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Topic: '68 seat belts

in Forum: C3 Interior

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'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/28/08 4:12pm Message 1 of 18
California68
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La Quinta, CA - USA
Joined: 3/19/2008
Posts: 53
Vette(s): 1968 convertible, small block, auto, pw, pb, ps, air, 3rd owner CA black plate
I am having my seat belts restored by Ssnake-Oyl.  They have my belts now but emailed me with a question regarding retractors..."Do I have them?"
 
I sent them everything that came off the car and told them that I saw no mention of retractors either in my restoration guide (Richard Prince) or in my AIM, or in my GM corvette parts catalog...
 
As far as I know, the inboard (female buckle) fits in the console pockets and the outboard (male) side lays next to the seat.  According to the resto guide, in '69 a clip was added to the seat for the outboard side, which reinforces that no retractors were used in these early years.
 
Any '68 owners have any input regarding seat belt retractors?  I might as well get it right since it's torn apart!
 
Many thanks!
 
Bob



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'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/28/08 4:24pm Message 2 of 18
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
If you have to manually adjust the belts, they have no retractors. In other words, if you click the belt to the latch, and then pull on a part of the webbing to tighten the belt up, it is retractor-less.
I don't think they had auto retractors until the early/mid-'70s...maybe '73.

I think there were some dealer installed, or accessory type retractors that fit on the shoulder harness(if equipped) to help reel them back...Adams' Apple2008-08-28 16:26:49


Joel Adams
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'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/28/08 4:37pm Message 3 of 18
California68
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La Quinta, CA - USA
Joined: 3/19/2008
Posts: 53
Vette(s): 1968 convertible, small block, auto, pw, pb, ps, air, 3rd owner CA black plate
Thanks Adam....confirms my thoughts exactly...
 
Seems like the folks at Ssnake-oyl should have that down pat...They ask for all of your info, including vin # etc.  The tags on the original belts indicate the month/year of manufacture so they are clued into the car pretty well. 
 
Anyway thanks for your two cents, it's always worth more! Big%20smile
 
Bob



'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 6:25am Message 4 of 18
6880Mike
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Horse Cave, KY - USA
Joined: 10/22/2007
Posts: 488
Vette(s): 1968 convertible; 1980 L-82
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]...they have no retractors....[/QUOTE]
 
Correct.  No retractors on the '68s, and, I agree, I would have expected the Snake-Oyl folks to have known that.
 
Smile
6880Mike2008-08-29 06:26:07


'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 6:32am Message 5 of 18
bcliff
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TOPTON, PA - USA
Joined: 5/5/2002
Posts: 313
Vette(s): 71 454 convertible, mulsanne blue,a/c, matching numbers, 48K miles
Bob,
I'm curious to know how your belts turn out. I need to get mine redone this winter. Do you just have lap or both lap and shoulder? I just have lap, was wondering on what the approximate cost is.
 
Thanks,
 
Tom
 



Tom
71 454/365 Mulsanne Blue Convertible


'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 8:17am Message 6 of 18
FORS68
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Port Orange, FL - USA
Joined: 8/23/2008
Posts: 1
Vette(s): 1968 Bronze Convertible

HI THERE

HAVE AN 68 CONV  BUILT 67
ON OURS ITS EQUIPPED ORIGINALLY WITH RETRACTORS
 SO FOR SURE THEY CAME WITH RETRACTORS
 
REGARDS ANN



'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 8:24am Message 7 of 18
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Sportivo
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San Pedro, CA - USA
Joined: 5/26/2005
Posts: 239
Vette(s): 1971, LT-1, T-top, 4-speed (M21), Mulsanne Blue, 3.70 rear, mostly original (sidepipes). 2006, Daytona Sunset Orange Coupe.
Just for info.......
My '71 has both a lap belt and a shoulder belt. The shoulder belts have retractors. The lap belt can be used by itself (self-adjusting), or with the shoulder belt, which clips into the lap belt "buckle". I think in '71, the retractable shoulder belts were an option.




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'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 9:35am Message 8 of 18
bcliff
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TOPTON, PA - USA
Joined: 5/5/2002
Posts: 313
Vette(s): 71 454 convertible, mulsanne blue,a/c, matching numbers, 48K miles
[QUOTE=Sportivo]Just for info.......
My '71 has both a lap belt and a shoulder belt. The shoulder belts have retractors. The lap belt can be used by itself (self-adjusting), or with the shoulder belt, which clips into the lap belt "buckle". I think in '71, the retractable shoulder belts were an option.
[/QUOTE]
 
The shoulder belts in 1971 were standard in a coupe (retractors) and an option in a convertible.
 
TOM
 
 



Tom
71 454/365 Mulsanne Blue Convertible


'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 11:33am Message 9 of 18
Ten15
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East Hanover, NJ - USA
Joined: 9/25/2004
Posts: 525
Vette(s): '68 Black Conv. Matching 327/300 4 Spd. P/S, P/B, P/W, Tele, A/C
Ann is correct,..............As per the NCRS Judging Manual - "Some early 1968's have retractors on the outboard belt."
 
My January built '68 does not have retractors on the outboard belt, they just lay there.
 
Anthony
Ten152008-08-29 11:52:29


'68 seat belts

Posted: 8/29/08 11:40am Message 10 of 18
California68
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La Quinta, CA - USA
Joined: 3/19/2008
Posts: 53
Vette(s): 1968 convertible, small block, auto, pw, pb, ps, air, 3rd owner CA black plate
I talked with Ssnake-Oyl today...Retractor springs were  included on the outboard belt, they usually rot and go away...Mine did!  The retractor spring ins located in the black boot housing under the seat, beneath the metal retaining case. 
 
Tom...FYI...The new belts (lap only) are running $450..... including the retractor springs.    This includes new webbing, correct labels and rechrome.  Ssnake-Oyl will send you a quote, with a sample of the webbing so you can approve color.  Very nice people to work with.  May seem to be a considerabe amount of money, but you are talking a primary safety device..I didn't want to sew my own  :-)
 
Thanks for all the input from everyone, and Ann, your definitive statement made up my mind to spend the extra $100 to replace the springs.
 
Thanks again.
 
Bob
 



in Forum: C3 Interior


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