73 challenger seat belts

[tony 73]

How do these work ? This one is the driver's side. The floor belt and  roof one are firmly fastened together. There is a plastic type tape that is wound around the dome like stud on the floor retracting belts SS buckle. The roof belts buckle is wedged down over this plastic.
 The passenger side belts come apart when manipulated, there is no plastic tape
 Are they meant to come apart ? If so , how do you go about putting the belt on when you get into the car to go for a drive.
Am hoping to re-use the belts, New Zealand officials may say different.
I can post more pics if that will help.
Also, there is some color fad, was going to try to dye . Any one had any success with dye or paint ?
Thanks tony

[73EStroker]

Tony, reply from an old guy that grew up around Hamilton/ Taupiri/ Ngaruawahia area in the Waikato.

My 73 belts have the shoulder piece totally removable from the lap setup by simply twisting and releasing so that you can have a lap belt only. You would then place the shoulder belt in clips along the top of the door frame beside your head. That plastic arrangement does not look right as the shoulder part clips on to what I would describe as a solid steel chrome mushroom type stud that is solidly attached to the lap buckle which looks correct. So if they are clipped together they form a lap shoulder arrangement which I use all the time. Your shoulder belt looks correct. My son's 73 Charger was exactly the same and he was the second owner of a totally original car. His had those clips mine are long gone. I will be changing the seats in favour of Sparcos so will be putting new belts in. My car is a restomod so I can ship you some seat belts if you need them. You just pay shipping.
Who does the WOF inspection for these? Your local guy or some govt agency?

[tony 73]

Hi Barry,
 Thanks for the great news, as I said I am hoping to use the belts. I will ring the inspection business and check that I can use them if they are in good condition. The WOF is carried out by an independent business on behalf of the Govt. The repair inspector is happy to sign my structual and panel repairs off, so this business will have a real tough look at brakes , steering , suspension , safety, etc.
 I think I have the clips that hold the shoulder belt to the roof. Am about to mock it up today to see if it all fits. If I can use the belts , I would be keen to  grab yours. Would only need the shoulder belts as the floor ones are in excellent condition ./Are they black? , and have no faded patches ?
Thanks tony

[tony 73]

One more question; I have 6 bolts to fix the seat belts, 2 of them are longer and have more blank shank. Where do the longer ones go ? Am thinking in the roof to provide more pivot ?
 thanks, tony.

[burdar]

There are three different lengths of seat belt bolts.  I'm going by memory here...  The shortest ones attach the rear retractor mechanisms to the floor pan.(2)  The medium length bolts attach the rear belts, the shoulder belts(at the roof) and the front retractors to the floor pan.(6)  The longest ones attach the front seat belts to the trans tunnel.(2)