78 Wagoneer, Building a driver! New Thread.

[Full Size Jeeper]

Went and grabbed some dye and got to work. It said 4.oz for three gallons of water, but I doubled it.

[Full Size Jeeper]

Brought it up to temperature and soaked the belts for thirty minutes.

[Full Size Jeeper]

I think it took. Won't know for sure until it is fully dried, but it is looking good.

[SJTD]

They look good but I'm afeared it won't be absorbed by the nylon fiber. Rub it with a rag to see if it comes off. Better on a rag than your wife's clothes.

[SOLSAKS]

not trying to be a know it all
cause i surely dont know much
and I can't do half the stuff you have done.

I read once, an article said,....do not dye belts
I don't know if it compromises safety or what

I know some of these belts
might not be used a lot

in that case fine.

I would want to make sure it did not come off on your new upholstery.

I did use spray dye on a severely dry black seat belt once
it was so dry it absorbed the dye great
but I bet the belt is not safe before or after the dye job
but it was a belt that does not get used, just seen......

you prob already know, but you can send them off for re-webbing
and it is not that pricey.

I had it done for a 69 Dodge Charger.
many companies out there
I can't remember who did mine.

some companies even have the same buckles, etc.....
if the don't have the AMC logo
get a smooth button style and add a decal on button.
( I would make them for you for free )

you will be safer in the long run
especially on drive and passenger belts

after all that nice work on the FSJ we want to keep you safe.

dave in NC

[Full Size Jeeper]

Hey Dave, no worries. Thanks for your concern. In this thread I'am showing the way I have decided to tackle rebuilding my Wagon. Please don't take anything in this thread as the right way to build a Wagon. With that said, I dug around on the web a little and this is what I came up with in five minutes of searching.

(Some safety experts advise having seat belts inspected and possibly replaced after 10 to 15 years of use.)
According to this one statement, a car as new as 2005 could have seat belts that won't function as designed.

(Seat belts, like car seats and air bags, are considered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be single-use items. Seat belts are designed to work just once -- protecting and immobilizing a passenger in the event of a crash.)

When is the last time you had an insurance company adjuster recommend replacing a seat belt after a crash, for me, NEVER.

[Full Size Jeeper]

I could be wrong, but I'am willing to take the chance. Me dipping my seat belts in 170 degree water with soap, dye, and vinegar for 20 minutes won't make them any worse than they were before dyeing. Or any worse than any other 42 year old seat belt in most cars.
Try and get one of these rigs certified to pass today's safety standards. Now your talking about a 100,000 rig!
My conclusion, the belts will be good enough in a wreck of 15 to 20 mph. The whole Wagon is not a safe vehicle to get in a wreck over thirty miles an hour.
Okay, back to having fun!!!!!!!!!!!

[rang-a-stang]

Is it just me, or do the Google Drive images not show?


I like what you're doing and want to follow along.

Yeah. Mine are disappearing too. In my case it's an interface problem between Google Drive and gdurl.com that makes the direct links. sigh...

[SOLSAKS]

I agree with all you said about the belts,
especially when you said, the whole vehicle is not safe to begin with !!!,......

just last night, I told someone that I had viewed the safety crash test video of a wagoneer, I then said, if you are in a substantial accident, especially head on
in a wagoneer, you will probably die.

in one discussion
we were remembering how we have always bragged how our old cars held up better in a fender bender vs. new cars

and one guy said, the vehicles used to hold up good in wrecks,....
now the people do.

P.S. how about tire guidelines
how they can't sell them after a few years
and I have seen old farm trucks with decades old tires still doing their thing.
and I have some classics myself with old tires on them
and I still take them out on the highway.....

dave

[Full Size Jeeper]

The guy with my seats called me today and said my seats were done. This dude don't mess around. I think he had it two weeks. It might be a little bold for some, but I like it.

[Full Size Jeeper]

[Full Size Jeeper]

I thought I had at least another week or two of time to finish the carpet before the seats would be back.

[DarkMonohue]

The guy with my seats called me today and said my seats were done. This dude don't mess around. I think he had it two weeks. It might be a little bold for some, but I like it.

Me, too. Those look great! I'm a pretty reserved person and those aren't too bold for my taste. Looks like a factory scheme, but a little upscale. Craftsmanship looks good, too.

[Wagoneer Taylor]

Those seats look awesome! Definitely won't look out of place!

[rang-a-stang]

Me, too. Those look great! I'm a pretty reserved person and those aren't too bold for my taste. Looks like a factory scheme, but a little upscale. Craftsmanship looks good, too.

Whole heartedly agree! Those seats are AMAZING!! They totally match the theme of your truck (a slightly more sporty version of the original). Wow! My seats used to be my favorite patterns of any seats on here but now, They are my second favorite. Wow those look good, Darin!