'68 Seat Belt Question

[Brian W.]

The judging manual states (page 4)some early '68's have retractors on the outboard belt. My '68 (Dec.14-67) has original belts with the outboard anchor and white plastic spring covers but no springs were found. There's a black plastic sleeve approx. 8.5" long that runs under the seat to the chrome bracket at the outside edge of the seat. I have been told by one person that I do not have retractors, the belts were assembled without springs at the rewind end on some cars. I have also been told that I should have retractors and that most '68's had them. Does anyone out there have any idea which is correct for mid-Dec. car. Thanks
Brian

[Terry B.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

Brian,

My Dec '67 built '68 convertible had the original belts with no retractors. Earlier cars may have had them. There was a thread on this subject either late last year or early this year, check the archives.

I'm not sure what you are referring to about, "white plastic spring covers but no springs were found." Can you post a picture? I had the " black plastic sleeve approx. 8.5" long that runs under the seat to the chrome bracket at the outside edge of the seat" on my car.

Let me know if you have other questions about labels on the belts. I have done alot of research on the subject.

Terry

[Gene M.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

Brian,
You need to remove the seat and pull back the carpet to be sure. Early 68's retractors, located under the seat and carpet where they got old time working on them. And thus they don't retract any more. The spring under the white plastic housing you speak of is a negator type flat spring. It looses it tension easily in a bad environment.

They are very difficult to get them to work as intended. It's a poor design at best. The sharp 90 degree angle the belt takes to wrap around the person in the seat doesn't help either. Creating a lot of drag.

[Rich G.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

My July 68 built 1968 coupe has original belts with no retractors.

[Brian W.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

Thanks for the feedback. I took pictures but I can't figure out how to post them. I'm a dinosaur I guess. Is there a way to identify a retractor belt from a non retractor belt. I'm trying to figure out which ones I have. Thanks again.
Brian

[James H.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

Easiest way I discovered is to take pictures with my blackberry on smallest file and then email them back to myself on my laptop,save to a file then upload to my thread.. good luck

[Jeff P.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

I took my seats out to clean I believe for the first time and my belts did not retract. Build is 3/68

[Michael D.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

April 20, 68. My belts do not retract.

[James H.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

My vin is #320. maybe 2nd day of new production and they don't retract

[William H.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

My late Dec car don't retract

[Jim T.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

On page 32 of my 68's owners manual it says "For retractor equipped belts, pull retractor half of the belt to a solid stop to make sure that the belt webbing is completely unwound from the retractor drum, then connect the belt and make the necessary adjustments at the buckle for proper fit."

I don't know if my 68 is equipped with the retractors inside the plastic housing for the belts under the seats, have not examined them. If the retactors are there, they have quit retracting.

[Joseph Y.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

my 68 with build date feb 13 68 has the vinyl sleaves and a retractor only on driver side

[Jim T.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

my 68 with build date feb 13 68 has the vinyl sleaves and a retractor only on driver side

Does your retractor work?

[Joseph Y.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

Does your retractor work?

the original one in car befpore restoration did not was able to find one at snakeoyl

[Darrell I.]

Re: '68 Seat Belt Question

My Dec 12 build 1968 has retractors on both sides. The belts are out all the way as they do not work anymore.