Reworking My Camaro Seat Belts To Pass Through
04-07-2006, 07:05 PM
#21
Safety Car
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
I will be sure to make additions to this post with more pics detailing the process. It will probably be tomorrow night before I can add to the post. Depending on wheter or not we go to the hockey playoff game tonight.
04-07-2006, 07:25 PM
#22
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by redwingvette
I used the tan Firebird seatbelts. hey don't match the saddle interior but looks better then black would have. http://hometown.aol.com/bmclau5079/page3.html
Actually, the medium saddle and black doesn't look bad. These Firebird belts actually look darker than the picture shows do to the flash.
Last edited by 74 vert; 04-07-2006 at 07:28 PM.
04-07-2006, 10:50 PM
#23
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The pass through look great and are probably safer.
I have a 71. I would like to add shoulder belts especially for when the kids ride with me. Is it possible to add the shoulder belts if it never had them? Where do you anchor them in the rear?
I have a 71. I would like to add shoulder belts especially for when the kids ride with me. Is it possible to add the shoulder belts if it never had them? Where do you anchor them in the rear?
04-08-2006, 04:13 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by Rich_71Vette
The pass through look great and are probably safer.
I have a 71. I would like to add shoulder belts especially for when the kids ride with me. Is it possible to add the shoulder belts if it never had them? Where do you anchor them in the rear?
I have a 71. I would like to add shoulder belts especially for when the kids ride with me. Is it possible to add the shoulder belts if it never had them? Where do you anchor them in the rear?
Love the belts though. Those are the REARS from the last generation F-body?
04-08-2006, 09:26 AM
#25
Safety Car
To get the belt through the seat opening:
1. Remove the plastic cover.
2. Use two adjustable wrenches, one on each side, and pry the sides apart until the center blade can be removed.
3. The belt will then pass through the seat.
4. Reverse to re-install the buckle.
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...23_93_full.jpg
It is easier if you have someoneto help.
1. Remove the plastic cover.
2. Use two adjustable wrenches, one on each side, and pry the sides apart until the center blade can be removed.
3. The belt will then pass through the seat.
4. Reverse to re-install the buckle.
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...23_93_full.jpg
It is easier if you have someoneto help.
Last edited by redwingvette; 04-08-2006 at 02:25 PM.
04-08-2006, 11:52 AM
#26
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Originally Posted by redwingvette
To get the belt through the seat opening:
1. Remove the plastic cover.
2. Use two adjustable wrenches, one on each side, and pry the sides apart until the center blade can be removed.
3. The belt will then pass through the seat.
4. Reverse to re-install the buckle.
It is easier if you have someoneto help.
1. Remove the plastic cover.
2. Use two adjustable wrenches, one on each side, and pry the sides apart until the center blade can be removed.
3. The belt will then pass through the seat.
4. Reverse to re-install the buckle.
It is easier if you have someoneto help.
04-08-2006, 12:16 PM
#27
Race Director
My girlfriend won't let me put shoulder belts in our '71. Something about funny tan lines (it's a convertible). I don't get that, it's not like she's driving around with her top off.
05-07-2006, 02:30 AM
#28
Safety Car
need an update
I have my new covers and the parts to convert to the pass thru. it states the inner brackets need to be welded to the seat frame. did you have to do this??
05-07-2006, 10:18 AM
#29
Race Director
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by gator79
I have my new covers and the parts to convert to the pass thru. it states the inner brackets need to be welded to the seat frame. did you have to do this??
My seats were predrilled with holes that lined up with the brackets. I just bolted everything together. Hopefully I am understanding what you are asking. Let me upload some pics and hopefully they will show what you are asking. No welding was needed for this to be done. My parts came with no instructions and I was looking in the AIM for assembly.
05-07-2006, 10:53 AM
#30
Race Director
Thread Starter
Here are the parts I used to make the pass through on one side.
The seat belt latch with the cover removed. Then grab the corners enough to bend them out just enough to let the cadmium plated part come out at an angle. DO NOT OVER BEND THE LATCH!!! IT WILL BREAK!!!
Disassemble the seat back from the bottom. Then take off the back of the seat. You will see where the cover is attached to the frame of the seat.
Cut the hog rings and pull the cover to the sides so you can gain access to the bolts that hold the seat back latching mechanism.
The seat belt latch with the cover removed. Then grab the corners enough to bend them out just enough to let the cadmium plated part come out at an angle. DO NOT OVER BEND THE LATCH!!! IT WILL BREAK!!!
Disassemble the seat back from the bottom. Then take off the back of the seat. You will see where the cover is attached to the frame of the seat.
Cut the hog rings and pull the cover to the sides so you can gain access to the bolts that hold the seat back latching mechanism.
05-07-2006, 10:54 AM
#31
Race Director
Thread Starter
Remove the seat belt latching mechanism and lay it to the side. If it needs any work to it now is the time. Pull the foam out of the upper rear section of the seat. Be careful not to tear it. You can pull the foam before you pull the seat back latching mechanism if you like. Then you will see the four nuts that hold the decorative trim to the upper front of the seat. Remove the four nuts and remove the upper trim.
Install the new upper trim part and put the nuts back in place. Once in place you can see where you will need to trim the leather for the pass through. I made a slit down the middle and trimmed the foam behind the pass through.
Bolt in the rear part of the pass through to the holes in the frame. You can see the factory holes in the frame if you look just above my fingers.
Mock the rear foam on the rear of the seat so you can see which side needs to have the foam removed for the pass through. When you are sure which side to cut you can see there is a little outline in the foam. Cut the outline out using a sharp knife.
I then installed the foam back into the upper back of the seat. Reinstalled the seat back latching mechanism. Stretched the cover back into place and installed the rear trim piece over the pass through. Then you will need to trim the leather in the back for the pass through.
Reassemble the seat back to the back of the seat. Install the completed seat back to the seat. Do not bolt the seat back into the car just yet but do place the seat back into the car. Feed the seat belt through the seat and bolt it to the floor. Next reinstall the seat belt latch you removed earlier. Pop the cover back on the latch and you should be done.
Hopefully I have not left anything out. But I think I am close. I may have a few more pics but that is most of them that I took. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. I noticed one of the pics above may be from drivers and then others are from the passengers seat.
Install the new upper trim part and put the nuts back in place. Once in place you can see where you will need to trim the leather for the pass through. I made a slit down the middle and trimmed the foam behind the pass through.
Bolt in the rear part of the pass through to the holes in the frame. You can see the factory holes in the frame if you look just above my fingers.
Mock the rear foam on the rear of the seat so you can see which side needs to have the foam removed for the pass through. When you are sure which side to cut you can see there is a little outline in the foam. Cut the outline out using a sharp knife.
I then installed the foam back into the upper back of the seat. Reinstalled the seat back latching mechanism. Stretched the cover back into place and installed the rear trim piece over the pass through. Then you will need to trim the leather in the back for the pass through.
Reassemble the seat back to the back of the seat. Install the completed seat back to the seat. Do not bolt the seat back into the car just yet but do place the seat back into the car. Feed the seat belt through the seat and bolt it to the floor. Next reinstall the seat belt latch you removed earlier. Pop the cover back on the latch and you should be done.
Hopefully I have not left anything out. But I think I am close. I may have a few more pics but that is most of them that I took. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. I noticed one of the pics above may be from drivers and then others are from the passengers seat.
05-07-2006, 12:07 PM
#32
Safety Car
thanks Eddie that is pretty much step by step instructions 
I am in the same delima you were in, I have new leather seats and hated to have the seat belt sort of just hanging there, not sure I like it,
I will go ahead with it and if for some reason don't like it I could allways just pull the belt back thru. did you use the reciver part from the camaro belts?
I am in the same delima you were in, I have new leather seats and hated to have the seat belt sort of just hanging there, not sure I like it,
I will go ahead with it and if for some reason don't like it I could allways just pull the belt back thru. did you use the reciver part from the camaro belts?
05-07-2006, 12:30 PM
#33
Race Director
Thread Starter
Yes. I used all parts from the camaro seat belts with the exception of where the latch reciever is concerned. I still used the camaro reciever but I used the original plastic sleeve over the reciever. I am guessing that is clear as mud.
05-08-2006, 12:19 AM
#35
Safety Car
I just took my seats apart and my shoulder brackets have a place to mount inside the seat also. no welding required my lower seat springs are quite rusty, I guess this is comon. I have a friend with an upholstery shop and he some spring stock. now all I need is my new foam to come in.
my lower seat springs are quite rusty, I guess this is comon. I have a friend with an upholstery shop and he some spring stock. now all I need is my new foam to come in.
05-08-2006, 11:29 AM
#36
Safety Car
Hello,
Thanks for the step by step photos. Those were exactly what I needed to see in order to get the buckles through the slots on my 73.
I already have the holes in the seat from the original seatbelts, and have bought the dark gray firebird rear seatbelts. It seems that there are more wrecked firebirds than there are camaros. These cost me $75 for the complete rear set including the buckles.
Now that I have your photos, it should be an easier job to do.
kdf
Thanks for the step by step photos. Those were exactly what I needed to see in order to get the buckles through the slots on my 73.
I already have the holes in the seat from the original seatbelts, and have bought the dark gray firebird rear seatbelts. It seems that there are more wrecked firebirds than there are camaros. These cost me $75 for the complete rear set including the buckles.
Now that I have your photos, it should be an easier job to do.
kdf
07-25-2006, 05:03 PM
#37
Race Director
Thread Starter
TTT for someone who was asking about this post recently.
07-25-2006, 06:58 PM
#38
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
I should have held out for Firebird belts ...
07-25-2006, 10:12 PM
#39
Race Director
Thread Starter
Nothing different about the Firebird seat belts but you can get them in Black where as the camaro belts are a dark grey. I put the camaro belts in my vette and like them. You can see them in the pics. I just wanted everyone to be aware that you can get black belts vs the camaro dark grey.
