mine were from a '93 Firebird (That's what I was told anyway). I'll take some better pictures today when I get home. My biggest problem was that the retractors on the wheelwells had to be mounted 90* from the originals so the locking mechanism would work properly, and I had to make some brackets.
I think mine were from a '93 Firebird (That's what I was told anyway). I'll take some better pictures today when I get home. My biggest problem was that the retractors on the wheelwells had to be mounted 90* from the originals so the locking mechanism would work properly, and I had to make some brackets.
That makes sense. I'll look forward to those pics. Thanks so much.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
I am looking for new 3-point seat belts. Wesco performance has 2 sizes, 120" and 140". Should I get the 120" ? Their price is around $140/set. Are there any other good options? I've heard people use camaro reat belts, but they probably come with the floppy end for a bench seat. By the way, I have the original belts, but they won't work since Bubba has already welded up the retractor compartment under the seats!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 64
From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Matt, after 69 the seat belt mounts were on top of the fender wells. You should not need any brackets to fit the Camaro belts in your car. The biggest hurdle is the rear seat belt connections do not fit into the front seat belt connections. As I used to have an upholstery shop, I still have a comercial sewing machine. I was able to switch the rear belt female ends for the front belt ends to get them to work. then all of the plastic supports can be used to hold things in place. I even went a step further and switched male and female buckles for a set from a Caprice to get the GM logo on the buckles. The Camaro buckles are so generic looking IMHO. I have a complete set of Camaro belts available if someone is looking for a set. PM me for a pic. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
I used a retro 3point seatbelt kit from Ecklers that is pretty much a bolt in replacement for late C3's. It only uses 1 retractor by the rear wheelwell mount. They fit and look great for a lot less $$ than having OEM belts refurbished.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
Hey BillsFan,
If you get the full set of seatbelts from a newer Firebird or Camaro, You can mix and match the set. Use the retractors from the rear seats and the rigid receivers for the front seats. I put a set in my '69 and love them. I had to make up some new brackets for the rear, but overall very worthwhile.
If you get the full set of seatbelts from a newer Firebird or Camaro, You can mix and match the set. Use the retractors from the rear seats and the rigid receivers for the front seats. I put a set in my '69 and love them. I had to make up some new brackets for the rear, but overall very worthwhile.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Got a part number handy? I was gonna do a 3-point using late model Camaro belts, and nix the under-seat retractor.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Pampa Tx
The rear belts out of an Oldmobile Aurora fit the original corvette buckle next to the console. The spade is the same size as the original. I found this to be a better fit than the F-body belts.
Phlash 72 BB Roadster
Phlash 72 BB Roadster
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
Here is the link to the Ecklers units
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1707
$259 car set
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1707
$259 car set
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Clovis CA
Here is the link to the Ecklers units
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1707
$259 car set
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1707
$259 car set
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
What years of Aurora cars? They had two or three different models I think.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Pampa Tx
It was a 1995. The rear belt retractors mount high on the rear window shelf in the Aurora, which fits nicely on the rear wheel inner fender mount in the vette. I used these so I didn't have to change out the original buckle next to the console in the vette.
Hope you find some,
Phlash 72 BB Roadster
Hope you find some,
Phlash 72 BB Roadster
Last edited by Phlash; Jan 3, 2007 at 09:26 PM.