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The belts look great Andrew.

I was wondering the same re the stitching...

I’ll take them to my local upholsterer who has an industrial sewing machine.

Not really connected except in a remote way - cleaning trim. When I was writing tech stuff for the MG Owners club, this subject cropped up and as I was the engine builder/general dogsbody for a modsport Midget team sponsored by a large industrial dry cleaning and workwear rental co I was asked if I'd look into this subject. The dry cleaning industry had a research centre in Stevenage(?) and using a load of old trim from the MG factory asked them the best method of cleaning interior trim. This was when velour(?) black/dark blue and other hideous 70's colours including gold and brown and grey and grey! deckchair type crap had replaced leather and leathercloth or rexine.

After a few weeks they came back - at no charge - and said that some of the dry cleaning chemicals were good for this but bad for that and vice verca while others were generally good they affected the chemical make up of the this and that........ and on and on it went. IN short there was no perfect one stop shop in the dry cleaning industry as it was then EXCEPT for Perklone that was good for chemically cleaning our greasy and oily engine and suspension bits - and there was no shortage of that, believe me!!!!! Perclone caused the plasticisers in the leathercloth to harden. The most ideal was long soaking in household washing liquids at hand hot several times and then a wash or two in a stuff called 'Stergene' that was made for fine wool. Don't know how many Mini restorers this will help. But household washing materials didn't do any harm.

Looks like you found the best solution by trial and error Andy

Any local air field that has a free-fall or static line parachute school and/or packing centre attached to it will have the correct machines and importantly the thread used for seat belts.

Looking REALLY GOOD!

For belt restoration & restitching I cannot recommend FDTS highly enough.

http://www.fdts-seatbelts.co.uk/

Sensible prices too!

Andrew1967 wrote:I’ll take them to my local upholsterer who has an industrial sewing machine.

years ago i had a customer who thought it was totally acceptable to restitch his belts using a decent industrial machine and clear nylon fishing line to replicate the orginal stiching on his belts

to be fair to him, it looked great but when i asked him what would happen in the event of a crash he just looked blankly at me......

frightning really......

Yeah, I’ll check again that he has the correct thread but last time I asked he said he did.

If not, I’ll check out FDTS

Andrew1967 wrote:I’ll take them to my local upholsterer who has an industrial sewing machine.

Who do you use andrew ? Breydon ?
I've got a guy lined up in acle to do all my seats ect in acle who has his own workshop at home who does it professionally for a living ( jeckells ) .
Can enquire for you if you want mate ?

A chap called Adrian at Broadland Upholstery, Catfield.

I'll give him a bell and check he can do them and let you know Jeremy

Its not just the thread that's important, the pattern of the stitching plays a big roll in the stretching of the belt in a shunt. I'd go with a professional seat belt company every time. It's not just looking good that count's in a seat belt.....................

Don't worry everyone, I'll make sure its done properly. I've got a NOS belt here that can be used as a stitching guide if required.

To be honest, a belt with any sort of stitching will give more protection than what I have in my 850 and 64 'S'

rich@minispares.com wrote:

Andrew1967 wrote:I’ll take them to my local upholsterer who has an industrial sewing machine.

years ago i had a customer who thought it was totally acceptable to restitch his belts using a decent industrial machine and clear nylon fishing line to replicate the orginal stiching on his belts

to be fair to him, it looked great but when i asked him what would happen in the event of a crash he just looked blankly at me......

frightning really......

To play devil's advocate -

I'm all for safety, but it seems like even a well-stitched 2- or 3-point Britax in a classic mini is hardly going to do much in the event of a serious accident. A racing harness would keep you well-secured, but the car itself is a little tin can with virtually no protection. I've felt safer riding a motorbike with a crash helmet, to be honest.

Andrew1967 wrote:Don't worry everyone, I'll make sure its done properly. I've got a NOS belt here that can be used as a stitching guide if required.

To be honest, a belt with any sort of stitching will give more protection than what I have in my 850 and 64 'S'

True my 60 had none at all and will remain so.....................

Highnumbers wrote:

rich@minispares.com wrote:

Andrew1967 wrote:I’ll take them to my local upholsterer who has an industrial sewing machine.

years ago i had a customer who thought it was totally acceptable to restitch his belts using a decent industrial machine and clear nylon fishing line to replicate the orginal stiching on his belts

to be fair to him, it looked great but when i asked him what would happen in the event of a crash he just looked blankly at me......

frightning really......

To play devil's advocate -

I'm all for safety, but it seems like even a well-stitched 2- or 3-point Britax in a classic mini is hardly going to do much in the event of a serious accident. A racing harness would keep you well-secured, but the car itself is a little tin can with virtually no protection. I've felt safer riding a motorbike with a crash helmet, to be honest.

Sorry but yes it's a little box but it's a strong little box! I've crashed a few mini's in the last 46 years some very hard indeed but I've never had any injury except self inflicted when I released the harness whilst upside down without hanging on first...........I was a passenger that rolled down Box Hill in Surrey taking a few small tree's with it and the main structure remained intact as that strong little box, the roof never caved in, just flattened out. So I think as long as your belted in your no worse off than any other car of the period. And infinitely better off than sitting on a two wheeled coffin..............

Bit more progress over the last couple of days.....

Sodding iPhone camera pictures

OOh, that side IS a bit crispy isn't it Andrew . I'm glad you're doing it and not me! You're a brave chap. Plenty would've quietly found a better shell I think. Of course we HAD to before so many parts were available I suppose.
Good luck with it. I have been out in the garage myself this afternoon working on my car but the jobs I've done simply don't compare.....

Just amazed at your determination and skills

Thanks Richard and Andy

The determination is that its still the original shell, even if 85% has/will have been replaced. Only a madman would try to save the shell if it wasn't the original one to start with. OK, some would call me mad anyway, but I'm on target to restore the car for no more than what that Mk1 project recently sold for (and that includes buying the car). Obviously this is doing the work myself and not counting time !!

Andrew1967 wrote:Thanks Richard and Andy

The determination is that its still the original shell, even if 85% has/will have been replaced. Only a madman would try to save the shell if it wasn't the original one to start with. OK, some would call me mad anyway, but I'm on target to restore the car for no more than what that Mk1 project recently sold for (and that includes buying the car). Obviously this is doing the work myself and not counting time !!

That's the way Andrew you will do it, in the mean time I will keep watching.

What would be the cost difference between rebuilding this one, and a new Heritage shell? Obviously the new one would require a few hours of remedial work to get it up to spec.

Costafortune wrote:What would be the cost difference between rebuilding this one, and a new Heritage shell? Obviously the new one would require a few hours of remedial work to get it up to spec.

That depends if your hours are billable or not!

If a shop were doing this restoration, there's no way it would be less than a new Heritage shell. But for DIY, in your workshop, panels are cheap compared to the complete shell. It's the time putting it all together..