'72 Seatbelt guide bars?

[Scott M.]

I have a 72 that I am getting ready to replace the carpet in. I was trying to take out the bars that guide the seatbelt strap (mounted under the seat). Apparently the bracket under the body has rusted so much that the bolt is frozen in the bracket and now the bracket just keeps turning. I guess it came loose from the body. I know that I will have to cut that bolt off to get it out, but how do I repair the bracket on the underside? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Scott

[Harmon C.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

First I think that the carpet may not be installed under the bar so the bolt need not be removed. Their is a metal plate under the fiberglass with a nut welded to it and it will be hard to replace.

[Scott M.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

I am pretty sure the carpet goes under the bar. There was old carpet caught under the bolts of the bar. After looking into the matter more, I found that the metal bracket with the nuts welded to it that goes underneath the bar has completely rusted through. It is going to have to be replaced. I don't see how I can do this without taking the body up off the frame. That is not such a big deal. I have already done it 3 times before. What is a big deal is I just spent $11Gs at the paint and body shop. So I will have to be more than extra careful not to damage it!! I was looking through a few of my Corvette parts catalogs and I am having trouble finding that bracket. Do they even sell it? How can I get one?

Scott

[Harmon C.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

I think that bracket may be welded to the U channel where the body mounts are. I would weld a nut on a plate and install it from the underside somehow without taking the body off. Did you have other rust in the body mount area on #2&#3 mount?

[Patrick H.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Scott,

Here are two pictures of the bar and correct carpet layout on a 72.
Sorry - no pics right now of underneath.

Patrick

[Harmon C.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Patrick's picture looks like no carpet under the bar. Notice the blackout of the area that shows after carpet instalation.

[Patrick H.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Patrick's picture looks like no carpet under the bar. Notice the blackout of the area that shows after carpet instalation.

Lyle,

You got it.
Untouched car, 67000 miles.
Well, untouched until I took out the seats to clean it...

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Could there have been a change durign production from no carpet under the bar, with black-out to carpet under the bar and hold the black-out? I have no knowledge; I'm just asking.

Maybe Reba knows??

[Scott M.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Well, carpet or no carpet, my bigger issue now is getting a replacement bracket for that seatbelt guide. On the other side, the nut that was welded to the bracket has broken loose so I will still have to pick the body up off the frame to fix that side. The bracket on that side still looks to be in really good condition. I think the reason the driver side rusted out was because over time some debris had collected there between the frame rail and the body, trapping moisture next to the bracket. I am having trouble locating this bracket. Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks guys

Scott

[Patrick H.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Could there have been a change durign production from no carpet under the bar, with black-out to carpet under the bar and hold the black-out? I have no knowledge; I'm just asking.

Maybe Reba knows??

October car in the photo, June car under the cover in the garage. Neither one has carpet there - though the yellow car has not been disassembled to figure it out, just observed.

Patrick

[Edward J.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Scott, Is It Possiable If You Cut The Head Of The Bolt Off That You Can Squeez A Nut And Bolt Onto The Bracket? I Im Not Looking At The Area, I Know Everything Is A Tight Fit Under The Rocker Maybe A Magnet With The Nut Attached To It Might Work, No One Will Ever Know.

[Reba W.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

There is no carpet under the bar. I saw one that done so and the belt did not retract properly because of the material within the channel.

[Scott M.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

OK. So there is no carpet under the guide bar. Thanks for clearing that part up guys. Now...where can I get the bracket that the guide bar mounts to. The on one the driver's side is completely rusted out. This piece is illistrated in the assembly manual on page M39 and is referred to as "extension". Any help is greatly appreciated!

Scott

[Patrick H.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

OK. So there is no carpet under the guide bar. Thanks for clearing that part up guys. Now...where can I get the bracket that the guide bar mounts to. The on one the driver's side is completely rusted out. This piece is illistrated in the assembly manual on page M39 and is referred to as "extension". Any help is greatly appreciated!

Scott

Check with Paragon, Contemporary Corvette, or a similar location that may have old Corvettes to use as donors.

Patrick

[Scott M.]

Re: '72 Seatbelt guide bars?

Thanks Patrick!
I called Paragon and they have them. Ordered one for the driver's side.
Thanks to everyone else too!

Scott