Anyone has any experience of replacing the fabric part of their seat belts. I wanna remove the original chrome BMC brackets etc, polish \ rechrome them and put new red belts on them. Obviously I cant just sew it on on a sewing machine (or can I)? Any advice or names of places you got good results from?

Mike,
I think what you propose is both unsafe & illegal, no way you can sew them properly to stand the 4000lb? test they were built to withstand. If you could buy the webbing....
Better & safer to buy new ones. It's your life...!

Klippan makes both inertia reels and static belts for Minis.
P/no of the front inertia reel ones (with 300mm centre stalk) is K1512.
I got mine from Robbos spares.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

i agree with doc, don't do it yourself, thats one thing you can't do on a mini.

Cheers

Aaron

you may be better off getting a set of nice red 4 point harnesses. Will look cool, be red, and will hold you in better.

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1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

But, are they legal for road use?? Even if engineered?

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Dr

As far as legality goes, if the car is engineered to have only 2 seats, then it is legal, because the harness does not encroach on any other seating position. The only legal requirement in the modification guidelines is that all seating positions have seatbelts. See previous posts in threads in Forsales and refer to the RTA guide in the Knowlede sticky.

My question is - can you get belts that meet modern safety standards, but LOOK like the original 60's versions. This is what i want for the 850.

michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Ya can still get the old style static belts(non retracting). I'm pretty sure Klippan do them. But they'll still have a new stalk and buckle.

I can never remember the Freecall number for them though, and Mini's arent listed on the box. Supercrap stocks em, but I dunno if they'll have the ones ya want. Should be able to oreder em in.

One thing that bothered me. I have a big single box looking catch for my front belts held between two brackets. Would i just install a stalk on each one, or make up a rod so that it maintains the original strength between the two brackets?

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."

thanks for the tip. hope they are the right colour.

if you are gunna put soething in between, just overengineer the thing to buggery. How is it mounted under the floor?

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

I could not buy belts with buckles that fitted that Clubbie box thingy. Chuck it, fit the 300mm stalks that come with the belts..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

i've fitted the klippan retractables to my car after having the originals in there.
one of the best things i've ever done, makes ur car feel a million dollars

Kev thats what I meant - I thought that someone would propose to sew them myself so I said ahead that this occured to me as unsafe. What I meant is that belts are made by people and are sewn somewhere to begin with so there must be a business that could take my buckles, put new webbing in them and sew them proffesionaly to a safe standard? I give lifts to people all the time (girls mostly at night actualy but frustratingly the majority are just friends) and no way will I propose to trust their lives to something the local taylor put together.

Mickmini that was my idea and no you cant get metal buckles on belts anymore (atleast not in oz). Thats why I wanted to redo mine. The webbing is still fine but some wear is appearing and this is something I dont wanna play with.

and Dr Trim ( the other Mike T) my car is not completely original but I've worked hard to preserve and modify it in the 60's spirit and while retractables would make life easier they dont fit with my master plan for the little girl.

try Michael Bartok ph 02 99585073, saw an
add in Australian Clasic Car:

"old style, metal buckles tan/black
also latest type in many styles in twelve
colours. sample colours available from $70"

If my memory is correct (it isnt reliable) I remember discussing this with a biker chick friend I used to have. She used to industrial sew for I think it was Unirig (for those not in the know, they make stuff for cranes to lift with), they also used to make safety harnesses for working at a height. Also when I was working on helicopters a decade or so ago, a guy I knew who's title was safety equipment, used to repair and build helicopter harnesses, he also made his own rally harnesses which were approved. So I guess there are ways but probably cheaper and quicker just to get new ones.

Cheers

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If it squeaks and leaks, then its sure to be a mini

Building a dream one nap at a time....

http://spaces.msn.com/members/derbydog/

I asked this same question of a seatbelt manufacturer. He said it was illegal to reweb old belts.

There's PLENTY of belt suppliers in the US that do metal buckled retractable belts....of course, they won't be technically legal here, in most cases.

I've felt for a long time that someone needs to do a nostalgic metal buckle for new belts. nothing looks worse than a period interior with a big black plastic buckle with an orange button!!!!

I was lucky enough to find 4 NOS Britax belts a few years back that I run in my muzzy. Wish I could do the same for my mini!!

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72 Clubman and a 75 Van.