seat belt tutorial
 

I sold someone some seat belts parts today and wanted to post a tutorial on how to take apart and reassemble our seat belt components. I know many of you know how to do this but some may not. If someone has any corrections or additions feel free to add to this thread when I am done. I also have a thread where I kind of cleaned/restored a set

Seat belt restoration

In this first picture I am pointing out what holds the plastic onto the metal mechanism. Be carefull trying to get them off you can tear the plastic easily. I hold the plastic body in one hand and try to pull straight out on the metal mechanism.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psafd254ae.jpg

In the next picture I have the belt pulled all the way out showing the clip that holds the belt to the recoil part. I did not remove the clip as they can be tough to get off and on. I usually just get a screwdriver behind it and pry it off. Putting it back on can be frustrating and I don't have any tips for you.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps563dc30d.jpg

This shows the direction of the screw/bolt

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psf2fa0397.jpg

This shows the cut out of the screw

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psda27bcde.jpg

Here is the bolt with the sleeve it goes through

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps73ef126c.jpg

This is the notch in the recoil mechanism that the bolt and sleeve fit into.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps633020cc.jpg

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Here is the bolt and sleve in the mechanism. This is just to show how it goes. You have to have the belt clipped to the recoil mechanism. You then have to slide the recoil mechanism with the sleeve in facing the correct way back into the metal housing. When it is aligned with the hole you slide the screw through spinning it until the slot matches the recoil mechanism and you can push it the rest of the way through.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psde212d4b.jpg

This is just to show how the spring fits into the plastic ends of the recoil mechanism. The other side is similar, Just remember upon installation the notched part has to go on the nut side (same side as the mounting tab)

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps267f49a4.jpg

I mark the head of the philips screw. When everything is back together you will have to preload the recoil spring.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps8ea05d49.jpg

I pull the belt out and hold it. With a philips screwdriver in the screw and a 1/2 inch wrench or socket on the other I loosen the nut while holding the screw. I then count how many turns the screw takes to unload (mine was about 6). Before snapping the plastic cover back on test the spring tension. You should be able to pull the belt all the way out until you see that clip. The belt should also recoil back all the way. There is a fine line between too much and not enough. You will get it after a few tries. When you are happy snug the nut a little more (while adjusting you will have to hold the screw with a screwdriver and loosen and then tighten that nut snugly each time for each adjustment). You won't have to crank on that nut, just snug until you are happy and when happy tighten a little more. Snap the cover on and you are done with that part.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psaacfe870.jpg

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Here is how you take the buckle apart I am pointing to where you have to pry. Carefull they crack/break easy!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psfba8710c.jpg

This is the notch in the back of the cover

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psca767136.jpg

And the matching notch on the buckle

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps3f019193.jpg

Here is the notch on the side that you are prying it apart for

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps5e2fc2ed.jpg

And the matching notch in the plastic cover

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps77534023.jpg

Here is the button in the cover. Note the metal part in the front. It is in wrong

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pse1f9d5ea.jpg

Here is how the metal piece is supposed to go.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd227b4a8.jpg

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Here is how the buckle looks with the webbing removed. Make sure the friction part moves freely and the release part moves freely.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psfd2dbe22.jpg

Here is how you start feeding the webbing back through the buckle.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psebf8cbe7.jpg

And then feed it back through.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps214bbce7.jpg

Here is how it should look when it is back through. While feeding it you can leave a big loop in the buckle and pull it tight when the folded part is back through.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps05e16e14.jpg

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

When snapping the plastic cover on you have to start at the back. Remember the notches?

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps49ee7622.jpg

Make sure you have the button in place and facing the right way.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps2209a98e.jpg

Then I just hold it like this and snap it back together. If its not all lined up in the back and that metal piece I showed upside down isn't in correctly it wont go back together.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psb38317fc.jpg

If it is all correct the sides of the plastic will be flush with the metal buckle part.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psa3ef8cca.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ps8e6b943f.jpg

I hope this helps somebody.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

It helps me. The webbing refuses to move in the buckles of my '67 Corvette. They look very similar.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Very helpful, thx!
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Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Sometimes that friction roller will get rusted in place. Pop the plastic cover off and see if that is the case. Sometimes the webbing will get stuck to that friction roller also. With the plastic cover off sometimes you can munipulate the webing and free everything up. Don't the corvettes have all metal buckles? Don't know how to take them apart?

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

x2! I hereby nominate this thread for a position in the FAQ section

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Great post! I was searching the forums for this info yesterday. This needs to be in the FAQ section.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Great thread! Thanks! I have taken the buckle covers and lower boots off but never attempted the retractors. Btw, i have found that a table knife is great for getting the buckle covers off. Shhh...dont tell my wife!
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Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Thank you for sharing, this great info.
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Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Reading these posts makes it worth taking the time to do threads like this for the members here. I have learned a lot from others here and like to help when I can. Thanks

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Bumping this up as search only brings up 100 posts.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

bump

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Great info, thanks for sharing

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

bump for some new views

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

bump for some new reads

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

I bought some replacement lap belts out of LMC because my K5 has universal latch belts from the PO and they don't adjust too well. I'm trying to install them but they have no instructions and I'm quite baffled as to where the original mounting locations were? Any knowledge you guys can drop on me would be much appreciated.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

4 points of attachment - 1st pic is close up of the outside belt attach point on the driv side. Same on pax side. 2nd pic shows the other 3 locations. The center 2 attach points have 2 belts attached as depicted. Hope this helps. Pardon my fancy rusted "bucket" seat...

EDIT: oh, and one more thing, since I kinda stuck the arrow over the belts by accident - the driver's side inner attach point should have two female belts and the passenger side inner attach point should have one female and one male belt attached. This way, when seated in the middle, the rider would stretch a male belt across his lap from right to left to hook into the female coupling on his left. If that makes sense. As you look at the bench seat with nobody in it, going from driver's side to passenger side it should go in this order:

- Driver's side male (retractable with boot) mounted to the floor
- Driver's side female (mounted to driver's side inner mounting point)
- Middle passenger female (mounted to same driver's side inner mounting point)
- Middle passenger male (mounted to passenger side inner mounting point)
- Passenger side female (mounted to same passenger side inner mounting point)
- Passenger side male (retractable with boot) mounted to the floor

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

So I guess to change the plastic seatbelt cover I would have to remove the clip that you didn't want to take off like in your picture??

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Bumping this thread as someone was looking for this information.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Thank you for this. Just read it today, I need to find some aqua covers that need to be replaced.And this explains how to replace them.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

You are welcome sir. I’m glad someone could use the information.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

Excellent thread. A great step by step.

Thanks for the time you put in on this one. I have tried to document different restoration projects but find I just don't have the patience as it REALLY slows down the job at hand.

Well done and appreciated.

Re: seat belt tutorial
 

I am glad you found it useful. So many people of help to be on this forum I try to give back when I can.