early '72 seat belt question
Last evening I was taking the interior of my car apart to prepare to replace the carpet. When I got to the lap belt retractors I saw something I didn't expect. Being an early '72 the seat belt warning system uses a timer, not the switch in the seat. The retractors have a 2 wire connector which I assume is for the late '72 seatbelt warning system. With this feature can they be original to the car? Going to have them restored, just want to make sure I restore the right parts. Thanks!
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
Are the dates on the tags on the belts consistent with the build date of your Corvette?Terry -
Re: early '72 seat belt question
No tags at all. The belts are shot and need to be restored.Comment
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
How early is the car? Do you have the latest JG? The last revision of it pinpoints the addition of the interlock to December 1971. Does the light on the dash extinguish in about 15 seconds?Comment
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
It's an October '71 car. It does have the timer and it works. Light comes on for about 15 seconds and goes off regardless of whether there's someone in the seat or not. It was not working but I replaced it with an NOS timer a year or so ago. Oh, no pigtail coming out of the seats and no harness is visible but I don't have the carpet out yet.Comment
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
It sound as though it is working properly. Cars built before December have only timer delay, no buzzer and no interlock. I had to replace one of my belts and it also has the wiring for interlock but is not hooked up. A complete description of the two designs is on page 13 of the current 1970-72 judging guide.Comment
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
Hi Tom. Hope you are well. Hope too that that beautiful car is looking as good as when I saw it at Carlisle.
FWIW, my Aug 23, 1971 built car has the timer set up (of course) and dated belts. I can't say what the date is because the car is in winter hibernation for another couple months, however, I do know that the belt assys have no timer connection on them. Since I haven't owned the car since new, I cannot say with 100% certainty that my belts are original to the car. Perhaps by October, GM was readying components for the mandated interlock engineering change? Hopefully, some owners of cars built between August and October (or November/December) will post with their info.
BTW, I think I know where your NOS timer came from
Hope this helps...Don Lowe
NCRS #44382
Carolinas ChapterComment
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
Guess the lap belts I have are not original. If I find correct belts then good for me. On the other hand, I can't imagine anyone would know the difference with them installed and the covers on them, right?Comment
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Re: early '72 seat belt question
You are correct. As I state previously, one of my belts has the late-'72 wiring under the plastic cover.Comment
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