Halfbreed - GMC Z71 + IH Extd Cab

[fryer1979]

Cool progress pictures. Allow me a simple question if you would; why is it that the GM center belts won't work with the IH bench? An answer might help locate a suitable replacement.

[sparkydog]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Cool progress pictures. Allow me a simple question if you would; why is it that the GM center belts won't work with the IH bench? An answer might help locate a suitable replacement.

My donor GM XCab had bucket seats. The buckle units (in the middle) are made from heat treated steel strapping with a shroud of plastic around them. They aren't designed to flex and twist. Routing them up through the bottom of the IH bench seat orients them the wrong way.

The fabric style (like in the earlier picture) will work great, but I have to have longer ones. The pair in the picture came off the rear bench seat and that is where they will be going when I put it back in. So I need something similar to them but longer. And also not in a combo unit but as individual units because the mount locations are wider apart.

EDIT: here is a picture of what I mean by the steel strap wrapped in plastic style looks like. This is the right length but because it isn't cloth it won't flex up into the bench seat. It was made to go along the side of a bucket seat.

[fryer1979]

That's right. So then a center belt section from a square-body (73-87) with a bench seat should do perfectly...if they were longer. One idea is most auto parts stores stock those seat belt extensions, most I've seen are about 10" long or so. Another suggestion is the aftermarket lap belt assemblies. IIRC they are quite long, are offered in a few basic colors, work as a stand alone unit, and are fairly inexpensive. Again, any local auto parts store should stock them at about $25 or $30 (maybe less, it's been a while since I last purchased some). For a junkyard score, how about pre-87 Chevy fullsize vans? Or maybe an early lap/shoulder combo, and just cut off the shoulder strap? Just throwing ideas out now...good luck with the belts.

[1985-GMC]

You could use your fabric seat belts and order some seat belt webbing, then take them to a upholstery shop and have them sew them back up to the length you want. Look here http://www.strapworks.com/Polyester_Webbing_p/sbw2.htm though there are several other places to order it from.