I've read posts from various web boards with conflicting information. So, let's see what you guys have to say. Aaron's Dart Sport has a sun-faded shoulder harness on the passenger side. All the other belts are nice and black.

Plan A ---
I thought about using RIT fabric dye to darken it up a bit. I called RIT's support line and they tell me it won't stay color-fast on seat belts. On another web board, someone said they used it successfully and it does a good job.

Plan B ---
I have a quart of black SEM vinyl dye that I have already used on the armrests. Looks nice. Posts by some board members say they have, others say don't do it.

Plan C ---
I called SSnake-Oyl in Tyler, TX (restores seat belts) to see if they know of a product I could use. Nothing they can recommend (repeat-restores seat belts). They will replace webbing on the one belt for $90-$130, depends on what they think when they look at it.

Plan D ---
Wesco sells new 3-point retracting seat belts for about $70 each (no hardware). Now, if I go this route, I have to, at the very least, replace both belts in front, so they match (what about the center passenger belt).

Plan E ---
Somebody here has a nice black passenger lap/shoulder belt they will sell for a reasonable price.

Any ideas on the above options?

Merry Christmas,
Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

I would go with the Wesco replacement belts. As a general rule, if the belt is badly faded, the sunlight has broken down more chemicals in the belt than just the dye.

_________________
"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

How about trying a FAT black felttip pen????

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

If the belts are visibly faded, the webbing has deteriorated in other ways, too, and they will not offer the protection they were designed to offer. Spend the money either to have the belts (or another factory set) re-webbed, or install good aftermarket belts.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

or just do it the argentinian way: don't buckle up, remove your seat belts

_________________
Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.

and if your upholstery on the seats is torn up, just do what i did. take them out and sit on a phone book to drive. its amazing to look back in the car and see nothing but carpet. talk about a low rider! my dad and i made a beer run at midnight on a friday with him just sitting on the floor of the car. passed a couple cops. i told him to duck. felt like i was a 12 year old stealing my parents car.

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God took you away, then brought you back to me.

I understand the concern Dan and others may have for safety issues. And I appreciate the humor others may try to infuse into the situation. But, I am on a short fuse to complete this car, and I was seeking input on the quickest, least expensive, permanent, and yes, safest method to get these belts up to snuff.

Sounds like the final solution is new webbing or belts. Now to find the quickest and least expensive method. Anyone use Wesco 3-point belts in a Dart Sport or Duster? I don't know how well their retracting system will match up to the car's existing one. Theirs has only one retractor that mounts to the side panel.

If not Wesco, any other sources for 3-point systems you can recommend (from personal experience). I have found SSnake-Oyl in Texas that re-webs belts. Are there others out there I can check with?

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Jerry,

I may be able to make Plan E work. I am working on a deal to Trade off a car I had picked up a set of 71 duster seat belts for, the set is black and complete but from a bench seat car! These are the two piece style (separate lap belt from the shoulder harness). If you can wait til after the new year, I should have things worked out on this car, we can work something out by then.

Brian

Brian,
I certainly appreciate the offer, but correct me if I am wrong. Don't the '71 style shoulder belts fold up and clip to the roof rail, with no retractors? Our '74 style has a shoulder belt retractor in the side panel and a lap belt retractor on the floor just behind the seat. The two belts share a common tongue. I would like to stay with this style, if possible.

Let me know,
Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Yes the belts I have are without shoulder belt retractors, I understand you wanting to keep the same style, let me know if you change your mind.

Brian

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i dont know about that, the way people drive theses days you have to be very defensive and presume the other guys is stupid hell just look at what happened to me a lady couldnt see my huge wagon comming at her she pulled right out in front of me

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Cuda Progress
The dart as it sits now