69 upper shoulder belt elastic length? ***With repair**

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Anyone know approx how long the elastic "should" be on '69 upper shoulder belts?

[maxwellwedge]

Erect or flacid? 

[maxwellwedge]

But seriously Folks - I'll measure for you tomorrow

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Gracias....

PS---flaccid please

[1969chargerrtse]

About 9, unless it's streached a bit.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Thanks Rob but yours looks stretched more than a bit....my pic was taken about 5 years ago or so....new elastic was sewn in by my sis-in-law about 4 years prior to the pic.  mine is starting to sag again now.  Looking to get an approx measurement, but in hindsight i dont think it really matters as the buckle can take up whatever slack there might be.....

[69 OUR/TEA]

I got a ?,does anyone ever even use them??

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I never do....prolly why the elastic is shot again

[resq302]

Same for me  Chris.  Mine are starting to sag.

[maxwellwedge]

Sorry - I have had company since Thursday - I'll get over to the car and measure Monday.

[resq302]

Sorry - I have had company since Thursday - I'll get over to the car and measure Moday.

Poor excuse.

[maxwellwedge]

Sorry - I have had company since Thursday - I'll get over to the car and measure Moday.

Poor excuse.

I know. But it's all I got! 

[maxwellwedge]

Gracias....

PS---flaccid please

5.0" from the very end of the seat belt material to the center of the snap. The measurement was taken with the snap undone. Hope that helps!

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Thank you kind sir...something to work with

[THE COLONEL]

Both of mine hang down so far it hit the brim of my hat when I turn my head.  I need to fix that.  Probably a dumb question, but do they make repro elastic, or have some of you just bought some and made your own.  That sounds cheaper, and who would see it?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

After being turned down by the local Dry Cleaners to do the sewing ("belt too tick...you break ma-chene"), I decided to give it a go myself.

Broke out a fairly thin needle & some black thread out of wifey's sewing kit.
The elastic needed is 3/4" wide. (1 pack (1 yard) is enough) and the snaps are 5/8"  Picked them up at the craft store for about $5 total

Using Max's measurement of 5", I came up with the approx measurement of a 14" piece of elastic to do the job.  The elastic needed is 3/4" wide.

Looking at the elastic you will see it is folded under the end of the belt, hence the need for the extra length.

Overall not too hard to sew....I kinda followed the holes that were already in the webbing....the needle pushes through fairly easy.  I figure it took me 15 min a side to remove the old elastic & sew in the new piece.
Now adding the button is a different story...you see a button installation tool is needed to crimp the snap into place....didnt have one so.....I just used a Phillips screw driver to split the brass collar & then a punch to peen it over, locking the snap into place.

looking at the pics below you'll see inn the first pic the old belt on top & the new elsatic on the bottom.

second pic shows the 5" from the end of the belt to the center of the snap.

Slapped them back in & no more need for those paper clips!! (at least not for about 8 or so years)

Hope it helps someone!  

[UFO]

Both of mine hang down so far it hit the brim of my hat when I turn my head.  I need to fix that.  Probably a dumb question, but do they make repro elastic, or have some of you just bought some and made your own.  That sounds cheaper, and who would see it?

If you need a new headliner,it's easier to just not reinstall the shoulder belts.

[Ghoste]

But then you cheat the car of part of it's "Chargerness".

[1969chargerrtse]

Wow, great info chris, thanks for sharing.  I'll do mine soonish.

[resq302]

Chris,

Was the snaps color coded to the color of the belt?  I thought they were chrome snaps?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Chris,

Was the snaps color coded to the color of the belt?  I thought they were chrome snaps?

My originals were black if I remember correctly the first time I did them....thats why I got black ones....believe me the chrome ones were easier to find...anyone else?  Hard to tell in the pic but it looks like Rob's are black as well...

[1969chargerrtse]

Yep mine are black buttons, but my black straps have that green tint most of them fade to.
When I was driving around looking for snaps for another project, I finally gave up driving around all weekend and just searched for snaps on the net and I had what I needed in a few days right in my mail box.
Nice to see you fiddling with the classic again, it did a lot of sitting when you bought the 4dr. I mean other Charger.