67 seat belt buckles

[CG]

I have a set of 67 seat belts for a burb. Going to need a lot of work, probably re-webbing and buckles chromed, paint, or powder? I really like the look of the buckles over the next newer style.

Any pros or cons to using the 67 style belt buckles? My guess is they are probably just as safe, but if so why the change?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by CG

I have a set of 67 seat belts for a burb. Going to need a lot of work, probably re-webbing and buckles chromed, paint, or powder? I really like the look of the buckles over the next newer style.

Any pros or cons to using the 67 style belt buckles? My guess is they are probably just as safe, but if so why the change?

I really like the older style buckles also. They are just as safe. I do restore seatbelts, so if you want to check out my Thread on restoring belts, the link is on my signature.

[CG]

Interesting ... I thought you only did the square body stuff.

[dagnabbitt]

I think the reason why they changed them in 1968 was for the single-button "quick release" factor. The anti-seatbelt hysteria back in the day was that you would be trapped by your seatbelts in a burning wreck.

The 1967 versions are aviation style, and as that implies, if they are considered good enough for airplanes, why not your truck too.

I have a couple 1967 GMC sets, which unfortunately have no cool Chevy logos or GM hallmarks. I will probably powdercoat them to my interior color. If yours have the Chevy bowtie I would consider chroming them, Grumpy posted a picture of his that you may have seen, and they look amazing.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by CG

Interesting ... I thought you only did the square body stuff.

No, I have done the older belts and a few sets of Chevelle belts.

[68bowtie]

I suppose if your plane catches on fire it doesn’t really matter if your belt gets stuck. Although jumping is probably a lot more enjoyable than burning alive. Hmmm…

[special-K]

I'd say the '67 style aircraft type are much easier/faster to unfasten than the '69-up button style. Much safer.

The disadvantage to the '67 style belts is they don't work as a bottle opener. I've used my 69-72 seat belts to open bottles for 50 years. I miss that in othe3r vehicles.

What I plan for my '67 project are shoulder belts from Speedway Motors. They use the aircraft style buckles and look a lot like the factory ones. Mine's a GMC, so not concerned about the lack of bowtie. To me, seat belts are like tires. I don't run bias ply to stay original so why run obsolete seat belts?

[Grumpy old man]

I sent mine out for chrome , They have to be disassembled before the chrome shop would take them in , Then after multiple weeks waiting for them to be done ,They still have to be re webbed So that's another send out and wait . I have the correct web/ thread and sewing machine to do my own ,But after all that your left with a lap belt and a steel dash board / steering wheel in front of your face . It's just not worth all the time and expense to rebuild lap belts to retain an original set with a Chevy emblem stamped into them . If these old trucks weren't already set up to bolt in a new safer 3 point belt system I may think differently but they are already set up to bolt in newer safer systems and that's the way I'm going. I'm sure a lot of the older guys in here remember seeing back in the 70's how many guys had there face/ teeth knocked out after having an accident using lap belts or no belts at all and coming into contact with a steering wheel !

There's the reason they changed in '73 GM didn't change to 3 point belts because it was cheaper !