Seat Belt upgrades

[swamp rat]

I an having problems with the search function today! would like input on what you did to upgrade your lap belt to a 3 point retractable sholder belt and where you got them, new aftermarket? what store? or Junkyard? what length? what vehicle year ect..

I have a few places that I have found some aftermarket retractable belts, prices ranging from $75 up to 200.00 for new aftermarket stuff. but am now concidering the possibility of a junkyard source as well. Thanks!

EDIT----> Looks like junkyard stuff may be a bad idea, so lets concentrate on where you bought your replacement sholder belt, I could use some leads.

[Palf70Step]

Most junkyards cut up the belts, so they can't be reused and present a liability issue. Course you have to know places too. I got mine from a 97 C1500 truck that was there fro reasons other than a crash. The yard owner only let us take them because he knew us, otherwise he wouldn't.

If you don't know the condition and if it is in the yard because of a wreck, I would NOT reuse those 3-point systems. I guess I have too much safety training from the USAF.

If I had not found these I would be using after market (new ones) .

Don't play with your life.

[Spray-Bomb]

Check my build thread in my sig

[Brad]

You can use S-10 seatbelts. I did a writeup that's in the FAQ section. You can use them even if you still have the in-cab tank, but you'll have to make a bracket for the ds to move it slightly forward. Otherwise they just bolt in. I've had mine in for years and they work well. Of course, I've never actually needed them fortunately.

[swamp rat]

Thanks for the info!!

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Brad

You can use S-10 seatbelts. I did a writeup that's in the FAQ section. You can use them even if you still have the in-cab tank, but you'll have to make a bracket for the ds to move it slightly forward. Otherwise they just bolt in. I've had mine in for years and they work well. Of course, I've never actually needed them fortunately.

I went into FAQ and couldn't find it, there was one link titled something like S-10 seatbelt mod or similar but the link only talked about lengthening seatbelts. ??

[Brad]

Ok, that was it. Maybe that's all I covered.
Basically you just pull the belts out of a mid 80's S-10(must use a big Torx or allen wrench). Save the bolts and reuse them on your truck. Then you unbolt your originals and bolt the new belts in. You might have to swap left side for right side and vice-versa (I can't recall). There's a plug in the B-piller. Pull that out and bolt the belt up there.
That's all there is too it.
One word of caution is to consider the truck that you're pulling the belts out of. If it looks like it's been in a head-on collision, then you probably don't want to trust those again. Use your discretion in the belts that you use.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Brad

Ok, One word of caution is to consider the truck that you're pulling the belts out of. If it looks like it's been in a head-on collision, then you probably don't want to trust those again. Use your discretion in the belts that you use.

I agree 100% I admit I was not thinking about belts being stressed in a collision when I started this thread. I also added an edit to my post regarding the issue

I would be happy enough to just find a model of vehicle that somebody knows the belts work fine and are a relative bolt in. The I can look for belts for that model truck at parts stores (online) as i'm sure that a newer model truck replacement belt is probably found cheaper than the belts carried by the specialty shops for our trucks...

Wlile I'm at it I do have a 95 S10 in the driveway, mabey I ought to try unbolting one and seeing how it fits... Thanks.

[Orange]

There's a few.
http://earlyclassic.com/catalog.aspx - and go to Seat Belt Kits.
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...umber=BELT400A
http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...atbelt_system/
and the most popular seems to be this one...
http://www.julianos.com/how2_67chevy_truck.html
I think 68stepbed was thinking of getting those.
That's what I will get soon to get rid of my laps.

DLB

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Orange

There's a few.
http://earlyclassic.com/catalog.aspx - and go to Seat Belt Kits.
http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...umber=BELT400A
http://www.customclassictrucks.com/t...atbelt_system/
and the most popular seems to be this one...
http://www.julianos.com/how2_67chevy_truck.html
I think 68stepbed was thinking of getting those.
That's what I will get soon to get rid of my laps.

DLB

Thanks for your help! I allready had the Brothers link and was thinking that would probably be it but the Julianos link may just be my ticket, its a real good price!