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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?
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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.... -
Naaaa Close but no Cigar
Seat Belts in 1963 Chevrolet (except Corvette) were an accessory. All such were identified by a round countersunk depression occupied by a glued in thick Aluminum disc about 7/8 inch OD that was silkscreened with a message that included “Chevrolet Custom Feature Accessory”. Since the Corvette buckle top was smooth, this countesunk cavity cannot be filled. Even using an end mill to level the surface, to remove the depression from the buckle does not work safely as the material become too thin.
The rest of the 1963 buckle is nearly identical including the chrome male tonge from the other end. Remember: Irvin Air Chute did not have one blanking die for 1963 stamped steel buckle parts, nor one cavity in an aluminum die cast mold.
The heavy unique webbing of 1963 Corvette was found in 1963 Chev pass cars, if the colors matched and the length was sufficient. Dyeing was never recommended for nylon as coal tar dyes were considered to weaken the nylon material and compromise safety.
The mounts to the floor were much different in the 1963 Chev pass cars. When the accessory seat belts were added to pass car, they used a threaded eye bolt with 2 large fender washers and nut to provide a fixture point on the underbody. The metal end sewn to those belts that engaged the eye bolt were different than Corvette. Much different.
Geoffrey Coenen
PS Some 1963 Pontiac did use the same smooth top buckle as 1963 Corvette and the same nylon weave. The 1963 Corvette Navy material was identical in color to that in some 1963 Pontiyaks. Black was a 100 percent match. (except for length, floor brackets & labels.Comment
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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.
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