[23337 YT]

Hopefully you'll have better luck with the new set. I put retractable 3 points in my Tempest and found that if the retractors were not mounted perfectly vertical they would lock up unnecessarily when trying to extend and retract. Mine were angled a little forward and that's all it took to cause a headache.

[ScumOne]

Originally Posted by 23337 YT

Hopefully you'll have better luck with the new set. I put retractable 3 points in my Tempest and found that if the retractors were not mounted perfectly vertical they would lock up unnecessarily when trying to extend and retract. Mine were angled a little forward and that's all it took to cause a headache.

I discussed that possibility with the seat belts plus manager that called me. He said the angle of the retractor wasn't the issue. He said it should work at any angle. I thought I may need an extender bracket, or something to hold it in a certain place. He told me, no, that's just the design that you have to pull them out very slowly. He didn't think a 30-45 second pull on the seat belts was a problem...until I told him you had to do it 4-5 times before it wouldn't lock on you trying to stretch it far enough.

Then he told me to back to Ames and argue with them. Of course, since you can't find out it works like this until you mount them, and as soon as you mount them they are non-returnable.

That's kind of nice Catch-22 if I ever heard one.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by ScumOne

I discussed that possibility with the seat belts plus manager that called me. He said the angle of the retractor wasn't the issue. He said it should work at any angle. I thought I may need an extender bracket, or something to hold it in a certain place. He told me, no, that's just the design that you have to pull them out very slowly. He didn't think a 30-45 second pull on the seat belts was a problem...until I told him you had to do it 4-5 times before it wouldn't lock on you trying to stretch it far enough.

Then he told me to back to Ames and argue with them. Of course, since you can't find out it works like this until you mount them, and as soon as you mount them they are non-returnable.

That's kind of nice Catch-22 if I ever heard one.

I had the very same experience and conversation about a set that I put in a customer's 69 Camaro. I can verify he was right, no matter what angle the retractor is mounted at, the results are still crap. In the end, the customer said he would live with it. They also sell the same product under a different brand name.

[ScumOne]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

I had the very same experience and conversation about a set that I put in a customer's 69 Camaro. I can verify he was right, no matter what angle the retractor is mounted at, the results are still crap. In the end, the customer said he would live with it. They also sell the same product under a different brand name.

There seems to be some disconnect with the seat belt maker and using these belts without it being a royal PITA. I think they need a reality check.