shoulder belt
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 96
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From: Pikesville MD
shoulder belt
On my 71 Vette I have original seat belts but are in the need of shoulder belts. Does anyone know where I might be able to purchase a original or reproduction shoulder belt at reasonable price? Thanks Ed
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
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Last edited by rihwoods; Feb 21, 2007 at 12:37 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
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From: Albuquerque New Mexico
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
If you have the buckles & hardware, just call around to some fabric supply places. Many carry seat belt webbing material and it is very inexpensive. Buy more than you need, then take hardware and webbing to a racing supply place (which makes racing harnesses) or an upholstery place and they can duplicate you belts. They will cut off most of the old material, leaving enough off the spindle to sew to the new stuff. I replaced all of my belts for less than $100 total using this method.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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Do your seats have guides for the shoulder belt? Mine in a 72 coupe didn't so I ended up fabricating a guide on the b-pillar. The shoulder belt should not point more than 5 (-10?) deg down just behind your chest, or it can injure your spine in a collision. Could be worse than not having the shoulder portion. I ended up using backseat bealts from a 1990 volvo. The pro was that they adder the modern inertial lock mechanism that brakes the belt in the event of heavy acceleration in any direction. I had proffesionals attach them to the locking mechanism.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Pikesville MD
belts
Thanks for all the responses. My seats do have guides but there is no cut out in my carpeting under boot so I guess the carpet was replaced at one point. I think I will not rush into it but look for a good and reasonable set of shoulder belts as my seat belts are original and in good shape.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Good luck in your quest. It is very difficult to find seatbelts for the early 70's C3's; and, if you find them, they are expensive. Hence, my effort to re-web them. I had the original [intact] belts in my car when I bought it...but they were very old and the webbing was used up. The re-web job turned out great, inexpensive; and I even came up with some new manufacturer tags for the belts. Hope you find what you want.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,758
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From: Medford, Or
Do your seats have guides for the shoulder belt? Mine in a 72 coupe didn't so I ended up fabricating a guide on the b-pillar. The shoulder belt should not point more than 5 (-10?) deg down just behind your chest, or it can injure your spine in a collision. Could be worse than not having the shoulder portion. I ended up using backseat bealts from a 1990 volvo. The pro was that they adder the modern inertial lock mechanism that brakes the belt in the event of heavy acceleration in any direction. I had proffesionals attach them to the locking mechanism.
Here's a better solution: Sharkbar harness bar
