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-   -   Restoring OEM Seatbelts (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=809750)

69Tom 08-11-2020 01:06 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Factory Guy (Post 8785653)
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.

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

TKCR 08-11-2020 05:02 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rodstored-72 (Post 8790306)
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!

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.

TKCR 08-11-2020 05:09 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Tom (Post 8790325)
My 74 has an upper mounting point. You'll have to cut a hole in the plastic trim.

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.

K25alive 08-11-2020 08:54 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
3 Attachment(s)
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.

TKCR 08-11-2020 09:23 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Thanks for the pics, that helps a lot :metal:

TKCR 08-17-2020 07:31 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
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!

StorminNorman 08-18-2020 11:34 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Nice work. Do you install new webbing ?

TKCR 08-19-2020 07:34 AM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by StorminNorman (Post 8794557)
Nice work. Do you install new webbing ?

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

TKCR 09-10-2020 07:50 AM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
1 Attachment(s)
Got another set done for someone. These are Charcoal.

TKCR 09-16-2020 08:03 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
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.

TKCR 09-16-2020 08:05 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
4 Attachment(s)
After pics!

TKCR 09-17-2020 06:50 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
4 Attachment(s)
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.

Jeepwm69 09-18-2020 02:45 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Man those belts look fantastic.

TKCR 09-18-2020 05:57 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepwm69 (Post 8810070)
Man those belts look fantastic.

Well thank you!:metal:

TKCR 09-18-2020 06:18 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
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

TKCR 10-02-2020 09:16 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
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.

TKCR 10-02-2020 09:18 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
4 Attachment(s)
Here are the AFTER pics

TKCR 10-06-2020 07:17 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
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

TKCR 10-06-2020 07:20 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
And here is the AFTER

44th Miss Inf 10-06-2020 08:09 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Nice work, as usual Tina. Those look great

TKCR 10-06-2020 08:34 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 44th Miss Inf (Post 8819058)
Nice work, as usual Tina. Those look great

Thank you! These took a lot of work!

TKCR 10-21-2020 10:19 AM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
3 Attachment(s)
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.

TKCR 10-23-2020 07:31 PM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
5 Attachment(s)
The belts in the above post are completed. Here are the pics.

4u2nv 10-24-2020 07:31 AM

Re: Restoring OEM Seatbelts
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TKCR (Post 8819064)
Thank you! These took a lot of work!

Outstanding workwomenship

kitsbeach 10-29-2020 10:28 AM

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


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