I have a '76 Pinto "MPG" wagon, bought it new, red color inside and out. My kids drive it to school every day. The driver's seatbelt (actually the shoulder strap) webbing is starting to fray and I'd like to replace it. Any advice on how to get this fixed? Any ideas would be appreciated!
Fraying is bad news, and you never know when you'll need that belts' strength.
If only one person used the vehicle with any regularity, and it was YOU, I'd say swap the driver's front belt with the passenger's one until you get something new installed, but you said "kids" plural, so that doesn't help whoever is riding shotgun, and the back seat of any Pinto isn't big or comfortable, unless you're tiny.
Seatbelts aren't something to play around without knowing some basic info first.
You can purchase new, certified strength, (sometimes prefinished ended) webbing in various places, and in various colors and do the installation yourself if you are a do it your selfer, or you may be able to get a high volume local automotive upholstery shop to do it for you, but some don't want the possibility of major liability from a bad installation hanging over them, so don't be surprised if they say no.
If not. J.C. Whitney used to sell webbing by the foot in several different colors and also in prefinished lengths, but I haven't looked through their catalogue in a while.
Seatbelt webbing can generally be melted on any loose end to prevent it from fraying, but the hardest part about seatbelt installation is usually getting the ends of the webbing properly sewn onto the anchor plates. An industrial strength sewing machine, the proper high strength thread, and someone who knows how to do it is the only safe way to do that.
Searching through automotive boneyards MAY turn up an acceptable color webbing for you, but that is the least safe method to get seatbelts, as once seatbelt webbing has been through a major impact accident, it is no longer RATED at full strength, even if there is no VISIBLE damage evident.
And as for any used webbing belts in general, (including the OEM ones in your own, and probably much newer car), after being exposed to many years of UV-even barring an accident, they don't maintain their original strength rating either, so in a typical car with several available belt sets, the rear ones followed by the passenger ones are usually in better shape strengthwise as well as being less faded that the driver's belt, which is almost always used much more often. Stay away from any heavily faded webbing, it's not worth going to the trouble of removing it to use for replacing what you have now.
If you personally don't care about the possible compromised safety aspect, many people still knowingly DO get replacement belts from yards, but at least now you'll be making an informed decision.
There is a company called something like ssnakeoyl (snake oil) that advertises in Hemmings under services, that repairs seat belts. I have not used them yet, but i probably should- the drivers seatbelt in my bobcat wagon is frayed about 3/4 of the way through!
Thanks guys, I appreciate the quick response!
I did manage to find a new seat belt (but black) at premiumcarparts.com for $65. I went ahead and bought it with the idea of having it installed until I can figure out how to get the old red one rebuilt.
I have a full set of red belts from a 78 with only 76k near perfect.