C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

[Russ S.]

How does the outward side of the seat belt pass through the carpet? Is it simply a slot in the carpet or was there something in the carpet to make an opening. I have a photo of mine after the carpet was removed but the carpet was lost. I see a part near the rear of the door that looks like a big oval.

Update: I just found my answer, these are seatbelt guides. Anyone know where to get originals in Saddle?

Slifer-1968-2 005.jpgcarpet belt issue.jpg

[Dale C.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

Russ
You might try Chris at Big City Corvettes (925-785-8593) if you are looking for the origional ones with the anchor molded into the rubber. They come up fairly often on EBay. With your car apart, is your AM/FM radio a stereo? I can't remember but that was a sometime in production thing so not all cars had them, another 68 thing. If you don't mind I am looking at two things. First the stereo. If yours is the stereo I think the JM is wrong on the stereo light (top right of the face) being in cursive for 68 and not block lettering untill 69. I have a bunch of examples to the contrary. Most of the rebuilders I talked to think this is bunch of whooey. Won't give his name but he does alot of radio's for our members and he thinks these script letters, that somehow worked their way into the our sacred book, are from a different model. Thinks the script maybe for Buick, anyway all he see is is block for the Corvette 7303211 for both the 68 and 69. Availability of script or block lettering would not be a production show stopper, bigger deal to NCRS than to Delco. The other is the emission sticker. Is yours car a BB with A/C?????????
Thanks
Dale

[Russ S.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

Thanks I will check with Chris.
Sorry but the radio is not stereo. Yes I have 427/390 4-speed with A/C but don't ask me about the emission sticker. I don't have a clean photo of if and it was removed during restoration with the assumption that a repo was available. Bad assumption I know.

[Rich G.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

My July built 68 coupe has the original carpet in it and it is only a slot cut in the carpet. I believe there were some change(s) during the year. I remember a discussion about this several years ago. Maybe Reba will comment.

Rich

[Rich G.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

Deleted duplicate message, don't know how that happened.

Rich

[Jack C.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

My January built 68 has the molded rubber grommet color coded to the interior color.

[Reba W.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

In preparing the lastest JG revision, we did not find a date for addition of the grommets, Rich. Like many other interior items, the change may have occurred at differing times as carpet colors were used up. (only my theory, not gospel)

Here is the wording, which I believe is unchanged from the 3rd Edition:

Occasionally in 1968 and on all 1969s, a color-keyed vinyl grommet is found between the seat and sill plate for the seat belt to pass through the carpet.

[Mark D.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

I believe the grommet was stapled in place.

[Russ S.]

Re: C3 '68 carpet question (seat belt opening)

My May car had it, but I was probably one of the earliest cars (earlier than the JG reference) with a 69 color saddle. As such, the grommet planned for 69 ended up in my car.