Need male seatbelt latch - early 69.

[Douglas C.]

Hi all. I am missing the male seatbelt latch for my early 69 (built Jan. 69), does anyone have one I can buy or know where I can locate one?

Thanks,

Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: Need male seatbelt latch - early 69.

Just and FYI. I hope you know that there was a campaign (most f the unknowing public and media call these "recalls") fpr earl;y 1969 seat belts.

You will find all the details of this campaign in the new (4th Edition) of the 1968-69 TIM&JG. Sadly we didn't realize the need to number the pages and pages of Technical Service Bulletins, Technical Information Bulletins, Product Campaign Bulletins, and articles from Chevrolet Service News, so I can not tell you the page -- but it is Campaign Number 9002 (No, that does NOT mean there were 9001 others - thank God!). Most important to you, Doug, is the sentence: "These problems were corrected in production on October 16, 1968 starting with Serial No. 704628." So you need the second design 1969 seat belt. And for those of you still caught up in "early or late" production: This makes Doug's Corvette a late production relative to seat belts.

Doug, you might give a shout to Sal Carbone. Look him up on the "members list" under the "community" button on the blue bar near the top of this page. I know at one time he had a first design seat belt in black (BTW you didn't tell us your interior color) -- but that is gone and replaced by one of the legendary stories of Corvette history.

[Douglas C.]

Re: Need male seatbelt latch - early 69.

Just and FYI. I hope you know that there was a campaign (most f the unknowing public and media call these "recalls") fpr earl;y 1969 seat belts.

You will find all the details of this campaign in the new (4th Edition) of the 1968-69 TIM&JG. Sadly we didn't realize the need to number the pages and pages of Technical Service Bulletins, Technical Information Bulletins, Product Campaign Bulletins, and articles from Chevrolet Service News, so I can not tell you the page -- but it is Campaign Number 9002 (No, that does NOT mean there were 9001 others - thank God!). Most important to you, Doug, is the sentence: "These problems were corrected in production on October 16, 1968 starting with Serial No. 704628." So you need the second design 1969 seat belt. And for those of you still caught up in "early or late" production: This makes Doug's Corvette a late production relative to seat belts.

Doug, you might give a shout to Sal Carbone. Look him up on the "members list" under the "community" button on the blue bar near the top of this page. I know at one time he had a first design seat belt in black (BTW you didn't tell us your interior color) -- but that is gone and replaced by one of the legendary stories of Corvette history.

Hi Terry,

I did not mention the interior color (Bright Blue)since the latch I need is the one that has the roller and slides onto the belt. The male roller type latch on the driver side belt has a small # 209 stamped into it.

Does that help in explaining what I am looking for?

Thanks,

Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: Need male seatbelt latch - early 69.

Hi Terry,

I did not mention the interior color (Bright Blue)since the latch I need is the one that has the roller and slides onto the belt. The male roller type latch on the driver side belt has a small # 209 stamped into it.

Does that help in explaining what I am looking for?

Thanks,

Doug

Sorry, I missed that it was latch only that you needed. Reading too fast = poor comprehension. Sorry that number doesn't help me, but it might help someone else reading this. I suppose a photo might be an additional help.

I am pretty sure the latch was never available separately, so one off of a trashed belt might be your only hope.

I am not exactly sure what part that campaign relates too, but it is either in the latch and/or tongue. The issue with the first design belt assembly is if the tongue was put in the latch with side A up -- the tongue would pull out of the latch when the belt was placed under tension. In an accident you can understand why that might result in a less than desirable outcome. Inserting with side A down made the assembly work fine. I do not know if it was the tongue or the buckle that was redesigned, or both. Ralph Spears or Sal Carbone might know if it was one or the other. Knowing that might help you in your search, in that it might allow you to refine your search somewhat.

[Douglas C.]

Re: Need male seatbelt latch - early 69.

Sorry, I missed that it was latch only that you needed. Reading too fast = poor comprehension. Sorry that number doesn't help me, but it might help someone else reading this. I suppose a photo might be an additional help.

I am pretty sure the latch was never available separately, so one off of a trashed belt might be your only hope.

I am not exactly sure what part that campaign relates too, but it is either in the latch and/or tongue. The issue with the first design belt assembly is if the tongue was put in the latch with side A up -- the tongue would pull out of the latch when the belt was placed under tension. In an accident you can understand why that might result in a less than desirable outcome. Inserting with side A down made the assembly work fine. I do not know if it was the tongue or the buckle that was redesigned, or both. Ralph Spears or Sal Carbone might know if it was one or the other. Knowing that might help you in your search, in that it might allow you to refine your search somewhat.

Thanks again, I'll try to get a pic soon to post.

Doug