PG Classic Seat Belt Set

[challengermaniac]

Purchased a complete set of seat belts for my 70 Challenger from PG Classics which look amazing, although PRIOR TO INSTALLATION  I noticed that the front retractors don't appear to have a catch-hold when the belt is pulled out quickly.  In other words, when pulling on the retractor belt quickly it will only stop at full extension of the belt. 

What am I missing?

[Cuda Cody]

YIKES, that would be very odd not to have a catch.  If true, they would be pretty much useless as seat belts, right?

[challengermaniac]

I'll review this with PG Classics in the morning as there maybe a reasonable explanation such as the retractors need to be fully installed in order to work properly or something else.  The quality of the belts is nothing short of amazing which makes me think its me whom is missing something here.  I'll make a call to them and report back unless I hear sooner from another member letting me know of my goof up. 

[Cuda Cody]

Let me know if you need to me to take a pick of an original so you can compare. 

Could you just screw it to a block of wood or work bench and pull on it real fast to see if it works?

[anlauto]

I've used them before without issue ?

[challengermaniac]

Well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, just got off the phone with PG Classic Restoration Parts and they indicated that just like the original factory retractors, their reproductions do not have a stop!  That means they simply pull out to full extension without a hard pull stop! 
Hopefully someone with original retractor belts can confirm this.  That being the case, I will be keeping my front non original retractors that do indeed have a hard stop and returning the new ones to PG Classic.   

Note Limitation of liability in that  "All seat belts manufactured by PG Classis or B/E & A Restoration Parts, Inc. and/or distributed their dealers are for static display and not intended as a DOT certified & tested safety device."

[anlauto]

So if I'm understanding what you want...
You want to be able to pull the seat belt out, let's say "half way" and you want it to stop there ? Then to retract it, you would want maybe to pull it a little further quickly and it retracts the full amount ?

To the best of my understanding, that's not now the 70/71 seat belts were designed to work.
I think you have to pull the male end out all the way from the retractor, buckle it to the female half....then pull on the female half to adjust it tight. That's why the female halves are adjustable.

[Burdar]

   It isn't a traditional seat belt retractor like a newer car.  The adjustment is on the "inside" belt.  The outside belt in the retractor should be pulled all the way out and then adjusted with the "inner" belt.  My new set of A-body belts from PG is the same way.  There is very little belt inside the retractor.

My 73 has the traditional style where the belt pulls all the way over to the "inner" buckle and there is a "stop" like you are describing.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

My 76 Dodge has a weight and when the weight is moved, it locks. It's based on the whole vehicle decelerating. If I pull the belt fast, it does nothing. If I slam the brakes, it locks.

Most other belts go off of the speed of the reel, or reel inertia to lock.


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[DeathProofCuda]

To the best of my understanding, that's not now the 70/71 seat belts were designed to work.
I think you have to pull the male end out all the way from the retractor, buckle it to the female half....then pull on the female half to adjust it tight. That's why the female halves are adjustable.

Correct, there is no "soft-stop" designed into these belts like you'd find in a more modern seat belt.  You just cinch them into one position and that is where they stay, similar to a lap belt on a commercial air liner.  This feature is especially annoying for the shoulder belts of that era.  If you use the shoulder belt it is either too tight to allow you to adjust the radio dial or it is draped loosely and uselessly over your shoulder, which is why I never use mine.

[Cuda Cody]

Now that you say it, it makes perfect sense about how they adjust. 

[challengermaniac]

Now that you say it, it makes perfect sense about how they adjust.

Yup, it's totally old school in that you simply pull them tight to your comfort level.

I actually wound up installing the beautiful 1970 PG Classic seat belts for the rear seat and keeping the 1972 retractable belts I already had for the front given you don't even notice them when the car is sitting cause the outboard belts are retracted and the inboard belts simply lay nicely next to the console.