[Bentwheelbob]

Thanks all for the suggestion that my grommet might just be dirty. I took it off last night and it cleaned up fine, although it definitely has some age on it and has lost most of its' elasticity. I did get it reinstalled, but the line is not centered up in the core support hole and the fit leaves something to be desired. A softer grommet might fit a little better, so I'll leave the BOLO request open, but at least it looks better than it did.

Bill and Glenn - thanks for the feedback on the anchor cover/escutcheon. I'll play around with it tonight and see what I can do.

I need a little information on the length of the elastic on the shoulder belt. Should the elastic have any extra length between the two points where it is sewn onto the belt, or should the length of the elastic closely approximate the distance between the two points where it is sewn onto the belt? The elastic on the belts now is so stretched out and dry rotted that it's of little help in making that determination.

Here's the Grommet...

[Gator67]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

I need a little information on the length of the elastic on the shoulder belt. Should the elastic have any extra length between the two points where it is sewn onto the belt, or should the length of the elastic closely approximate the distance between the two points where it is sewn onto the belt? The elastic on the belts now is so stretched out and dry rotted that it's of little help in making that determination.

I redid the elastics on my shoulder belts recently. I made the elastics slightly longer than the two points on the belt so that when the elastic was sewn/attached it would be the same length as the two points on the belt. Just loose enough so that when the belt is folded over with the elastic on the outside, the belt does not gather. I'm not sure this is correct, but it seems logical. Making the elastic slightly longer would reduce the level of fatigue of the elastic (important since the belt is stored the majority of the time), but I don't think loose elastic would be good when the belts are in use. Also, loose elastic would result in the unused stored belt(s) flopping around while driving. Mine have been on the car about a month with no increase in the amount of give in the elastic.

[Judge273]

Gator, Can you post a picture of belt in place? Length of elastic too. You got elastic at hobby lobby if I recall?

[RamAir]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Gator, Can you post a picture of belt in place? Length of elastic too. You got elastic at hobby lobby if I recall?

times 2

[transam1972]

[Gator67]

Originally Posted by Judge273

Gator, Can you post a picture of belt in place? Length of elastic too. You got elastic at hobby lobby if I recall?

Sure thing. I don't have a photo in my files, but I'm happy to snap a couple photos tomorrow when I'm at the shop. I'll also take measurements as well.

I did purchase the elastic at Hobby Lobby…there are two types there…I used the one with the ribs that seems to more closely approximate the original elastic. I think it's called braided (rather than knitted). The original elastic looks like it's 5/16, but only 1/4 and 3/8 is available. I chose 3/8 because for durability and because it looks better.

[Bentwheelbob]

So the should belt anchor covers on the Black Car hinge up and not down. I am betting that their orientation is original, but NJSteve might weigh in differently. This is probably another example that the guys who assembled these cars were more concerned about a cold beer at lunch than they were about a bunch of old Coots trying to figure out the proper original assembly method 42 years later...