Restoring OEM Seatbelts

[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.

[Hart_Rod]

How much to redo a set for a 84 single cab? I need a set of the plastic covers that go over the reels also.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

How much to redo a set for a 84 single cab? I need a set of the plastic covers that go over the reels also.

PM sent

[TKCR]

First time doing a set of 76/77 belts for someone, the first 3 point style. One of the Buckle covers has a broken tab, so I’ve been searching for replacements. The other buckle cover, looks to have super glue or something all over it. These will be getting foil emblems and new upper anchor covers. And a replacement cover for the lap belt latch.
Here are the Before pics. Stay tuned for the After.

[TKCR]

This was after a thorough cleaning and hanging to dry. More to come.

[CG]

You do nice work. I had no idea you could dye seat belts, I thought the webbing was nylon or something and wouldn't accept a dye job (one worth doing at least). And I had no idea there were so many colors of dye available.

I have no need for belt work, but if I ever do I would rather give a board member my business than another company. Keep up the excellent work!

[TKCR]

Started working on a set of Blazer seatbelts. These got damaged a bit during shipment, so the cracks need repaired. Pretty dirty, and mildewed. Got everything disassembled and gave everything a good cleaning and scrubbing, several times!
So here are the Before pics.

[TKCR]

This was just after cleaning. Removed all the buckle foil emblems. They will get all new emblems. Now it’s time to start rubbing out scratches and prepping them for the dye process. Stay tuned!

[TKCR]

Here are the AFTER pics! They also got new foil emblems for all the buckles.

[TKCR]

Here’s a set of 1978 Green I did for someone, and the truck they are going in.
Before & After

[wazzabie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Started working on a set of Blazer seatbelts. These got damaged a bit during shipment, so the cracks need repaired. Pretty dirty, and mildewed. Got everything disassembled and gave everything a good cleaning and scrubbing, several times!
So here are the Before pics.

what did you do to fix the cracked plastic?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by wazzabie

what did you do to fix the cracked plastic?

Epoxy. This is a good example. This was a set of Charcoal Black that also got damaged during shipment to me. People are not protecting these belts enough when they ship them. They are just putting them in a box loosely, and those mounting tabs can so some serious damage when the box gets thrown around, especially if there’s room for them to move around inside the box.
I’m still working on mastering a method of making the crack completely disappear.

[wazzabie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Epoxy. This is a good example. This was a set of Charcoal Black that also got damaged during shipment to me. People are not protecting these belts enough when they ship them. They are just putting them in a box loosely, and those mounting tabs can so some serious damage when the box gets thrown around, especially if there’s room for them to move around inside the box.
I’m still working on mastering a method of making the crack completely disappear.

for webbing that is frayed do you replace it on the 73-79 k5 blazer?

[hatzie]

If that guy isn't happy he needs an attitude adjustment with a 2x4 right upside the head.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hatzie

If that guy isn't happy he needs an attitude adjustment with a 2x4 right upside the head.

I’m sure he will be. I’m just always apprehensive on how someone will react. I had a set of Mahogany belts that I did for someone. He insisted that I start out with a really nice set, which I had to find. What I did have wasn’t good enough for him. Then he wanted all the bells and whistles. New buckles and new emblems. He ran the cost up, and he was aware of that every time he wanted something extra. After I get them completely for him, he doesn’t want them. WT...?! He obviously wasn’t happy with them. And that makes me nervous when it’s a color that not everyone is going to want, because now I have to hope someone else will purchase them, which someone did thankfully!
I’m not sure if I ever posted that Mahogany set, but this is them.

[hatzie]

Mahogany dash, armrests, carpet, and belts are the right color to go with the light sandy beige seats, trim plastics, door cards, and headliner.
Red and dark green over Frost White or Ivory 2nd color exterior with that interior combo turns out looking really nice.
Ivory, White, and root beer brown metallic works with that interior but dark green/white or dark green/ivory or red/white or red/ivory 2 tone metal and tan/brown interior really pops.
Black and Gray are the only other colors that go well with red sheet metal and those are pretty common.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Mahogany dash, armrests, carpet, and belts are the right color to go with the light sandy beige seats, trim plastics, door cards, and headliner.
Red and dark green over Frost White or Ivory 2nd color exterior with that interior combo turns out looking really nice.
Ivory, White, and root beer brown metallic works with that interior but dark green/white or dark green/ivory or red/white or red/ivory 2 tone metal and tan/brown interior really pops.
Black and Gray are the only other colors that go well with red sheet metal and those are pretty common.

That’s good to know. I did do a set of Mahogany belts for a board member. He wanted Dark Saddle belts, for his Saddle interior. But of course there’s no such thing as Dark Saddle seatbelts. I wasn’t sure if they would look good or not, but he seems happy with them. I always wondered how Mahogany would look in a tan truck. Because Mahogany is a brown. At least a lot of people call them Brown.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by TKCR

That’s good to know. I did do a set of Mahogany belts for a board member. He wanted Dark Saddle belts, for his Saddle interior. But of course there’s no such thing as Dark Saddle seatbelts. I wasn’t sure if they would look good or not, but he seems happy with them. I always wondered how Mahogany would look in a tan truck. Because Mahogany is a brown. At least a lot of people call them Brown.

I think GM actually used the light color armrests with the light color door cards.
The Saddle (beige) headliner, door cards, kick panels, headliner trim, and seat came with Mahogany Brown dash cover, belts, and carpet in my Orange 1976 K20.

[Jeepwm69]

My 83 had light tan seat, door panels, belts, kick panels, and dark brown dash pad, so my guess is GM did a lot of mixing and contrasting over the years.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Jeepwm69

My 83 had light tan seat, door panels, belts, kick panels, and dark brown dash pad, so my guess is GM did a lot of mixing and contrasting over the years.

The 81-87 Saddle Tan interior did have all light saddle tan, but the dash was dark Saddle. They did that because of the glare from the windshield.

[sk8rgui]

Man… All of these all look great. I bought a replacement set from LMC Truck and was a bit suprised at how different they were than my OEM 82 Red Seatbelts. Mine are pretty faded, but clean. The bigger issue is that they don’t really retract well.

I swapped out the driver side on my truck as it’s the one that gets used. I’d like to restore mine and was wondering what you do for slow to no retraction on yours? I much prefer the look of the originals compared to LMC’s aftermarkets.

Sorry if this was already mentioned. I didn’t see it in the several pages of this thread I looked at.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by sk8rgui

Man… All of these all look great. I bought a replacement set from LMC Truck and was a bit suprised at how different they were than my OEM 82 Red Seatbelts. Mine are pretty faded, but clean. The bigger issue is that they don’t really retract well.

I swapped out the driver side on my truck as it’s the one that gets used. I’d like to restore mine and was wondering what you do for slow to no retraction on yours? I much prefer the look of the originals compared to LMC’s aftermarkets.

Sorry if this was already mentioned. I didn’t see it in the several pages of this thread I looked at.

Sorry you fell victim to the aftermarket belts from LMC. I had aftermarket belts myself for a few years. They at least “looked better” than LMC’s belts. But when I finally found a Black Charcoal set, I decided one day to see what I could do with them. That is what has started this little venture.
So what I do is throughly clean the retractor mechanisms and lube them. A lot of what causes the retractors to slow down is a lot of built up of debris. Everything from dust, dirt, hair, coins, gum wrapper, petrified French Frys. You name it, I’ve probably have found it. It literally had one that had a huge mud wasp nest built inside a retractor. I have had a few where the counter balance was broken, but I was able to replace them with the spare parts.
I also do the same with the metal buckles. They get disassembled for cleaning of debris.

[sk8rgui]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Sorry you fell victim to the aftermarket belts from LMC. I had aftermarket belts myself for a few years. They at least “looked better” than LMC’s belts. But when I finally found a Black Charcoal set, I decided one day to see what I could do with them. That is what has started this little venture.
So what I do is throughly clean the retractor mechanisms and lube them. A lot of what causes the retractors to slow down is a lot of built up of debris. Everything from dust, dirt, hair, coins, gum wrapper, petrified French Frys. You name it, I’ve probably have found it. It literally had one that had a huge mud wasp nest built inside a retractor. I have had a few where the counter balance was broken, but I was able to replace them with the spare parts.
I also do the same with the metal buckles. They get disassembled for cleaning of debris.

Thanks for the info I appreciate it. I might be contacting you if I don’t have any luck to get a rough estimate from you.