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Hello All,
This is an update for those who know about my Seat Belt Saga of the past two years with Sunwest Auto Specialties and its owner Karl Roepke.
In late March, almost 2 years to the day after I sent off my seat belts to Sunwest Auto Specialties, I received them back, done correctly. Actually, they are now exactly, perfectly as they should be and should have been. In fact they are so nice that I want to find a different set to use for Driver Duty until I actually restore the 71.
The color is dead nuts on, the clips have the correct clear plastic coating, and my original retainers are installed on them. The date code is now stamped with the exact date I requested. I could not have asked for any more as far as appearance and quality are concerned.
If you recall, I was originally supposed to have them back a month after I sent them out in March, 2001. In reality, I didn't receive them for several months, and then they were the wrong color with the wrong retainers. In addition, my originals weren't returned as I had requested and they were not date stamped. Other than the fact that the metal piece had been restored they were totally incorrect for my application. Several phone calls were useless, and talking with Karl him at Carlisle in 2001 got me nowhere. I think the only thing that helped was that Eric Mortimer and Vinnie Peters yanked his ad from the Driveline after the problems dragged on.
Once I received the wrong belts, I received a year worth of excuses. He even called me at home once after I stated some of these facts on the NCRS Board, but I told him that I called it as I saw it. I also told him I'd inform people once the issue was resolved.
Once he eventually obtained some correct color NOS material for my belts (he says he didn't have the correct color in the beginning), I eventually sent them back and a month later received the beautiful set I now have. I've asked him a few times to make me a driver set from the correct material, sans date codes, etc., but I haven't gotten very far. I guess I'll keep looking for another set and/or keep bugging him.
The sad thing is that he was the best in the Corvette Seat belt business up until 2 years ago. Everyone recommended him highly. Oh well.
Thanks to Eric and Vinnie, and also thanks to the others who asisted along the way.
Patrick
This is an update for those who know about my Seat Belt Saga of the past two years with Sunwest Auto Specialties and its owner Karl Roepke.
In late March, almost 2 years to the day after I sent off my seat belts to Sunwest Auto Specialties, I received them back, done correctly. Actually, they are now exactly, perfectly as they should be and should have been. In fact they are so nice that I want to find a different set to use for Driver Duty until I actually restore the 71.
The color is dead nuts on, the clips have the correct clear plastic coating, and my original retainers are installed on them. The date code is now stamped with the exact date I requested. I could not have asked for any more as far as appearance and quality are concerned.
If you recall, I was originally supposed to have them back a month after I sent them out in March, 2001. In reality, I didn't receive them for several months, and then they were the wrong color with the wrong retainers. In addition, my originals weren't returned as I had requested and they were not date stamped. Other than the fact that the metal piece had been restored they were totally incorrect for my application. Several phone calls were useless, and talking with Karl him at Carlisle in 2001 got me nowhere. I think the only thing that helped was that Eric Mortimer and Vinnie Peters yanked his ad from the Driveline after the problems dragged on.
Once I received the wrong belts, I received a year worth of excuses. He even called me at home once after I stated some of these facts on the NCRS Board, but I told him that I called it as I saw it. I also told him I'd inform people once the issue was resolved.
Once he eventually obtained some correct color NOS material for my belts (he says he didn't have the correct color in the beginning), I eventually sent them back and a month later received the beautiful set I now have. I've asked him a few times to make me a driver set from the correct material, sans date codes, etc., but I haven't gotten very far. I guess I'll keep looking for another set and/or keep bugging him.
The sad thing is that he was the best in the Corvette Seat belt business up until 2 years ago. Everyone recommended him highly. Oh well.
Thanks to Eric and Vinnie, and also thanks to the others who asisted along the way.
Patrick