73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Seats and Restraints => Topic started by: vince311 on December 28, 2008, 11:12:36 pm

Title: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on December 28, 2008, 11:12:36 pm
Wondering if anyone has pics of their installed aftermarket 3-point retracting seat belts? I bought the RetroBelt set up...and the instructions are not great. Its unclear where the 3rd point should be bolted.

The belts I have can be seen here: http://www.trubelt.com/products/details/id/3 (http://www.trubelt.com/products/details/id/3)
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: DnStClr on December 29, 2008, 03:16:47 pm
Vince, did you see their link for installation help?
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on December 29, 2008, 03:20:45 pm
Vince, did you see their link for installation help?

yep. already went that route. they have examples of how to install in cars/convertibles...and a general install guide. I'm looking for specific examples for a chevy/gmc truck application. The more I look at it...it appears I'm going to have to create a new anchor point in the floor. Thought I would take a chance, see if anyone else on the forum had installed this type of belt before.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: Captkaos on December 29, 2008, 06:15:32 pm
Haven't seen them, but I am interested.  Any pics of the seat upholstery?  Feedback?
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on December 29, 2008, 06:38:38 pm
Haven't seen them, but I am interested.  Any pics of the seat upholstery?  Feedback?

Yes! Sorry for the delay. Here are a couple pics (they don't do the truck any justice)...need to get some good ones when the warm weather returns.

Some of the work done to date includes:
- painted door skins
- installed new bench skin (thanks Chris!)
- new carpet
- replaced dash bezel
- painted various plastic pieces
- replaced steering wheel with a Grant wheel
- added rear cab speakers, using OEM style brackets
- new floor mats
- seat belts are in progress

(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/side.jpg)
(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/cab.jpg)
(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/rear_cab.jpg)
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: Captkaos on December 29, 2008, 06:40:42 pm
Sweet!
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on December 29, 2008, 06:46:33 pm
Sweet!
The wrinkles on the side look worse in the photos. For never having installed upholstery skin before...they came out well. The best part...the truck no longer stinks of old man :-)
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on December 31, 2008, 08:57:54 pm
I think the one on the pillar (shoulder) is one point and the other two (on the floor) go together in the same anchor point. 

Here's a site with pictures
http://www.julianos.com/how2_3point74chevy.html (http://www.julianos.com/how2_3point74chevy.html)

A pic from the site above.  Notice both lower parts goto the same bracket.
(http://www.julianos.com/images/3pt74chevy23.jpg)
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on January 01, 2009, 06:34:02 pm
I think the one on the pillar (shoulder) is one point and the other two (on the floor) go together in the same anchor point. 

Here's a site with pictures
http://www.julianos.com/how2_3point74chevy.html (http://www.julianos.com/how2_3point74chevy.html)

A pic from the site above.  Notice both lower parts goto the same bracket.


Funny you sent this link...i came across this very same website, but it didn't click the first time around.

After further review of my belts, all I needed to do was twist the belt so the top most pillar connection faces the other way. Thinking outside the box :-) Waiting on an angle bracket, then I'll post pics. The belts look like good quality. Trubelt.com is where I bought them. Seemed to be the best price from my research.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: SUX2BU99 on January 05, 2009, 01:32:46 pm
Wondering if anyone has pics of their installed aftermarket 3-point retracting seat belts? I bought the RetroBelt set up...and the instructions are not great. Its unclear where the 3rd point should be bolted.

The belts I have can be seen here: http://www.trubelt.com/products/details/id/3 (http://www.trubelt.com/products/details/id/3)

From the pic in that link, I see it attaching at all 3 factory bolt holes unless I'm seeing something your aren't? One at the floor where the retractor pod goes, one at the shoulder in the B pillar, and the third on the floor where the push-button buckle piece is. You shouldn't have to reuse any holes twice. The inner floor holes should be sorta near the tranny tunnel. The outers are near the doors.

I like the looks of that system. Much less bulky retractor housing and mine is getting beat up plus it's brown. I want black.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on January 05, 2009, 01:49:47 pm
Wondering if anyone has pics of their installed aftermarket 3-point retracting seat belts? I bought the RetroBelt set up...and the instructions are not great. Its unclear where the 3rd point should be bolted.

The belts I have can be seen here: http://www.trubelt.com/products/details/id/3 (http://www.trubelt.com/products/details/id/3)

From the pic in that link, I see it attaching at all 3 factory bolt holes unless I'm seeing something your aren't? One at the floor where the retractor pod goes, one at the shoulder in the B pillar, and the third on the floor where the push-button buckle piece is. You shouldn't have to reuse any holes twice. The inner floor holes should be sorta near the tranny tunnel. The outers are near the doors.

I like the looks of that system. Much less bulky retractor housing and mine is getting beat up plus it's brown. I want black.

When I initially received the belts, and installed the top most bolt into the B pillar....the rest of the connections were not pointing in the right direction (seemingly everything was twisted). I've sense "twisted" them the correct way, so that they will install similar to the pic that 78 chevrado posted.

Here is a breakdown of the various connection points. Point 1 obviously installs at the OEM location on the B pillar. Point 3 installs at the OEM location (near the tranny hump). Point 2 installs at the OEM retractor position (via an angle bracket). Point 4 appears to install at the same location as Point 2.
(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/3pt_belt.jpg)

I'm waiting on the angle brackets to show up. Once they do...I'll install and post pics.


Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on January 06, 2009, 01:46:17 pm
RetroBelt Conclusion:

Belts are finally installed. Below are a few pics. Overall, I love the new look....and the small retractor is great. The buckles are old school and appear sturdy. The grade 5 mounting bracket solved the install dilemma. I did not have to drill or modify any mounting holes.

The only thing that is a bit odd, is how the belt sits when I'm in the seat and buckled. When the seat is all the way back, and the belt is buckled...the buckle rests just off center of my body, rather than at my hip. If I scoot the seat forward...this is somewhat corrected, and the buckle sits closer to my hip. So, either the receiving end of the belt is 3 or 4 inches too long...or I just need to gain some serious weight :-)  Despite the fit, I tested the belts out this morning....and they definitely work.

thanks for everyone's advice/input.

(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/bench.jpg)(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/pass_belt.jpg)

(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/retractor.jpg) (http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/hardware.jpg)

(http://www.ewertdesign.com/chevy/interior/buckle.jpg)
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: Captkaos on January 06, 2009, 04:25:59 pm
They look good!
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: JRConnieK10 on January 06, 2009, 04:57:11 pm
Nice, clean look.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: 69byrd on January 06, 2009, 10:37:12 pm
Good job with the install, they look great.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: ccz145a on January 07, 2009, 07:49:27 am
They do look good. Great job.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: SUX2BU99 on January 07, 2009, 03:08:51 pm
Thanks for the reply and those do look great. You are probably right about the length of the buckle piece though; maybe they build that in for fat people!  lol  Or it's like that for cars with bucket seats and seat belt holes that are further back.  The whole setup looks great though. So that angle bracket, is that just a piece of thick steel bent in a 90? Did you buy them like that or make them?
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on January 07, 2009, 04:10:37 pm
Thanks for the reply and those do look great. You are probably right about the length of the buckle piece though; maybe they build that in for fat people!  lol  Or it's like that for cars with bucket seats and seat belt holes that are further back.  The whole setup looks great though. So that angle bracket, is that just a piece of thick steel bent in a 90? Did you buy them like that or make them?

Yes...my "fat" friend fit just fine. oh well.

I bought the angle bracket from Trubelt/Retro Belt. They offer several pieces of mounting hardware so you can fit to your specific vehicle. All of the hardware pieces are grade 5....as are the bolts I used.

Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: treepete on April 14, 2009, 05:31:28 pm
y know how noob dudes never search for stuff before posting. Im ressurecting this post just to say ITS THE BEST SEATBELT POST ON THE FORUM. ( i think)  lol

thanks Im getting this setup. its the final piece I need for my truck.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on April 14, 2009, 05:34:17 pm
y know how noob dudes never search for stuff before posting. Im ressurecting this post just to say ITS THE BEST SEATBELT POST ON THE FORUM. ( i think)  lol

thanks Im getting this setup. its the final piece I need for my truck.

Do I get some kind of award fo the best seatbelt post? LOL. Would be interested in seeing your pics when done. The pics...showing the details are really the key on any of the better posts. IMO.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: treepete on April 14, 2009, 05:48:51 pm
I agree, and thats what sold me on the setup. I just got off the horn with the dude at trubelt and he totally was helpful and they'll be here friday or monday.

awesomeness. thanks again.
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: treepete on April 26, 2009, 06:52:27 pm
well, I know its frowned upon to bring up a really old thread, but, this was a perfect solution to my black-seat-blue-seatbelt problem.

I bought the exact same gear mentioned in this thread, and the install was exactly the same and worked perfectly. Im super excited and wanted to say thanks again.

So, thanks again,

Pete
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: roundhouse on May 09, 2014, 05:32:50 pm
bringing this back.

are they still in buisness,?

they website now only shows belts for camaros and corvettes?
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: Captkaos on May 09, 2014, 05:41:22 pm
Yes and we are a dealer for them.  Right now they are working on a kit for out trucks.  Otherwise you have to get the normal seat belts and add them as this member did...
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: roundhouse on May 09, 2014, 07:05:59 pm
the thread didnt say which kit he bought,

I saw the thread for the new ones that are $300 a set.

its gonna be a driver, not a show truck, so as long as they are safe,

we bought a set that were supposed to be from a 81-87,  with no center female anchors
which we already had from our 1982 donor truck, (one shoulder belts in the donor got chewed by a rodent),

the plug on shoulder belts  is a little too wide to fit into the anchor.

grrrrr.


thought about grinding a little off the male plug so it will fit.

how many different size plugs did they make?
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: vince311 on May 10, 2014, 10:27:04 pm
the thread didnt say which kit he bought,




Went back and looked at the receipt.

Purchased Products:
One Passenger 3 Point Lap and Shoulder Seatbelt chrome Push Button style buckle (3P1P-PUSHB)
Color: Black Webbing
Price: US$64.90
Quantity: 2

One Passenger 2 Point Lap belt w/ CHROME Pushbutton buckle (1lap-pbc1-bk)
Color: Black Webbing
Price: US$17.90
Quantity: 1
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: Captkaos on May 13, 2014, 09:52:21 pm
What we sell for these in black are:
 3P-BLK-PB20 for the 3 point with 20" receiver - $80
 UT-20305 90 degree bracket - $7.50 x 2
 2P-BLK-C75PBSB black lap belt Chrome buckle with starburst button - $35

Plus whatever shipping is...

If you want specific pricing email me...
Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: ck80 on July 10, 2014, 10:21:07 am
Easier to bump than to start a new post (maybe?) but I was wondering if anyone who used these bets used them in a 1977 Truck?

My truck has a retractor portion of the assembly mounted halfway up the b-pillar. I understand that the early 3pt belts were set up like this instead of the floor attachment. Has anyone used them on an older truck and might know how well they do/don't fit?

I'm not looking to do custom fabrication to get them in there, I just want to take them out of a box and bolt them in.

Title: Re: RetroBelt installation?
Post by: Captkaos on August 18, 2014, 12:05:04 am
show me what you have.  think I know which ones you are talking about, but the aftermarket stuff bolts to the floor and B pillar..