Seat belt upgrade

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rqlewis

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2024
Messages
6
Reaction score
9
Location
Deale, Maryland
My Car
1973 Mustang coupe.
The original driver side seatbelt decided to fall apart today. So it is a good time to upgrade. (It’s turning out that the life expectancy of plastic is around 50 yrs, ha) Does anyone have a recommendation for a 3 point replacement?
 
There had been many posts on this subject.
From my own research and experience, I found that nearly all the seat belt systems sold, are basically the same thing, just different names on them. US made doesn't mean "entirely".
However, beware of cheaper Chinse made belt systems which are plentiful on Amazon etc. These might be ok on your off road side-by-side, but I found the webbing to be thinner and a retractor locked up solid.
In my post on this, I actually used part of one of these, but used the webbing from the better Seatbelt Solution's belts.
Here's a link to my post.

https://7173mustangs.com/threads/i-just-installed-yet-another-set-of-front-seat-belts.43478/
 
There had been many posts on this subject.
From my own research and experience, I found that nearly all the seat belt systems sold, are basically the same thing, just different names on them. US made doesn't mean "entirely".
However, beware of cheaper Chinse made belt systems which are plentiful on Amazon etc. These might be ok on your off road side-by-side, but I found the webbing to be thinner and a retractor locked up solid.
In my post on this, I actually used part of one of these, but used the webbing from the better Seatbelt Solution's belts.
Here's a link to my post.

https://7173mustangs.com/threads/i-just-installed-yet-another-set-of-front-seat-belts.43478/
Thanks!
 
There had been many posts on this subject.
From my own research and experience, I found that nearly all the seat belt systems sold, are basically the same thing, just different names on them. US made doesn't mean "entirely".
However, beware of cheaper Chinse made belt systems which are plentiful on Amazon etc. These might be ok on your off road side-by-side, but I found the webbing to be thinner and a retractor locked up solid.
In my post on this, I actually used part of one of these, but used the webbing from the better Seatbelt Solution's belts.
Here's a link to my post.

https://7173mustangs.com/threads/i-just-installed-yet-another-set-of-front-seat-belts.43478/
They are not identical. When I was ordering seatbelts for my 73, I needed front and rear 3pt ones. That led me to calling one of the big names in the business and talking with them a bit.

The big difference is really cosmetic when you buy from the different manufacturers. The little herringbone pattern woven into the belt material is different. And if you order a set of front and a set of rear with the same buckle, just off the shelf, they will be made at 2 different places so the material will be different.

I told seatbeltplanet on the phone what I wanted and they made them all so they were a matched set. Front and rear 3pt belts with the front having the drop down extension. The cost ended up being cheaper than ordering the separate front and rear sets off the website, too.
 
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They are not identical. When I was ordering seatbelts for my 73, I needed front and real 3pt ones. That led me to calling one of the big names in the business and talking with them a bit.

The big difference is really cosmetic when you buy from the different manufacturers. The little herringbone pattern woven into the belt material is different. And if you order a set of front and a set of rear with the same buckle, just off the shelf, they will be made at 2 different places so the material will be different.

I told seatbeltplanet on the phone what I wanted and they made them all so they were a matched set. Front and rear 3pt belts with the front having the drop down extension. The cost ended up being cheaper than ordering the separate front and rear sets off the website, too.
Thanks for the tip!
 
They are not identical. When I was ordering seatbelts for my 73, I needed front and real 3pt ones. That led me to calling one of the big names in the business and talking with them a bit.

The big difference is really cosmetic when you buy from the different manufacturers. The little herringbone pattern woven into the belt material is different. And if you order a set of front and a set of rear with the same buckle, just off the shelf, they will be made at 2 different places so the material will be different.

I told seatbeltplanet on the phone what I wanted and they made them all so they were a matched set. Front and rear 3pt belts with the front having the drop down extension. The cost ended up being cheaper than ordering the separate front and rear sets off the website, too.
I didn't say identical, I said basically the same. However, I would agree that Seatbelt Planet offer the better service and quality along with a good selection of options.
None of the US suppliers offer a free sliding tang like we have in our modern cars. This sliding tang could look exactly like the original style, but be far easier to use and also allow full retraction of the belt when not in use. This was my big beef with the aftermarket 3 point belt systems and the prime reason I sort of made my own to suit MY needs.
 
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