65 seat belt identification

[Noel K.]

The judges didn't like my seat belts in my '65 April build date small block roadster. Their comments being they didn't think they were correctly dated. The following is more information:

The driver side belts exhibit the following -

There is an Irving chute label sewn on the retractable "male" belt that has has the following info

CORVETTE
772COR-H '64
FEDERAL SPEC. JJ-B-185a
SAE J4a
IRVING AIR CHUTE CO.
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

The attaching plate on the end of the belt that attaches to the floor is chrome and stamp info is ID 5000.75.17

The retractor is stamped :

PAT.PEND.

MOD. 100 B-W

The female belt has the same ID.5000.75.17 on the bolt end plate. The buckle end is stamped:

ID 8000-1-10
The back side of the buckle contains what I would define as the standard disclaimer about using the seat belt, adjust snugly,extend belt from any wind up, etc.

The passenger's side belts are identical in the above markings.

The judges didn't like the date of '64 embroidered in the Irvington Chute label stating the '64 was not correct for my 1965 car.

I have tried to identify the stitching pattern from a diagram I received from LIC and it does not appear exactly as their diagram as there are two "boxes" of stitching on the belt - not one as drawn on their diagram.

So, before I send these belts off to Snake OYL for new (correct) labels (only) -

Do I have the correct belts, just wrong labels.
Do I have the correct belts, and the labels are correct.
Is none of the above correct and I need to start looking for the correct items.

I spoke with a wonderful lady at the Snake Oyl booth at Carlisle this year and showed her one side(set)of the belts. She said that she felt certain the belts were correct, but she wasn't sure about the label date.

Thanks in advance,

Noel Kendall

[Donald T.]

Re: 65 seat belt identification

Noel,

The original seat belts on my mid-May 65 are also dated 64. The JG even makes mention of the fact that 64 dated seat belts are common on 65's. Besides, wouldn't the 6 months rule apply here?

[John S.]

Re: 65 seat belt identification

Noel,

The original seat belts in my late May 1965 have the same markings as yours, but the labels have a 1965 date code.

[John H.]

Re: 65 seat belt identification

If the "H-64" is August, 1964, that date is well outside the 6-month "window" for an April '65-built car.

[Wayne M.]

Doubt the "H" refers to a month

Especially as there's about 3 spaces between the "772COR-H" grouping and the "'64". All I've seen are like yours (my late '65 doesn't have its orignals). The lettering is incorporated into the stitching (ie. not stamped). If "H" was the month, they'd have to re-program the sewimg machine every 30 days. This is probably why the '65 TM&JG says to "check date for applicability", followed by "many 1965 cars have been observed with tag date of 1964".

I vote that "H" is not a month reference.

[John H.]

Re: Doubt the "H" refers to a month

Wayne -

That's why I said "if" - I don't know.

[Michael H.]

Re: Doubt the "H" refers to a month

I agree Wayne. My Sept 65 built 66 has belts that have 65 on the label and the same "H" but it's several spaces to the left of the "65". I believe the year on the tag is just the year of mfg for the belts, not the car.

[Donald T.]

Re: Doubt the "H" refers to a month

My seat belts are labeled 772COR-H '64. There are no spaces in the 772COR-H, then there are several spaces before the '64. The 772COR-H is just the model # and there is no month code on the labels; just the year designation. As such I don't know why the 6 month rule would not apply. Perhaps the judges are human after all.

[Jim V.]

Re: 65 seat belt identification

Noel, both my last and current 65's had the 64 label. It is original! Don't change how the car left the factory to please a misinformed NCRS judge!

The best quote I have read on this kind of nonsense is by Pete L. who said, "I guess the guys at the St. Louis assembly plant were reading the GM assembly manual instead of the NCRS Judging Manual that day".

I also got a deduction when top flighting my last 65 because the judge didn't read the Judging Manual. The build dates where January and July of 65.

Jim

[Tracy C.]

Re: 65 seat belt identification

Noel,

The 64 date on the belt lable might be considered early for an April 65 build car but I wouldn't think this would be cause for a deduct. I'd think the 6 month rule would be in your favor here.

Agree with others in that there is no month designator on the lables..only the year of manufacture for the belt.

tc