Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

In the older trucks (my case a 1973) is there an upper mounting point for a 3 point seat belt? I would like to get 3 point seat belts installed in my truck.

Update-8-24-2020 The upper mounting points are there!

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

They started in 76, and they looked like these belts. That’s what the extra black box is. Then in 77, they look like the second pic. Which is the more common 3 point seatbelt.
Now as far as being able to add 3 point belts to your truck, I’m not sure. I have heard that someone added the 77-86 belts, but it didn’t fit, the upper retractor hole is not high enough for those belts. I would say you would have to find Blue belts, that have that black retractor box. And since it was just a one year thing, they would be hard to find. I don’t really deal that much in the earlier year trucks, so I really can’t say for sure.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Thanks I will consider my options. May just stick with the lap belts.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Same story here. My ‘76 has the mount points, but only came with lap belts. I assume they were an option.

Thanks @TKCR for the photos of what the 76 3 points look like.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Got a set of Burgundy belts done. These are 84-86.
Before pics.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

And After pics. I also sandblasted the mounts on these.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Another set a seatbelts restored for someone. These are the 81-87 Blue. These were in rough shape. A lot of rust on the buckles and the retractor casing was broken from the mounting tab. A lot of fading in the webbing. Here are the before pics

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

After! Sandblasted & clear coated the mounts. Got the retractor casing reattached to the mounts. Thoroughly cleaned, prepped and dyed the belts.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Eastwood sells spray cans of cast iron, steel, and faux cadmium color paints.
Real cad and zinc plating chemicals are really really toxic so you don't really want to get into plating them.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

TKCLR, your restoring abilities - seatbelts & seats are really amazing!! I am sooo tempted to send you my belts!! I still need to get my sunvisors & just maybe I might send a shipment your way.... hopefully!

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

My 74 has an upper mounting point. You'll have to cut a hole in the plastic trim.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Thank you and I would be happy to do your seatbelts. You can also message me thru my FB Page for my seats. The link is on my Signature.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

But where would that black retractor box go? I have to admit I have never seen this style of seatbelt installed in a truck. I’m more familiar with the 78/79-87 style of seatbelt.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

The black retractor hooks then bolts to the rear pillar. Here is a pic of my 1977 C10 retractor. The bolt is a star head bolt.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Thanks for the pics, that helps a lot :metal:

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Just restored a set of 87 Saddle Tan seatbelts for someone. I don’t usually do this, but he wanted his retractor casings done in Dark Saddle. But they will look good in his truck.
First pic is the Before, they were FILTHY! It took a couple of good hot baths, along with several good scrubbings.
2nd pic, is his truck the belts will be going in.
The rest are AFTER!

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Nice work. Do you install new webbing ?

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

No. Through cleaning. Dye if needed, for the fading.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Got another set done for someone. These are Charcoal.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Restored a set of 1987 Burgundy belts for someone. These were the typical dirty and faded belts. The metal buckles had a bit more rust on them, causing some pitting. I did replace the buckle cover since there was pitting of the metal. Also sandblasted the mounting tabs of the rust.
I will also be the Blue set for the same customer. So check out the Before and After pics.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

After pics!

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Found a repair method for the badly rusted buckles. I was able to get the rust off, but the metal is still pitted. So I removed the cover, and at this time I touched up the inner emblem piece. Then installed a new metal cover.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Man those belts look fantastic.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Well thank you!:metal:

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

So I’ve been working on the Blue 87 belts. Didn’t get a really good before pic of them, but what I do have. I just get started on them and the remember, crap I didn’t get any good before pics! So here’s what I have. On the buckles, I changed out the cover and inner GM emblem button. On of those wasn’t even working. Of course i didn’t get a picture of that, but when I took the buckle apart, it had a wad of chewed gum in a wrapper. It was jammed inside the buckle! No wonder I didn’t work.
Pics 1-3 are before
4 & 5 are after

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

These here, I restored for a good friend of mine. She is doing the interior of her 1966 Chevy Truck. At the present time, she has aftermarket belts, which are too long, and there’s no retractor. So I restored a set of 73-75 belts. The buckle covers were cracked, so we got some new replacement Buckle Cover kits. They came with new buttons and emblems. I sent her home with one of the cracked buckle covers, that I dyed real quick with Dark Saddle, to check the color match. So the retractor casings & buckles are done in Dark Saddle. The webbings are Camel Tan, so those we’re throughly cleaned and dyed with the original color.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Here are the AFTER pics

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Here is a set of Lap Belts only. These were common on the 73-75/76. These are the 77-79 Blue. The seats belts were pretty dirty. I bet I soaked them 6 times in hot soapy water, until the water was no longer looking like chocolate milk, that’s how bad they were. Took everything apart and throughly cleaned everything and prepped for dye. So here they are!
First set of pics are BEFORE

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

And here is the AFTER

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Nice work, as usual Tina. Those look great

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Thank you! These took a lot of work!

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Working on another set of Belts for someone, 1987 Blue. This is something that I do when restoring seatbelts. I take apart the buckle, to clean & lube. This would also be the time to replace the cover, if it is pitted with rust. But occasionally I find foreign objects inside the buckles, that keep them from functioning properly.
Pics are what the buckles looked like Before.
2nd pic, is of the paper stuffed in the buckle.
3rd pic, After cleaning and reassembling.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

The belts in the above post are completed. Here are the pics.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Outstanding workwomenship

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Very nice. I have a set of aftermarket lap belts in my '67, but they are not the same.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

No they are not. Aftermarket serve their purpose, but they are not very appealing to look at. I have absolutely fallen in love with the older, wide buckle lap belts.

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Just completed a set of CarmineRed belts for someone. These turned out good compared to what we started with. They were very faded, but that’s usually what happens with the reds.
Pic #1 & 2 Before
Pic #3 is after a good bath and good scrubbing
Pic #4 & 5 is After

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

look great!

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Thanks! :metal:

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 

Restored a set of 79-80 Camel Tan belts for someone. I literally thought these things should have been trashed, but a gave it my all. One of the buckles was smashed too. Luckily I had a bunch of mixed matched belts, so I found a buckle to replace it with. So the usual, through cleaning & scrubbing, several times. These were filthy, fuzzy and faded. Then prepped them for dye.
Before pics