Seatbelt Hell
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Seatbelt Hell
A few years back, I managed to find a set of NOS black seat belts for my 77 (or so I thought). As it turns out, I have two NOS black driver-side seat belt sets (they're marked for a 75, but they look just like my 77 belts). In the irony department, it's my passenger belt that's trashed.
Are the upper and lower retractors the same for both the driver and passenger sets, with the buckle and lower retractor flipped for the passenger side belt? (i.e. could I take the extra set apart at the buckle, flip it, then re-stitch the two belts with heavy thread)?
Does anyone know where I might find the matching passenger belt NOS? I'd be happy to trade the excess driver-side belt for what I need - and I imagine that the driver-side belts are the ones that usually wear out.
Looking at ZIP's webpage, it appears that someone is repopping the 74-77 dual-retractor belts, but they only have them listed as a kit, and it says they ship from an alternate warehouse. Who is making these, and what is the chance of getting them to sell me just the belt assembly for one side?
Are the upper and lower retractors the same for both the driver and passenger sets, with the buckle and lower retractor flipped for the passenger side belt? (i.e. could I take the extra set apart at the buckle, flip it, then re-stitch the two belts with heavy thread)?
Does anyone know where I might find the matching passenger belt NOS? I'd be happy to trade the excess driver-side belt for what I need - and I imagine that the driver-side belts are the ones that usually wear out.
Looking at ZIP's webpage, it appears that someone is repopping the 74-77 dual-retractor belts, but they only have them listed as a kit, and it says they ship from an alternate warehouse. Who is making these, and what is the chance of getting them to sell me just the belt assembly for one side?
Last edited by I'm Batman; Jan 30, 2008 at 05:21 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Texas
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
IF you are very careful, you can remove that pesky white covered side spring, the inner is held much like a window regulator spring into a slot in the drum shaft....you can pull it all apart very carefully to avoid rewinding the spring, don't ask, I did it once, super PIA if you goof....
anyway that whole assy comes outta there, and you can then flip the belt on the drum and restitch nothing.....did this long time ago for another car....same assy as the vette....
in fact I did something similar for this '72 here bought a set of generic belts at Carlisle for ten bux/side...complete...and had to make it extend properly from under the seat and latch correctly....rather simple as I found out.....
I do not recommend restitching, as n fact my trim guy up north stated it was ILLEGAL for him to do.....because of liability issues with patterns and threads and crap he went on about just a very few plants are federal licensed to make the damn things to meet specs....
go figger.....I dunno how much was BS or what.....
anyway that whole assy comes outta there, and you can then flip the belt on the drum and restitch nothing.....did this long time ago for another car....same assy as the vette....
in fact I did something similar for this '72 here bought a set of generic belts at Carlisle for ten bux/side...complete...and had to make it extend properly from under the seat and latch correctly....rather simple as I found out.....
I do not recommend restitching, as n fact my trim guy up north stated it was ILLEGAL for him to do.....because of liability issues with patterns and threads and crap he went on about just a very few plants are federal licensed to make the damn things to meet specs....
go figger.....I dunno how much was BS or what.....
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
IF you are very careful, you can remove that pesky white covered side spring, the inner is held much like a window regulator spring into a slot in the drum shaft....you can pull it all apart very carefully to avoid rewinding the spring, don't ask, I did it once, super PIA if you goof....
anyway that whole assy comes outta there, and you can then flip the belt on the drum and restitch nothing.....did this long time ago for another car....same assy as the vette....
in fact I did something similar for this '72 here bought a set of generic belts at Carlisle for ten bux/side...complete...and had to make it extend properly from under the seat and latch correctly....rather simple as I found out.....
I do not recommend restitching, as n fact my trim guy up north stated it was ILLEGAL for him to do.....because of liability issues with patterns and threads and crap he went on about just a very few plants are federal licensed to make the damn things to meet specs....
go figger.....I dunno how much was BS or what.....
anyway that whole assy comes outta there, and you can then flip the belt on the drum and restitch nothing.....did this long time ago for another car....same assy as the vette....
in fact I did something similar for this '72 here bought a set of generic belts at Carlisle for ten bux/side...complete...and had to make it extend properly from under the seat and latch correctly....rather simple as I found out.....
I do not recommend restitching, as n fact my trim guy up north stated it was ILLEGAL for him to do.....because of liability issues with patterns and threads and crap he went on about just a very few plants are federal licensed to make the damn things to meet specs....
go figger.....I dunno how much was BS or what.....
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
IF you are very careful, you can remove that pesky white covered side spring, the inner is held much like a window regulator spring into a slot in the drum shaft....you can pull it all apart very carefully to avoid rewinding the spring, don't ask, I did it once, super PIA if you goof....
anyway that whole assy comes outta there, and you can then flip the belt on the drum and restitch nothing.....did this long time ago for another car....same assy as the vette....
anyway that whole assy comes outta there, and you can then flip the belt on the drum and restitch nothing.....did this long time ago for another car....same assy as the vette....
