Restoring OEM Seatbelts

[TKCR]

A few after pics. They still need some work, so stay turned.

[TKCR]

Another Charcoal Black set restored for someone, 79-86.

[hooverfish]

Tina, can you share a few tips on cleaning seatbelts, the fabric ? Thank you

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hooverfish

Tina, can you share a few tips on cleaning seatbelts, the fabric ? Thank you

I’d be writing a book, lol. All I can say, it’s not really something for the weekend warrior. There are so many things that can be damaged, or cause problems in the future with cleaning belts. Like getting water in the wrong places. I have obviously gotten belts from people that have tried cleaning the belts at one time. And I have found out from a few people that they clean the belts with a power washer, prior to selling the belts. That is a big no no! They don’t realize the problems they are creating by doing that.
Here’s an example. I bought a pretty nice looking set of belts off eBay. They were fairly clean already. And the add stated that they retracted strong, in and out. I looked at them when they arrived and then put them on the shelf to use at a later date. Months later, I was talking with this same seller about another set he had for sale. He mentioned, for some reason, about power washing the belts. I was like, “OH NO!”. I immediately went out and got that box out and checked them. Well quess what, they are stiff pulling the belt out, and they won’t retract. Thankfully, I can fix this. My point is, water in the wrong places will cause problems. Water & metal springs don’t mix well together.

[TKCR]

Here is a set of 1978 Camel Tan belts for a Suburban or CrewCab, front set. These were restored for someone. He was missing an Upper Anchor cover, and the other one was broke. So I replaced those with new, and dyed them to match. Also disassembled the buckles for rust removal and debris cleaning.
Before Pics

[TKCR]

And After

[hooverfish]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I’d be writing a book, lol. All I can say, it’s not really something for the weekend warrior. There are so many things that can be damaged, or cause problems in the future with cleaning belts. Like getting water in the wrong places. I have obviously gotten belts from people that have tried cleaning the belts at one time. And I have found out from a few people that they clean the belts with a power washer, prior to selling the belts. That is a big no no! They don’t realize the problems they are creating by doing that.
Here’s an example. I bought a pretty nice looking set of belts off eBay. They were fairly clean already. And the add stated that they retracted strong, in and out. I looked at them when they arrived and then put them on the shelf to use at a later date. Months later, I was talking with this same seller about another set he had for sale. He mentioned, for some reason, about power washing the belts. I was like, “OH NO!”. I immediately went out and got that box out and checked them. Well quess what, they are stiff pulling the belt out, and they won’t retract. Thankfully, I can fix this. My point is, water in the wrong places will cause problems. Water & metal springs don’t mix well together.

I understand, thanks.

[GOPAPA]

These 1980 something seat belts are sure hard to take hold a yanking on them .. I wonder if you have to be going almost straight down hill and hit a rock mountain to get it to work..

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

These 1980 something seat belts are sure hard to take hold a yanking on them .. I wonder if you have to be going almost straight down hill and hit a rock mountain to get it to work..

You’ll never get them to “take hold” by yanking on them. Doesn’t matter how hard, or how fast. Our belts don’t work that way. They only have ELR, which means they will lock when you brakes are hit hard.
The ALR feature, yanking on the belts and they “take hold”, that didn’t start until much later.
I really hate to think of all the belts that got tossed, because people thought they didn’t work because of the yanking on the belt theory. I know I get a lot of people that think their belts don’t work, when they do.
If you want to test it. Take the truck out some place where you can do this safely. When you are at driving speeds, hit the brakes hard. The belt should lock up. Now there are times that they may not, because the pendulum or counter balance can not swing, because of all the gunk build up in the retractors. I have had a few belts like that. There was so much hair balls and string wrapped around the counter balance it couldn’t even move. Another time, I had mud wasp nest all up inside the retractor casings.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

You’ll never get them to “take hold” by yanking on them. Doesn’t matter how hard, or how fast. Our belts don’t work that way. They only have ELR, which means they will lock when you brakes are hit hard.
The ALR feature, yanking on the belts and they “take hold”, that didn’t start until much later.
I really hate to think of all the belts that got tossed, because people thought they didn’t work because of the yanking on the belt theory. I know I get a lot of people that think their belts don’t work, when they do.
If you want to test it. Take the truck out some place where you can do this safely. When you are at driving speeds, hit the brakes hard. The belt should lock up. Now there are times that they may not, because the pendulum or counter balance can not swing, because of all the gunk build up in the retractors. I have had a few belts like that. There was so much hair balls and string wrapped around the counter balance it couldn’t even move. Another time, I had mud wasp nest all up inside the retractor casings.

That's some very important information about locking seatbelts in this generation GM vehicles.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hatzie

That's some very important information about locking seatbelts in this generation GM vehicles.

I did a search on seatbelts on some of the old threads. It is so obvious that a lot of people replaced their seatbelts because they thought they were no good, because of this “yanking on the belts” theory. That’s sad to think of all the perfectly working seatbelts that were thrown away.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I did a search on seatbelts on some of the old threads. It is so obvious that a lot of people replaced their seatbelts because they thought they were no good, because of this “yanking on the belts” theory. That’s sad to think of all the perfectly working seatbelts that were thrown away.

Kindof the way it goes. Nothing that can be done about those past errors.
On a lighter note. I bet the LH seat belt tensioner in my 2005 is growing a lint & hair ball like the one in your picture.

[TKCR]

This is an update on the 87 belts I was working on from post #350 & #351. They just got delivered this evening, from being rewebbed. Wow! These are NICE! These also got a NOS set of center buckles & lap belt.

[TKCR]

Started on a set of 73-75 Charcoal Lap belts for a forum member. The webbings on the buckle straps were filthy!! I bet I soaked and dumped the water 6-7 times, each time the water still looked like chocolate milk! Finally when the water started clearing up after soaking, then the scrubbing started.
Also got the buckles disassembled for debris & rust removal. Here’s what I have done so far.

[HOTFUN]

Yeah...bet we all would need a bath 6-7 times if we never had one in 49 years and lying on the floor of a truck! LOL

Looking unbelievable. Hope the rest of the truck is worthy of this detail. Thanks

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by HOTFUN

Yeah...bet we all would need a bath 6-7 times if we never had one in 49 years and lying on the floor of a truck! LOL

Looking unbelievable. Hope the rest of the truck is worthy of this detail. Thanks

yeah I bet we would!
So here is a little update. Got the retractor & buckle covers done. The retractor on the right is a NOS retractor. So the goal is to get the used 49 year old retractor to match the NOS part. And polished up the Chrome.
New emblems installed on the buttons.

[TKCR]

Here is the 73 Charcoal set. They are completed. These are going to be used with Bucket seats, so the center lap belt was removed from the set.
And here’s another look at the Before.

[TKCR]

This set of 81-86 Blue seatbelts were cleaned and restored for someone.
Check out the Before & After pics.

[TKCR]

1979-1986 Charcoal Black. These were restored for someone, and heading to Texas.

[HOTFUN]

They all look so awesome but I love the 1973 lap belt set BESTIS!
Great to see these serviced originals go right back in these squarebody trucks.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by HOTFUN

They all look so awesome but I love the 1973 lap belt set BESTIS!
Great to see these serviced originals go right back in these squarebody trucks.

The 73-75 lap belts are my favorite also. Those buckles are just so cool!

[TKCR]

1977 Buckskin 1st Style 3pt Belts. These were cleaned and restored for someone.
These poor things were in rough shape, pretty dirty. A couple of the buckles had pretty bad sun rot, as with the retractor housings. They received New Emblems and New Upper Anchor covers.
One of the housing was cracked pretty bad and super thin. It’s not the prettiest, but it’s a little more firm, it will hold.
Here’s the Before & After Pics.

[Soundmound]

I just sent my belts to Tina and I can't wait to see them in this thread!

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Soundmound

I just sent my belts to Tina and I can't wait to see them in this thread!

You must have contacted me via Messenger or my FB Page? I don’t recognize your username.

[TKCR]

Working on a set of Charcoal Black seatbelts for someone. These needed quite a bit of rust removal. One buckle did need replace, it was badly pitted.
Check out the Before Pics.