63 Seat Belts

[Richard W.]

Back in February there was a post to the effect that 63 Nova Seat Belts were the same as that year Corvette except for the label. Is this so?

[Jack H.]

Re: 63 Seat Belts

I can't speak specifically to Nova, but quite a few of the Chevy passenger cars in a given year used components of seat belts common to Corvette. The tag would change with the PN to indicate different lengths of belt fabric + floor anchor hardware.

Such a belt would give you Corvette 'correct' buckle, latch, and fabric as a 'core' to build a set of belts for your car. I DO know that equivalent Corvair belts (with bucket seat option) are very close to Corvette in that era....

[Geoff C.]

[Tracy C.]

Re: Naaaa Close but no Cigar

The only version of the counterbored latch I've seen came from a 63 Impala. The depth is only .020 deep. This is shallow enough that the rest of the surface can be sanded off to level out the buckel without compromising structural properties of the latch mechanism. In a collision, the load on the buckel is taken out on the thick casting surrounding the bolt that the latches hinges on, not the flat section a person lifts to release the buckel.

Webbing can also be re-dyed using the modern fabric dye found on the shelves of your local hobby stores without compromising strengh. I've never heard of the "coal-tar" stuff, but I honestly doubt it would weaken nylon webbing anyway.

tc