help needed on shoulder belts

[nu2-72]

As most of you know, shoulder belts for these trucks are more rare than the ultra rare 3 door burb.
Since shoulder belts are basically additional sets of belts, just bolted to the pillar,what other vehicles of the same era have the upper cab hardware that would make a set of belts? Anything out there?
My truck needs blue belts but I have only seen black shoulder belt covers. Were there other colors? If so, were they all black and dyed like dash pads?

Any help on this is greatly appreciated.

[71 super]

I have not seen any factory blue shoulder belts, but my 71 has factory black belts, I sold leddzepp a set of factory red belts and just traded for a set of teal belts, so blue was an option and are out there somewhere. The upper boots are different animals from car units used during the same era, and you can id a set of non original belts because of the boot. Stock has a recessed retainer molded into the plastic/rubber of the boot. All of the repops I have seen have no retainer built into them and are thinner material. Cheyenne Super-man offers rewebbed belts with repop covers on them for $195 in any color, which is not a bad deal considering most don't know what the originals look like anyway. There is also a label (if still present) located at the bottom near the buckle that states "not for use with anyone under 4'-7" tall".

[hdflstf]

Got mine here.

http://www.buckle-up.net/

[nu2-72]

hdflstf, are they just like 72 period or are they later model that work in place of originals? I want the correct belts if possible. Even if I have to buy several sets to make one complete and dye them.

[ChevLoRay]

www.julianos.com

[jerry moss]

i believe black is most common(if common is the proper term,lol) but they were available in other colors. my cousin has a set of blue ones out of a 68 suburban, i used to have a set of brown/saddle? out of a cab i found that was headed to the scrap yard. i have also seen them in red. i don't remember what year, but corvette uses the same upper rubber piece. i built a set out of a NOS vette set i bought years ago, the vette buckle is different so i cut up a set of pickup seatbelts and had an upholstery shop sew them up using a set of original truck belts as a pattern. i'm sure the vette belts would be worth a fortune now.

[MXmaniac]

My belts came out of a mid-80s Suburban, and are gray. They probably had blue too.

[nu2-72]

MXmaniac, please, I do not want 80's, I want original if possible and I have been waiting several years so what is a little longer.
Jerry, I will check on Vette stuff. Thanks.
And Julianos is the same late model stuff.
72-72-72
How do the restoration experts do this??

[special-K]

The belts were available in any color.It was just so rare to order the option.Black is the most common interior,so...
Alot of Suburban ambulances got them.I guess fire departments were more safety conscience for some strange reason,go figure(that`s a joke,son).Since most were red or white from the factory,red was most common and white ones could have had blue.Either could have had black interiors,too.

[hdflstf]

Originally Posted by nu2-72

hdflstf, are they just like 72 period or are they later model that work in place of originals? I want the correct belts if possible. Even if I have to buy several sets to make one complete and dye them.

I'm not really familiar with factory belt though I would say the are not 'original'.

[71blksuper4x4]

nu2-72 - I used the middle seatbelts out of a 1969-1972 caprice. They look very close to the original belts when I put them in. The only difference is that they are a darker blue, which don't look bad, but I will eventually get a set of the factory blue or make my own. You can buy the correct boots from a corvette place, but they don't have the recessed square hole the securely holds the belt upright when not in use. Believe me when I say it, you definitely want to have that recessed square to hold that belt in. With my set, those belts get to blowin' in the wind with the windows down. Here is a pic of the setup I had before my recent tear down.

[71blksuper4x4]

Oh, and the cover I used was a cut down seat belt cover out of a dodge van. After looking at the pics though, I kinda like the darker belts. I am going to buy a set of reproduction covers from a vette because they are the same, but I am going to make a metal stamp for them to heat up and emboss them and make the seatbelt hanger. Here is a pic of original and the second is the repro.

71 super - can you please take some measurements for me on the correct size square that is punched into your factory covers??? I am trying to get it exact and not many have them. Thanks Trevor

[71 super]

Trevor, the picture of the red covers you have is correct. The blue ones in the picture of your truck (vette) are too long to be correct. You are correct in that the recessed portion is necessary to retain the belt. I can take pictures for you wednesday. Please send me your email and I will send them to you. Harold

[chipflyer]

Hey Trevor,
let me know how the emboss process goes, I have a set of black boots that I have been thinking about doing the same thing to.

Jeff

[71blksuper4x4]

Hey Jeff, I will post pics of them when I get them done. I might just have to perfect the method on my old seat belt boots first but I should be able to get them looking good.

Edited by Mod.

[leddzepp]

Here is a set of covers that sold on Ebay....they were advertised as from a 67-72 Chevy truck. Look at how they are different from the other pics...

[71blksuper4x4]

ledzepp- I have never seen those before. Everyone I have ever seen are like the red ones I pictured. Trevor

[71 super]

Those on ebay are WRONG, the red set is correct for trucks. The vette covers are smooth and do not have the dimple in them as trucks do. I have no idea what the ebay units came from, a van maybe. The vette covers are the common replacement for originals, and to my knowledge no one repops a correct set for the trucks, but the covers are also a dead give away for unoriginal set.

[chipflyer]

The ones that sold on Ebay are for a late 60's Mercury Couger or some other Ford from that time peroid. I bought a set of those about a year ago and they were advertised on Ebay as ford (or Couger, I can't remember) belts, I think I gave around $20 for the boots with belts. I dyed them blue and have them in my truck now. They are similar but not original to our trucks. Whoever sold those misrepresented them.

Jeff

[nu2-72]

OK, we have decided that the black set on 71blksuper4x4 post are repop.
But no one has said by who or where.
Can someone give a vendor, part #, price or any info.
Thanks.

[71 super]

Try CS-m. Gary can get you a new set of the vette covers, as they are what he uses on the reproduction shoulder belt sets he sells. Unless he has gone up you can purchase the boots, new belts with buckles etc. ready to install in any color for $195 and shipping. Check out his web site and give him a call, he is a very nice man and a pleasure to talk to. I have given him alot of money between two trucks over the years.

[jay_shy]

Take a look at the following ebay links.


200260076561

200260075567

200259753988


The ones in the auctions are close but donot have the indentation to clip the belt into when not in use. I can get some pictures of them next to an original set tomorrow if interested. (The ones on ebay are not mine but I have some that are similar)

Jason

[nu2-72]

I to e-mail Gary last week and it would not go through. I will call him today. Thanks guys.
I also co-own a machine shop so the indent tool should not be a problem to make.