Need help restoring (finding) Red 62 seatbelts.

[Clare Carpenter]

There has been some good info and discussions on the board lately regarding seatbelt restoration, specifically correct "Red" as used on '62's. After seeing the results Rob Edwards got with his, I thought maybe mine could be brought back too. I sent them out to Charlie at Seatbelt Sity for evaluation. He has been referred to me over Snake Oyl but I understand both sources do good work. Charlie said he could be improve the fabric but due to fading and some stains he didn't think would come out, he didn't feel he could restore them to a condition I would be happy with.

I have the painted 810 style buckles. The paddles can be restored but the bases are too badly pitted for rechroming, as the pits will still show thru. That's where I'm at. My options are to find and replace the base buckles and restore the painted paddles and use repro fabric, or to find NOS or restorable vintage Red fabric. I know this fabric was used in other GM cars but I don't know for how long or what years the correct Red was used. I don't have any slavage yards near me, that I'm aware of, for vintage cars where I can look for the right fabric. Restoring the buckles ain't gonna be cheap so I hate to have to use repro fabric for the money I'm spending.

My original plan was to use repro belts thinking it would be just like installing an Al Knoch interior. Now I know better. Any suggestions, tips, leads, or otherwise would be greatly appreciated.

[Alec Manocchio]

Re: Need help restoring (finding) Red 62 seatbelts

I was under the impression that the 810 style belts were only used until 61??, You can call Mike @ Americas Finest Corvettes 1 760-443-8982 he would know for sure, he also has tons of seat belt parts

[Tracy C.]

Re: Need help restoring (finding) Red 62 seatbelts

Clare,

Have you considered re-dying your fabric yourself? At this point, you don't have much to loose. I recently discussed this offline with Gordon Peterson and his wife is a quazi professional seamtress. He passed this info on to me...

"The wife says talk to a furniture upholsterer - they will know who does good permanent fabric dying. Any good dry cleaner should know who does dying. Also, a cobbler will know who can permanently dye fabric (for making womens' fabric shoes match their dress)"

Obvisously, the belts need to be as clean as you can get them before you start and the biggest challenge here will be the polyester nylon content of the fabric.

Just a though, but if you get to it before me, let us knwo the outcome. I'll do likewise.

good luck,
tc

[Clare Carpenter]

More info on 62 Seatbelts

Alec, Thanks for the tip I'll give Mike @ America's Finest a call and see what he has in the way of parts and or fabric.

On whether the 810's were used in 1962, they definately were. The question is regarding VIN # production cutoff. My older judging manual (yellow cover) states the 810's were only used up to around VIN 2500. My car has low 3000 range VIN and came with the painted 810 model buckles with "Federal" spec Irving Air Chute lables. I am sure they are original to my car. It was unrestored when I bought it nearly 20 yrs ago. Mike Ernst requested additional information on my car because they are currently revising the judging manual. Chris Henige, a fellow chapter member and Red '62 owner also has the 810's in his car, his car is VIN #2654.

Here is a link with further date dicussion and other information on belts:

https://www.ncrs.org/forum/tech.cgi/noframes/read/172577&expand/1#172577

Tracy, Re-dying nylon belts is not an option. I asked Charlie @ Seatbelt Sity about re-dying and I wasn't surprised when he said it can't be done with good results. The problem is with nylon, the color is added before the fiber is spun. Nylon fiber once made won't absorb color evenly. Charlie says the faded areas will never match the non faded areas. There are other tricks that can sometimes be employed, like turning the fabric around and putting a faded area underneath the seat but for mine, not an option. Unless I can find correct NOS Red stock or the correct vintage fabric in cherry condition from a GM donor vehicle, I will have to use new poly repro webbing. It can be had in the right color and the only difference is in the thickness, poly webbing being thinner than nylon.

From a safety standpoint it probably makes more sense to go with new fabric anyway.

[Tracy C.]

I like it when vendors tell me it can't be done

It motivates me even more...

As far as the "saftey" aspect goes, I'll bet a dollar to a dog log that the amount of force it takes to break a slightly worn selt belt would result in cutting a person in half anyway. If the fabric has EXTREME UV exposure, a case might be made.

Yup, ya gotta love those guys sellin incorrect new parts.

[Clare Carpenter]

Re: I like it when vendors tell me it can't be don

Tracy, I'm going to give cleaning and dying a try when I get my fabric back, just for kicks. As far as the safety factor is concerned, new fabric is the way to go. However, I wouldn't want to be the test dummy either way. Racing harnesses have an "expiration date" and get replaced on a regular basis to pass safety inspections. Potential stretching, (not breaking) caused by UV exposure, in the event of a crash is why they're replaced.