Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

[Randy R.]

Jerry,

Do you have a spec for the thread used to sew the belts when you restored yours? I visited a fabric shop and an upholstery shop and found an overwhelming number of choices. The colors did not seem to match and I don't have any idea what type and wieght of thread material would work. I would like to know the weight, material and color that you used on your bright blue seat belts and where your obtained it.

Thanks for the help.

Randy

[Gerard F.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

Randy,

The belts I restitched the ends in the Restorer Article were black so my color choice was limited. The belts on the car in the beginning of the article were added by the editor to illustrate the finished buckle in place.

The thread I used was just a nylon upholstery thread I got at Walmart ("Coats" Craft Nylon Upholstery Home Dec) It is not as thick as the original, but was the heaviest I could find. Remember I was only doing the untensioned buckle end and labels.

If you are doing the tension ends of the belts you might want to find something heavier. As far as color, I would just try to find something that reasonably matches the original thread.

Dr. Rebuild sells the stitching pattern and the belt webbing, maybe they can give you a line on the correct thread and color for the bright blue.

Also, maybe someone else will chime in.

Regards,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Stephen L.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

Randy, I replaced the labels on my 67 seatbelts. The webbing etc was in perfect condition. Mine were also black. i went to the local shoe repair shop for sewing. I had to provide the thread which was a black polyester #207 weight. The shoemaker had only #60. I found the thread on the internet and ordered a spool.....probably enough to do 1000 labels.....This is the same thread as used for the buckles etc.
The shoemaker was very obliging in that he had to readjust his machine for this task. It took some trials to get it correct..

Purchased from www.thethreadexchange.com

http://www.thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TTE&Category_Code=BP

Have fun

[Stephen L.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

A photo of the label on my restored belts

[Harmon C.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

I got a deduction once for polyester thread on the labels. The judge said the original thread was cotton and she could tell the difference. I just took the hit as I knew she was a thread expert.

Lyle

[Randy R.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

Thank you for all of the excellent information.
Randy

[Stephen L.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

Did she have her chemical analysis kit with her along with her microscope to detect the difference. I've got the old thread as well as the new and I'll be darned if you can see a detectable difference in the two.... IF GM EVEN USED ALL COTTON THREAD!!!!! Could she smell the old 67 air in the spare......

[Harmon C.]

Re: Attn: Jerry Fuccillo, seat belt restoration

Steve
This was her answer as I questioned how she knew the difference.
The test is cotton when you wet it like to thread a needle comes to a point. Poly thread will just fray out and not make a point. I told you she was a thread expert.
Lyle