Restoring OEM Seatbelts

[TKCR]

I have been restoring our original seat belts for a short time now. It started with the set I did for myself. When I bought my truck about 6 years ago, the first thing I did was change the interior color, from Burgundy to Charcoal. It was extremely hard to find a decent set of seatbelts, so I opted for the aftermarket ones, until I could find some. Well about 4 years later, I finally found some. So here is the set that I found. I throughly cleaned them and then freshened them up with dye. Polished all the stainless steel buckles.

[TKCR]

Next set I found were in excellent shape! But they still needed a good cleaning and freshened up with dye for the small section of webbing that is faded. Steel wooled the stainless steel buckles and polished.
These are the Before pics

[TKCR]

And after Restoration. I sandblast the mounts also.

[TKCR]

Next set I did, were Burgundy. A lot more fading in the webbing. These got the typical hot bath and a good scrubbing. Sandblasting the mounting tabs and freshened up with dye.
Before and after

[TKCR]

More before and after pics of the Burgundy belts

[TKCR]

Next up are CarmineRed seatbelts. I did these for a friend. I also restored a seat for him. These got the good bath, steel wooded the buckles, sandblasting of the mounts and freshened up with dye. I removed all the plastic sleeves, they were pretty broken and he didn’t want them on there anyways. So here are the before pics, and the seat I did for him.

[blazer2007]

what dye did you use and how did you go about dyeing them

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by blazer2007

what dye did you use and how did you go about dyeing them

I use dye that is formulated for fabric & plastic. I get it from USA1 Industries. The key to dyeing success is cleaning and most importantly, prepping.

[Nachos82]

Every time I look at your page, I get the urge to go tear my seatbelts out and send them your way.

You are doing awesome work with these seatbelts (as well as your seats) and I thank you for continuing to update the threads with your latest works of art.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Nachos82

Every time I look at your page, I get the urge to go tear my seatbelts out and send them your way.

You are doing awesome work with these seatbelts (as well as your seats) and I thank you for continuing to update the threads with your latest works of art.

Thanks for the kind words
Maybe during the winter months, we can plan on that. I got quite a few to do now. But I really enjoy the Before and After on some of these belts. There’s been a few that I really thought were past any help, lol.

[kglowacky]

please confirm that is carmine red. It looks so more red then the before pictures. Do they fade that bad or is the other red

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by kglowacky

please confirm that is carmine red. It looks so more red then the before pictures. Do they fade that bad or is the other red

UV light is what fades plastics, paint, and cloth. UV has a shorter wavelength than visible light.
Red pigments absorb more of the destructive high energy short wavelength UV light than other colors.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by kglowacky

please confirm that is carmine red. It looks so more red then the before pictures. Do they fade that bad or is the other red

They actually do fade that bad. The reds are the worst.

[kglowacky]

I had just decided to go with the other red for my 78 build (entire interior) because my trim is the color of the belts before your restoration and it looked way out of place next to my current metal dash color I never thought they could be so different in color then the real color. WOW I think I will buy a can of dye and get a better idea of the color first.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by kglowacky

I had just decided to go with the other red for my 78 build (entire interior) because my trim is the color of the belts before your restoration and it looked way out of place next to my current metal dash color I never thought they could be so different in color then the real color. WOW I think I will buy a can of dye and get a better idea of the color first.

Your 77-78 Red is not Carmine Red. It maybe a different shade, darker maybe, but I have never used the 77-78 Red, so I can’t say for sure. So trying to match my pics up to your interior isn’t the way to go. Anyways, some of the belts that I have done are either 79-80 CarmineRed and 81-83 CarmineRed, even those are different in color. Picture colors always look different on the computer, and verses the lighting. I’m sure your belts and your interior trim is faded, especially after 42 years. I haven’t come across an interior that hasn’t, no matter what the color.
Now if you want your seatbelts restored, I would use your belts and use the 78 Red, especially if that is actually your interior color. Best thing to do also, is if you have a SPID sheet in your glove box or on one of your inner fenders, see what it says your interior color is. A lot of people don’t realize that our trucks have had numerous different shades of reds, blues, tans, grays and greens.

[44th Miss Inf]

Those look great. Might have to send you mine when I get to that point

[kglowacky]

I bought this truck in pieces. The previous owner says when he bought this truck this is the interior that was in it. All my interior pieces are the very faded red that your seatbelts show. My lower metal dash is a red that matches the outside of my two tone truck (red) which is a great deal a different red then the faded trim pieces. I am sure 78 red is the org interior color . I never had the dash pad or carpet . I am really not trying to match a org color other then I am having my seats recovered in GM Hounds tooth red and black and I want the red to match the rest of my new red interior. that lies the problem. Since I have no idea what the new dash pad and carpet color actually look like until I buy them. If I get them and they are way off next to my seat I will be buying another. I am on my way to the man recovering my seats and get a sample of what colors he is using and then I will try to match to it to any year that is the closest.. Thanks for all the help

[Factory Guy]

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!

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Factory Guy

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.

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.

[Factory Guy]

Originally Posted by TKCR

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.

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

[ACS]

Originally Posted by Factory Guy

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.

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.

[TKCR]

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

[TKCR]

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

[69Tom]

Originally Posted by Factory Guy

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]

Originally Posted by 69Tom

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.