[tabob]

Does anyone know the changeover date to the later style seat nelts in 72?

As I understand it, The new federal mandate for seat belt warning lights drove the change and the mandate required the change by Jan of 72, correct? Does anyone know when the actual build change occured in late 71?

[Judge273]

My 72 is a 12-15-71 build/execution date. No seat belt light. Since, I'm new to the f body stuff and all.
What was changed on seat belts? Please advise.

[necdb3]

Jan 72 and later firebirds got a seat belt minder system that buzzed as soon until you put your seat belt on. It consisted of occupant sensors for the seats, different speedo (73 style), and seat belt retractors with a switch in them for the front seats. Jan 72 cars also got Amber turn signal lenses.

Not sure that I have ever seen and actual date that the change went into effect. Anyone have a car built the first week of the year?

Originally Posted by Judge273

My 72 is a 12-15-71 build/execution date. No seat belt light. Since, I'm new to the f body stuff and all.
What was changed on seat belts? Please advise.

[RicksGTO]

my 12-09-71 built '72 came with the seat belt light in the speedo pod but still had the early '72 style belts and no wiring for the seat belt warning so the light is not operative. I'm think NJ Steve's '72 T/A that was within 3 digits in VIN number to mine was the same way.
I think any car delivered by Jan. 1, 1972 had to have the warning system but not sure if they might have started putting the later belts and warning system in prior to then to be safe or not.

[tabob]

My car is a 12B build per the data plate and with a 12-21-71 ship and execution date on the PHS. It came with the light in the speedo and all indications are it came with the later style seat belts.

if cars delivered by Jan 1 had to have the new stuff, that would make sense as a Christmas week ship date would be cutting it close.

Does anyone have an earlier ship date with the later style belts?

[Judge273]

Can someone post a speedo that is with and w/o lights?

My lap belts are not retractors (have plastic sleeves).

[Judge273]

Here is Bob's formula speedo formerly Steve's car. Built(12B) around same time as mine. Which is this?

[RicksGTO]

the two window lights like that are the seat belt warning speedos, if you look close you can see the words "fasten seat belts" in the left window. The earlier ones just had a rectangular brake light centered in that same spot.

[72TAMAN]

First pic is from my 72 Trans Am 09D build date and the second pics is from my 72 base Firebird with the build date 12B

[Judge273]

Thanks!

[tabob]

This is a duplicate post to update both threads on the 72 seatbelts:

Thank you NJSteve for your advice on these belts. The seller of the Ford (actually Mercury - from a 73 Montego) buckles did me right and sent me two of them - unbroken - to replace the broken one he sold me originally. I took NJ Steve's direction and heated the plastic cover until it came free from the Ford part and reassembled the GM part. Now, finally, after four false starts I have the "correct" seat and shoulder belts in my 72 TA (just don't tell anyone my TA now has FOMOCO parts).

[transam1972]

I am glad everything worked out on the seat belts...that interior photo is like a tease...car looks to have very well maintained interior and I assume 4 speed and no console....how about a dash shot??!!..thankx!!

[tabob]

Yes, 4 speed and no console. The car was built with only 3 options:
soft ray windshield glass
AM radio
rear sear speaker

If I can ever find a correct radio block off plate, it will exist now as a no option TA.

I'll have to take a dash shot and post it later.

[kaptinkafeen]

Originally Posted by tabob

My car is a 12B build per the data plate and with a 12-21-71 ship and execution date on the PHS. It came with the light in the speedo and all indications are it came with the later style seat belts.

if cars delivered by Jan 1 had to have the new stuff, that would make sense as a Christmas week ship date would be cutting it close.

Does anyone have an earlier ship date with the later style belts?

I hate to resurrect an old thread, but...
my car is a 12B cowl date with a 12-24-71 shipping date. It has the later style "two-window" speedo, but the early style seat belts.
-A

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by kaptinkafeen

I hate to resurrect an old thread, but...
my car is a 12B cowl date with a 12-24-71 shipping date. It has the later style "two-window" speedo, but the early style seat belts.
-A

As it should, and you are a lucky guy!! Fooling with "exploding belts" can be time consuming and not all that safe

[grd777]

Originally Posted by 72TAMAN

First pic is from my 72 Trans Am 09D build date and the second pics is from my 72 base Firebird with the build date 12B

which one is correct for the seat belt warning bizzer

['ol Pinion head]

Very late Dec 71 builds were the first to receive the two window (brake/seatbelt warning) 160 speedo.

For late '72 model F-body builds, the TALL style seatbelt retractors were used, these had a wire that came out underneath & tied into the seat belt warning system. '73 & 74 F-body seatbelts used a smaller front seatbelt retractor assembly & std '73 F Irvin belts used the exploding style buckle. I've yet to run across exploding seatbelt buckles in an original late '72 model F-body & have done quite a bit of legwork on this.

Am searching for two of the late '72 F-body TALL style front seat retractors.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

Very late Dec 71 builds were the first to receive the two window (brake/seatbelt warning) 160 speedo.

For late '72 model F-body builds, the TALL style seatbelt retractors were used, these had a wire that came out underneath & tied into the seat belt warning system. '73 & 74 F-body seatbelts used a smaller front seatbelt retractor assembly & std '73 F Irvin belts used the exploding style buckle. I've yet to run across exploding seatbelt buckles in an original late '72 model F-body & have done quite a bit of legwork on this.

Am searching for two of the late '72 F-body TALL style front seat retractors.

yes i am trying to piece my seat bets together . i am missing the upper belts and the wiring harness for the belts , do you have a photo of this harness

['ol Pinion head]

the seatbelts, seats, and jumper harnesses are all out of my '72 T/A as body is on roller cart at one of my bodymen's shop. My seatbelt set was incomplete as i chunked a few poor condition pieces many years ago when i bought the car. Have slowly been completing a late '72 Irvin seatbelt set, front retractors are holding me back. Am replacing the '72's original dash harness as several original wires had been cut & I'm not a fan of 45-50 year old dash harnesses. just read your earlier topic post, have a very good friend who's pristine Formula 400 is a Feb car, will get with him & get a bunch of good pics of trunk spatter patterns.

Are your seatbelts, standards, made by Irvin? Would be interested in the tag dates on yours.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

the seatbelts, seats, and jumper harnesses are all out of my '72 T/A as body is on roller cart at one of my bodymen's shop. My seatbelt set was incomplete as i chunked a few poor condition pieces many years ago when i bought the car. Have slowly been completing a late '72 Irvin seatbelt set, front retractors are holding me back. Am replacing the '72's original dash harness as several original wires had been cut & I'm not a fan of 45-50 year old dash harnesses. just read your earlier topic post, have a very good friend who's pristine Formula 400 is a Feb car, will get with him & get a bunch of good pics of trunk spatter patterns.

Are your seatbelts, standards, made by Irvin? Would be interested in the tag dates on yours.

i have been restoring mustangs for the last 30 years new to trans am if you can show me a pic of the irvin i can compare it to mine
ok just pulled one out it is a irvin , will get the tag dates for you