Seat Belts
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Seat Belts
So I've been watching and waiting and watching and waiting in the parts section, and it seems like I NEVER get there in time when someone is parting out a vette...
I need new seat belts. The driver side is freyed, like someone cut it 20 years ago, and then it's just been getting a little worse every year since. And the passenger side no longer adjusts, so that fat folks can't get it on, only skinny people. Which is fine, I guess....but....still.
Anyone know a good place to pick up seat belts for a 76'? I don't care about aftermarket, I have been waiting to buy them because I was planing to install a roll bar, racing seats, and a harness...but that is simply OUT of the budget now, and will be for a couple of years to come. Thanks in advance, guys!
I need new seat belts. The driver side is freyed, like someone cut it 20 years ago, and then it's just been getting a little worse every year since. And the passenger side no longer adjusts, so that fat folks can't get it on, only skinny people. Which is fine, I guess....but....still.
Anyone know a good place to pick up seat belts for a 76'? I don't care about aftermarket, I have been waiting to buy them because I was planing to install a roll bar, racing seats, and a harness...but that is simply OUT of the budget now, and will be for a couple of years to come. Thanks in advance, guys!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Since your long range plan is to go with the roll bar and harness, you might try a "Cheap" alternative. Look for threads on Camaro seat belts here on the forum. Several people have gotten Camaro Seat belts off of Ebay to use as replacement belts. It's worth a shot, and will definitely beat chasing down used originals.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
I had mine redone by these guys quite a few years ago and their work was very good...
http://ssnake-oyl.com/
http://ssnake-oyl.com/
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
OK. Here's the 'budget' method:
Call around to some fabric supply/warehouse stores and ask them if they carry seat belt material [they buy up the ends of rolls and/or discontinued colors, etc.]. Measure up how much you need and add about 6-8 feet so you won't get caught short.
Remove your belt systems...as is...and take the new belt webbing and your set to a shop that does heavy duty stitching work: racing seat belt maker, leather goods store, sail/marine shop, upholstery place, etc. Tell them to re-web your belt systems to look just like your old ones. They will do the rest.
Some stores may not want to do it for "safety" reasons. But, safety is not really a concern with doing this. They should leave about 4-6" of [old] belt webbing still attached to any retractor reels, then overlap the new webbing and stitch them together. The inner portion of the old belt material is probably just as strong as the new stuff, as UV rays cannot get to the inner portions of the belt. I did mine this way and have not had a problem...and, I've had to make a few 'panic' stops in the past 5 years {did you know that there are a lot of idiots on the road these days?
}.
If you can find new webbing in a color that will work, this is the way to go, IMO.
P.S. If the hardware has some problems, you will have to deal with that when they remove webbing. Or, you can purchase some old belts that have bad webbing but good hardware to replace any items you need.
Good luck!!
Call around to some fabric supply/warehouse stores and ask them if they carry seat belt material [they buy up the ends of rolls and/or discontinued colors, etc.]. Measure up how much you need and add about 6-8 feet so you won't get caught short.
Remove your belt systems...as is...and take the new belt webbing and your set to a shop that does heavy duty stitching work: racing seat belt maker, leather goods store, sail/marine shop, upholstery place, etc. Tell them to re-web your belt systems to look just like your old ones. They will do the rest.
Some stores may not want to do it for "safety" reasons. But, safety is not really a concern with doing this. They should leave about 4-6" of [old] belt webbing still attached to any retractor reels, then overlap the new webbing and stitch them together. The inner portion of the old belt material is probably just as strong as the new stuff, as UV rays cannot get to the inner portions of the belt. I did mine this way and have not had a problem...and, I've had to make a few 'panic' stops in the past 5 years {did you know that there are a lot of idiots on the road these days?
}.If you can find new webbing in a color that will work, this is the way to go, IMO.
P.S. If the hardware has some problems, you will have to deal with that when they remove webbing. Or, you can purchase some old belts that have bad webbing but good hardware to replace any items you need.
Good luck!!
