Restoring OEM Seatbelts

[Jeepwm69]

You know, I'll bet you could find a good sized customer base with the Jeep CJ crowd. All the belts were black, but they tend to turn purplish from the sun fading them out over the years.

What made me think of that is the retractor statement. Most old Jeeps the retractors stop working well from use and exposure to the elements.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Jeepwm69

You know, I'll bet you could find a good sized customer base with the Jeep CJ crowd. All the belts were black, but they tend to turn purplish from the sun fading them out over the years.

What made me think of that is the retractor statement. Most old Jeeps the retractors stop working well from use and exposure to the elements.

The Squarebody customer base is keeping me plenty busy. I don’t care to branch out from that. Anyways, that would mean trying to located repair parts for those too.

[Jeepwm69]

Ah, good point.

And I certainly understand not wanting to open another can of worms.

[TKCR]

Another Charcoal Black restored for someone. 79-86 style. Fully restored.

[RADustin]

I just bought a full set of 2-point early belts. Blue in color.

All I need are the plastic reel covers...if you have two good covers we could do a trade+cash? LMK.

[Sabaka454]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Another Charcoal Black restored for someone. 79-86 style. Fully restored.

Are you selling these?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Sabaka454

Are you selling these?

First sentence in the post: restored “ for someone”.
That means no, they are not mine to sell. Sorry.
When I do have a set for sale, I list them on my Facebook page. Link is at the bottom of this page, on my Signature. They usually only last the day before they are sold. If at any time you find a set, I can restore them for you. Most of these belts that I have posted, have all been restored for people that have sent me their belts.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by RADustin

I just bought a full set of 2-point early belts. Blue in color.

All I need are the plastic reel covers...if you have two good covers we could do a trade+cash? LMK.

I don’t, sorry. No more than what those retractor covers are for those 2 point belts. I’ve often wondered if a 3D printer could make these?

[RADustin]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I don’t, sorry.

I’ll have a bunch of parts to sell then if you’re interested.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by RADustin

I’ll have a bunch of parts to sell then if you’re interested.

Parts, as in what kind of parts? PM me with details

[TKCR]

One of the things I’ve been doing lately when restoring the seatbelts, is disassembly of the metal buckles. A lot of times people are saying that their buckles just don’t work like they should, and here’s why. Over the years, things find their way inside the buckles, only to be trapped. When these items get lodged under the spring for the button, it no longer functions as it should. There have been times that the buckles will not release the latch, once the seatbelts were used, trapping the occupant in the seat. So every set of seatbelts that I’m restoring, I’m cleaning out the debris from the buckles and re-lubing them. Here are some pics of some of the “stuff” that I have found inside these buckles.

[TKCR]

Another set done for someone, 1979 Blue. Badly faded. Fully restored. Here are some Before & After pics.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

One of the things I’ve been doing lately when restoring the seatbelts, is disassembly of the metal buckles. A lot of times people are saying that their buckles just don’t work like they should, and here’s why. Over the years, things find their way inside the buckles, only to be trapped. When these items get lodged under the spring for the button, it no longer functions as it should. There have been times that the buckles will not release the latch, once the seatbelts were used, trapping the occupant in the seat. So every set of seatbelts that I’m restoring, I’m cleaning out the debris from the buckles and re-lubing them. Here are some pics of some of the “stuff” that I have found inside these buckles.

Those buckles kinda look like they're filled with the treasure I find under seats in vehicles I buy and sell.
Gloves and face shields with a mask underneath. No Hantavirus for me... EEE-YUCK.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Those buckles kinda look like they're filled with the treasure I find under seats in vehicles I buy and sell.
Gloves and face shields with a mask underneath. No Hantavirus for me... EEE-YUCK.

Yeah its bad! I just got a core seat today, and it looked like there's enough hair to put together another dog!!

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

it looked like there's enough hair to put together another dog!!

I've gotta use that one somewhere.

[TKCR]

Restored a set of Blue Seatbelts for someone. These were faded a little, but the upper anchor covers were toast. So I replaced these with better used ones. The belts got a through cleaning. All the plastics were cleaned, prepped for dye. Some of the broken and cracked plastic sleeves were trimmed back, for a cleaner look. Buckles disassembled for cleaning and removal of debris.

[TKCR]

Another set completed for someone. Restored 1987 Blue.

[tristan]

Are you interested in expanding your horizon to 1967-72 belts? The set from my 1971 C-10 are weary and need to be refreshed. The company in TX that used to rule the restoration market for seat belts may have disappeared as they don't answer the phone or return messages. Please PM me if so.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by tristan

Are you interested in expanding your horizon to 1967-72 belts? The set from my 1971 C-10 are weary and need to be refreshed. The company in TX that used to rule the restoration market for seat belts may have disappeared as they don't answer the phone or return messages. Please PM me if so.

sending pm

[TKCR]

Restored a set of retractors. He needed them to match with his NOS black buckles that he got for his truck.

[lks dcvn]

I was looking to see if there was a 67-72 parchment set you had revived. Have you done any of those by chance?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by lks dcvn

I was looking to see if there was a 67-72 parchment set you had revived. Have you done any of those by chance?

I haven’t done any 67-72 seatbelts yet. Tristan is sending me his, those will be my first 67-72 belts.

[lks dcvn]

cool - thanks for the quick update.

[v30crewcab]

so are you replacing the webbing on these? they look nice when done.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

so are you replacing the webbing on these? they look nice when done.

No, just a lot of through cleaning, and dye when needed. The dye is to help blend the faded areas.