LMC seatbelt help!

[UKNOWME]

If anyone has any pics of LMC's 3 point seat belts installed I would appreciate them. I'm not sure how they bolt to the floor properly.

[J Knight]

I have seen a truck with them installed and they do bolt to the factory seat belt bolt on the floor however there is no cover for the retractor which looks horrible IMHO.

[TKCR]

http://www.seatbeltstore.com/category-s/43.htm

I used this place for my seatbelts. I am very happy with them, easy to install and they match perfectly. Now you have to call them directly, some of these colored belts only have black plastic covers on them. Like the grey ones I wanted with the GM buckle. The belts were grey but all the plastic was black. So I got these, they are the same, but the buckle was generic. The belt & plastic was all grey. I found GM buckle decals and put them in there.

http://www.seatbeltstore.com/category-s/63.htm

[TKCR]

And here's a pic of the buckle with the GM decals I found. It looks black in the pic, but it's grey

[UKNOWME]

That does look good. I already have the LMC ones though and need to get it ready for the car show this weekend. Maybe I can get those later.

[TKCR]

Just don't put any in for now. I went without seat belts for over a year. Send the LMC ones back, if you haven't used them yet. They probably won't take them if they have been used.

[UKNOWME]

Not used but not sure if I still have all the packaging intact. I'll use them for now. I can always switch later. I need a seat belt for my 6 year old to cruise with me.

[UKNOWME]

Would still appreciate pics of anyone has these installed in their truck.

[95 S_Trucker]

I put some in my 85 before I sold it. They fit so bad I dint take any pics. The buckle section is way too long. The retractor does not have a cover. And you had to pull them out really slow or else they would lock up.

I would put the old OE seatbelts back in if I were you.


Edit: I found a pic with a rigged cover over the retractor:

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Just don't put any in for now. I went without seat belts for over a year. Send the LMC ones back, if you haven't used them yet. They probably won't take them if they have been used.

That is a terrible idea. Most states have seatbelt laws. I'd rather have a couple bruises from a seat belt than be ejected during a collision.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

That is a terrible idea. Most states have seatbelt laws. I'd rather have a couple bruises from a seat belt than be ejected during a collision.

You are correct in saying that, but it was just a suggestion, that's all. There are also laws against drinking & driving, texting & driving but that doesn't stop people from doing it. Just saying.

[UKNOWME]

It's all good. I appreciate everyone help!

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

Edit: I found a pic with a rigged cover over the retractor:

I would rather see the retractor than that fine looking cover 👍🏻

[TexasJeff]

I bought a brand new set seat belts (set of 3, 2 shoulder, 1 lap) from a couple at a swap meet here in Houston, there names were Larry and Donna Jefferies, they were from Kanas. They are good quality seat belts and have the GM logo in the button. I believe they are on Facebook, can't check that here from work but their phone numbers are cell 316-371-5939 and 620-867-2303 email is jefferiescoolcarstuff@yahoo.com. I do believe they are still in business.

[UKNOWME]

Thanks, I'll look into that later. In the meantime I need to install these ones from LMC so I have seatbelts.

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by Chaplain

If you have a set of OEM belts would the covers work on the LMC retractors?

Maaaaaaaybe with some good mods but I don't see it working.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I can take pictures of how I installed mine later. They aren't pretty but at least it'll save me.

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

I can take pictures of how I installed mine later. They aren't pretty but at least it'll save me.

Please do! Thank you!

[TrailerTrash]

I just installed mine 3 weeks ago. it was super simple... after i figured out the trick with an hour of searching online.

the instructions say to reuse the original hardware with wasnt the best thing to say since the top anchor bolts(up by your head) are not even close to the same size. and they want you to use their bolts and washers to attach them to the floor which means putting their smaller bolts through the factory threaded holes that are larger than the bolts then using washers and nuts on the underside to secure them to the floor. i hope that makes sense.

long story short use the stock bolts for the floor mounts and the upper most mounts. mounting the retractor is easiest if you have factory mid mounted and floor mounted retractors like my 77 had. my 79 has the combo upper/lower retractor mounted to the floor.

I dont know what years came with which setups and what they are like on 81-87s so ill just try the best i can

from my 77(tan) new from LMC(black). note the 2 separate retractors on the tan ones.


here is the combo mount from my 79. NOTE the little dimple in the recessed part of the door jam above the striker. that will need to be drilled out if you have this setup


this is where the factory mid mount retractors are bolted. from the door jam.


you need to use the L bracket from the LMC hardware aswell as their bolts/washers/nuts to mount the L bracket to the retractor then to the inside of the door jam.

[Titomars]

Originally Posted by Chaplain

Whoa...even though they function the same looks like a fair amount of difference in the appearance. It would appear that the retractor is up and out of the way compared to the factory retractor. If that's true there is an advantage to the LMC design.

Please clarify.

The factory 77 retractor actually has 2 retractors per belt. One one the floor (lap belt) and another half way up the door jamb (shoulder belt). It looks like the LMC belt only uses one retractor on the jamb for both with a sliding buckle.
It does clean things up a bit.

[TrailerTrash]

Originally Posted by Chaplain

Whoa...even though they function the same looks like a fair amount of difference in the appearance. It would appear that the retractor is up and out of the way compared to the factory retractor. If that's true there is an advantage to the LMC design.

Please clarify.

this is correct. only one retractor and its kinda behind the seat around the corner. there might be a way to move them even farther out of sight if you switch up the L bracket a bit.

Originally Posted by Titomars

The factory 77 retractor actually has 2 retractors per belt. One one the floor (lap belt) and another half way up the door jamb (shoulder belt). It looks like the LMC belt only uses one retractor on the jamb for both with a sliding buckle.
It does clean things up a bit.

also correct. the 79 also has 2 retractors but they are both floor mounted. thats why you have to drill out the dimple.

the sliding buckle stays in place well so you dont have to slide it to fit each and every time.

[Titomars]

Originally Posted by TrailerTrash

the sliding buckle stays in place well so you dont have to slide it to fit each and every time.

OK, I got a question for you. When you unbuckle and just let it "fly" does the belt retract fast enough to let the buckle bang into the wall/trim panel? while the drivers side may never see that happen, you know careless passengers.
I have had a few of those that did that and it used to send me into flames when a passenger let it fly.

[TrailerTrash]

honestly they are a little weak and once it awhile i gotta help it feed back in the last inch or so. the buckle is almost too heavy for the retractor.

other than that and what 95 S_Trucker said about having to pull them out slowly so they dont lock, i have no other complaints.

[73FrankenTruck]

I'm not sure why it took so long to find this thread, as I've been searching this topic for sometime...but I cannot give enough thanks to TrailerTrash for posting these pictures. It all makes sense now. I ordered belts from LMC as well, and was resigned to drilling extra holes as I had no idea what LMC had intended with these.

Really, thanks so much.

[TrailerTrash]

you are welcome dude!