Restoring OEM Seatbelts

[TKCR]

Got a couple more sets of belts done. These were done for other people, they are not for sale.

[TKCR]

So here are the Front for the Blue Suburban.

[TKCR]

Also completed a set of Saddle Tan belts for someone. New buckle emblems. Check out these before & After pics.

[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.

[dagnabbitt]

You sure do nice work!

When restoring belts have you come across any that you thought were just too far gone?

I had a set that were getting "fuzzy" from wear. Not frayed exactly, just small fibers. I regret throwing them away.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

You sure do nice work!

When restoring belts have you come across any that you thought were just too far gone?

I had a set that were getting "fuzzy" from wear. Not frayed exactly, just small fibers. I regret throwing them away.

Thank you, and yes I have had a few that’s too far gone. I’ve have a few that have been “fuzzy”. Like this set. I had already gotten some of the “fuzzies” off, before I cleaned them. Then I worked on them some more, and got most of it.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...&postcount=137

[TKCR]

Just completed these for a board member. Dark Saddle Tan for his 71 C10. Here are the Before and After pics.

[TKCR]

And After.

[TKCR]

Just finished up the final pieces for the Suburban belts I was doing for someone. We needed to find buckles and caps, for bucket seats. The one side was cracked and missing a small piece of plastic. So that one got epoxied, and I added a small piece, to fill the opening. Then they were cleaned and dyed.
I also put new emblem and better buckle covers on these.

[TKCR]

Here are the After pics.

[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

[TKCR]

These are the 76/77 belts I started on from post #156. Throughly cleaned/restored. New Buckle Emblems. Still looking for a lap belt buckle cap. This one was MIA. Seems as though these are specific to this style of seatbelt. I had some extra covers, but none of them fit.

[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?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by wazzabie

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

No. But it depends on how bad your talking. People’s perception of frayed, are different. I’ve had people show me pics of their “frayed” belts, and I look at them and it’s nothing. Then I’ve had someone that shows me belts that looks like it went thru a meat grinder. Those have to be re-webbed for sure.

So far, I haven’t had the time to venture down that path of rewebbing. Plus, there’s the liability factor in rewebbing belts. I know there are a few companies that do it, and seem to be quite expensive. I myself got a quote from SsnakeOyls several years ago about doing mine, and it was $800-$900! But doing what I do with the belts, I can understand why it’s expensive, the retractors need to be completely disassembled to rewebb. I don’t believe they are doing them anymore. I have had several people send me their belts for restoration, because they can’t get ahold of that place. Not every old set of seatbelts need rewebbing, that’s where I can be of help. Just offering an alternative.

On my own set of belts, I had a very small area of the webbing that was faded. And they were filthy. That’s when I decided to just do something myself to mine, and that is what started all this. It’s only just been recent, that I retired. So it’s actually given me more time to do other people belts for them.

[TKCR]

Just completed another full set of Blazer belts for someone. These are 84-85 Slate Gray. Throughly cleaned and dyed. All new buckle emblems. And there were a couple of latch covers MIA, so we needed to locate some replacements.
Here are the Before pics.

[TKCR]

After Pics