Seatbelts: Dye? Paint? Replace with custom ones?

Well, been designing my interior for a while and finally decided what I want. One of my big roadblocks has been seatbelts. BTW, 1st gen tan interior GS300. So I tried Rit dye on my rear belts and got miserable results (followed directions to the 't'). I found a DIY that uses enamel or lacquer paint and I am thinking of attempting this one for my rear seats. Now, my dilemma comes for the front seatbelts...

I usually wear suits and white shirts and I would hate to stain my clothes in general, so for the fronts, i'm still kind of weary what to do.

Rit dye is out of the question since it doesn't work well but heard other kind of dyes work.

Supposedly, using the enamel method doesn't stain clothes, but i will have to test that out.

Replacing the belts with custom ones sounds good but the question is who would do that? Upholstery shop? in case of an accident, would that create an issue with an insurance company?

Need ideas, sources, experience and comments in general.

Still deciding between red or black belts.

Thanks guys.

If you're only looking for red or black, just bite the bullit and buy replacement seatbelts in that color. You can purchase NTSHA approved seatbelts at any reputable upholstery shop. You'll have to purchase the material by the foot and pay for the transfer labor (new material in old casing). 
Reds, blacks and grays are abundant as these are standard colors. Once you go custom like blues, orange or even greens and yellows, thats when you'll really feel what 'custom' costs.
 
In case you're wondering, I know this because; I've restored a few muscle cars and built lowriders in my days before crossing into the import scene. Also, my company buys and resels seatbelt; from surplus to 1st run. (not trying to sell direct as our minimum order is 15k yards... more than enough for any car)
 
In regards to insurance, that's a question for your agent. Never really thought about asking that question before.
 
Hope that helps

i just recently found out how to replace them by watching a local upholsterer. you can buy the web material on a spool, then the connectors are removed and sewn onto the new material. the part that winds is extended completely and the belt is cut, then the new material is sewn onto a remaining tab.
 
it may be different from car to car (only seen one done) but it should always be similar.

[QUOTE=BLKonBLK98;334914]i just recently found out how to replace them by watching a local upholsterer. you can buy the web material on a spool, then the connectors are removed and sewn onto the new material. the part that winds is extended completely and the belt is cut, then the new material is sewn onto a remaining tab.
 
it may be different from car to car (only seen one done) but it should always be similar.[/QUOTE]
 
Technically, in order to remain compliant the belt isn't supposed to be cut and mended together. The tensioner, winding part, is supposed to be opened and repressed with the new belt material in it. 
 
The point is to have literally a new unit as OEM as possible. The minute the seatbelt is sown together the breaking strength is no longer valid.... hence not compliant to the pre-set standards.

i can dig that but [I]technically[/I] a lot of things that aren't ideal in regards to safety are done in customizing. like i said, i've only seen it done once so it's very possible that other people do it the right way.

[QUOTE=BLKonBLK98;334940]i can dig that but [I]technically[/I] a lot of things that aren't ideal in regards to safety are done in customizing. like i said, i've only seen it done once so it's very possible that other people do it the right way.[/QUOTE]
 
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to be anal or anything. Being in the game long enough I understand there's more than one way to skin a cat, or customize a car.
 
But since the OP originally stated a concern about an accident and insurance porposes, modifications involving safety should always be done the correct way. No sense cutting corners and saving a few bucks when the customizing may put your life, or that of you passengers, at risk one day.( IMHO )

Nice responses guys. As far as I know, I have seen upholstery shop, or better said -chops- cut/sew the belts and I was a bit alarmed about that. So this is what I tested:

-Dyed one of the rear belts using SEM Vinyl spray paint, let it dry about 6 hrs. and rubbed one of my white shirts on it.... now, this is black. Results? No stain! The belt is a bit hard but nothing bad. Now, since  the rears won't see much use (car seat) I am not worried about them. I am still a bit leery about painted belts when the belt would be used heavily.

-I will check reputable upholstery shops here in town (Tucson) to price out belt replacement for the fronts with red fabric; I think that in the long run this will be the best option even if the cost is more. Anyone knows a ballpark price range to get this done?


Thanks guys!

I dont see why your upholstry cant just dye the fabric of the seatbelt with a heavy duty fabric dye(no fade). I had my 240sx seatbelts dyed black by my upholstry guy and it came out perfect, no rubbing off and I had the car for five years. Tan should be super easy to dye. The 240's was gray.

[QUOTE=ElNasty;334944]Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to be anal or anything. Being in the game long enough I understand there's more than one way to skin a cat, or customize a car.
 
But since the OP originally stated a concern about an accident and insurance porposes, modifications involving safety should always be done the correct way. No sense cutting corners and saving a few bucks when the customizing may put your life, or that of you passengers, at risk one day.( IMHO )[/QUOTE]


+1

[QUOTE=Infinitedrift03;335111]I dont see why your upholstry cant just dye the fabric of the seatbelt with a heavy duty fabric dye(no fade). I had my 240sx seatbelts dyed black by my upholstry guy and it came out perfect, no rubbing off and I had the car for five years. Tan should be super easy to dye. The 240's was gray.[/QUOTE]


Actually tan is harder to dye than gray. it continues to look brown, but with a industry dye other than some OTC like RIT dye it migh tnot make a difference the color of the fabric.

i just finished dying my seatbelts, came out real good.
 
  From tan to...
[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/japns14/018-2.jpg[/IMG]
   fully extended.
[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/japns14/019-1.jpg[/IMG]
    to black, i love it.
[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/japns14/031.jpg[/IMG]
  The stuff is pretty messy if you dont prep right but it sprays smoothly.
[IMG]http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/japns14/041.jpg[/IMG]

Dye never lasts.

[url]http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/category/Seat-Belt-Webbing.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Green Poupon;335778]Dye never lasts.

[url]http://www.seatbeltsplus.com/category/Seat-Belt-Webbing.html[/url][/QUOTE]

YOU DA MAN!!!!

TY! :biggthumpup:

Alot of great input here and big ups to Green Poupon for the web link:biggthumpup:...This is something I have thought about @ x's and didn't have a clue on where to begin my search for answers:shrug:.  VSC members and site is the sh*t:dance:.....

Damn Sam, bustin out the heavy guns. GJ on that link.

woolite doesnt work?

The problem is that it's hard to trust on dye, specially here in the hot sunny AZ I live at. I feel iffy just to think i'm bucking up and the belt might leave a nice red dye stain on my shirt or coat.... I think the best way is simply to replace the belts the right way. I tried some dyes for my rear belts and I never got satisfied with the end result.

One of the local upholstery guys who I trust actually didn't want to dye my friend's harness, saying that it could damage the integrity of the webbing. A few sources online confirmed this as well, so I'd take it under advisement at least.