65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
I tried to remove seat belts from 65 Roadster to send for refurbishing but found driver side outside belt anchor bolt was just spinning. I understand the attaching nut that is welded to frame probably came loose. Is there any way to remove this bolt without damaging the car, but more importantly reattach the belt. A frame off restoration is not in my future.
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Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
John - Click this link to see what the outside seat belt anchor bracket looks like. http://www.zip-corvette.com/catalog/...tegory/6436/It, The inboard and outboard brackets are actually riveted to the body but then there's a steel cable that connects them to the frame. Do you have your '65 AIM, the exploded drawing would be in there.Mike T. - Prescott AZ. -
Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
Mike, I looked at both the AIM and your link to zip. Now I see what the anchor looks like and it is obvious that it cannot be replaced with the body on the frame. Do you or anybody know of a work around? I know it won't meet NCRS judging standards, but at this point my only option appears to be the leave that one belt alone, refurbish the other three, and just eat the points deduction for the one belt not up to standards. What do you think?Comment
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Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
John,
I suppose you could cut off the bolt head, tap what's left of the bolt and use a nut instead. Assuming the bolt is long enough, of course. But I'm not sure how many points you would lose by doing that. What sort of shape are your seat belts in? If it were me, I would probably want a matched set of seat belts.
JoeComment
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Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
Joe, I don't think I can tap the bolt. It is in an extremely awkward place. My seat belts aren't too bad but the D ring is rusted, particulary on the one I can't remove. I'm trying to determine if I can cut the stitching at the bottom of the belt, get it refurbished, and then sew the belt together again. Probably won't look as good as Ssnake Oyl's sewing, but it will be in a hard to see place. I'm sure a compentent judge would see that but it's better than a mismatched belt, I think.Comment
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Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
John - Are you saying the belt anchor plate is now being held by the large bolt but the nut on the opposite side, which should have been tacked to the outboard bracket is broken free but still threaded to that inside bolt? We're currently renting while the new house (and 'garages') are coming together so I can't get the car up in the air to get a good look at it but with just reaching up underneath it seems like that frame gusset is going to be in your way in case you were thinking about trying to hold the nut and back off the inside bolt. I know the inboard bracket can be swapped out but it's practically wide open compared to the outboard one. Wish I had better news.Mike T. - Prescott AZ.Comment
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Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
You are correct about the nut being broken off. I have decided to let it be and just remove the seat belt from the D ring and then sew it back again after I clean it up. Thanks for providing your helpful input.
JRComment
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Re: 65 Roadster seat belt anchor bolt loose
I had this same problem with my 66 roadster and was able to make a wrench that is only 1/8" think. I bent it so that it can be fitted up along the frame and onto the nut. If you will get under the car and shine a light up there you can see the nut. If you can see the nut you can grab hold of it with my specially made wrench. It may take you an hour or so and you will have to get some penetrating oil up there but it can be done.You'll need someone holding the special wrench and someone on the inside of the car . If things are rusted too much it may not work but I did it.Then I was able to "glue" the replacement nut to the wrench with dum dum and reinstall it. I'll gladly mail the wrench to you. Email me at billygould@comcast.net Bill GouldComment
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