66 seat belts

[Jim S.]

After reading the tips yesterday about how to clean seat belts I fiqured it was as good a time as any to clean mine.So I pulled them out of the storage box and got them ready for soaking. But, before I proceded I picked up the Jg to see what I should be looking for.
Now here is my question :should all tags have a date on them? all 4 of mine do not!!!
As to their decription:they are the brushed metal buckle with the blue bowtie and black background. The outside pair brackets are both dated 1-66 and have the white plastic cap covering the return spring.All 4 belts have the same tags which read as follows:

GM

THIS BELT MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS

OF SAE SPEC J-4C AND FEDERAL SPEC.

HAMIL 1966

MODEL # C10

Not one of them has any date on them,and they were plenty dirty so I doubt that they have ever been washed before ! Than as a further Deviation from the JG the tag is stitched in with blue thread that matches the fabic color on both sides!!!
Other than that they are as decribed in the JG .I should also note that the tags are pretty worn , indicating that they weren't replacements !
So what have I got here Guys
Jim

[Justin N.]

Re: 66 seat belts

Jim,

I sent my belts off to Ssnake oyl to have new webbing attached. My 67 coupe, built Dec of 1966 has a similar pair of belts. The buckles are of the same visual appearance. I also had the Hamill label, with C-10 which stands for the lap belts. I can't remember other date #'s and I didn't add labels to the refurbished belts. My car won't be flight judged. Hope this helps.

Justin #14362

[Peter L.]

Re: 66 seat belts

Jim - If the color of the belts are correct for the car and the configuration is what you would expect for your car, i.e. 2nd design, I'd say you have the original belts. I think this is typical of original belt tags especially in cars that were driven. What a novel concept. It does seem like (1) the ink they used didn't survive the test of time especially if the belts were used or (2) maybe they weren't very religious about stamping the tags. Look at the tags under a bright light and see if you can see the remains of the black ink, but if the belts have seen heavy use or even 35+ years of use and tags are worn, it might be a long shot. I suspect that number 1 above is the problem because they needed to have some production control mechanism but if the numbers went away after they sold the belts or they were used, oh well. Good luck. Pete

[Rob M.]

Re: 66 seat belts

Jim,

My May 66 car has belts as you describe. The date code on the driver's side is no longer there due to use. On the passenger side, you can just see the remains of the black date code. I would say yours are original and that Pete's post was right on the money.

[Gerard F.]

I think your #2 theory is correct

On my 67 seat belts, only one belt tag (outboard passenger)had a date code. Before I cleaned up my original belts and restored the buckles, I put a bright light, and magnifying glass on the other three tags looking for at least a remnant of the date code, and none was to be found.

Also on the stitching of the tags, it was black on both sides. (black belts).

Here's a picture of the buckle end tags. I'll admit that the drivers side tag is a little tattered.
67 owner since 1968

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Jim S.]

thanks guys !!! Jerry I want your buckles

Thanks for all your responces !!

I knew mine had to be right But as per the JG I had no dates and no white stiching so I had to ask..I guess I will either take a hit on the right ones or pop for new repo tags and make up a date,and stitch them the way they werent!!

Jerry, you picture could have been my picture.....with the exception of the buckles. How did you get them soooo pretty ? Mine look every bid as used as the tags indicate.

jim

[Gerard F.]

I cheated on the buckle tops.

Jim,

The tops and the pawl springs came off of a pair of 1976 replacement belts I acquired from Bill Stephenson from a post on this forum. However the backs and other parts are my originals.

I spent many hours trying to get the right color of the bow-tie with nail polish and various paints. On the sixth experiment, I settled on a mixture of Denim Blue and Royal Blue (about 50-50) sprayed into a Galviscon container and applied with a fine paint brush.

Here's a picture of the buckle disassembled:


The buckle top in the picture is my original after doing my best on it. See the pits, the other one was actually cracked.

Well, I guess I blew my originality points, but I even learned how to sew on this project to get the buckles back on the belts.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Jim S.]

Ah Ha !!!!!!

For the bowtie I went the Testors model paint route..Its a little darker than yours but acceptable!!!
I guess ,I will have to cheat also.That is if I can find another set for the buckle tops. If and when I do I will call you for disasembly instructions !!
So at least, you have "that" to look foward to !! lol
Thanks,
Jim

[Gerard F.]

Disassembly Instructions

Jim,

Here is a picture of the disassembly:


Small screwdriver into the end opposite the belts, twist and pry up. It's easy.

But on original belts, you have to unstitch the end to get the belt off the buckle. See the little unremovable strap on the retainer bar in the other picture. Not so on replacement belt buckles; the retainer bar is "I" shaped and no unstitching is required to take the buckle off , or on.

This RCF-65 buckle is a real piece of work, and I'm planning a Restorer article on it. Now you have about 10% of the article.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179