When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I got the lower seat section (that you sit on) out and am trying to remove the verticle section that you rest your back against. Safe to say the way to remove is to unscrew the big ol' torx bolts that anchor the sear belt retractors out on the lower edges of the seat/backrest? (see image). Seems mine are seized in place, just snapped a torx bit in there (that'll be fun to drill out - if in fact they need to come out). And all of this in an effort to work on the rear window "slides" or tracks... One of the windows jumped off the track and assuming I need to remove the panel cover in the backseat area to gain any access...
First step should have been go under the car and douse the seat belt anchor bolts with penetrating oil, then let them set a couple days.
An impact wrench with impact-rated torx bits is the best thing I've found to get these things out. Even if they're not rusted/seized they were installed with sealer on the threads and it can be tough to break that stuff loose too. Start the impact on lowest torque setting and let its hammer action do the work. Soon as you see some rotation you can increase the torque setting and toggle it between tighten and loosen.
I had the same issue with my '73 Delta 88 and eventually gave up and just left the seat back in place. I had wanted to get it out to clean it up, so I just cleaned it in place.
The problem with getting those seat belt bolts out is that they're buried down there under the seat with the seat belt retractor cover partly in the way. I can see in your photo where your tool has scraped against the bottom edge of the retractor cover and damaged it slightly. It's difficult to get any leverage on the bolt when you have the torx bit inserted without having the bit constantly twist out. A breaker bar would probably work, but there is no room for it.
I did try using an impact wrench. Wouldn't budge it.
While I did spray the top part of the bolts with PB Blaster several times and let them sit, it was to no avail. I did not try getting under the car and spraying.
I had the same issue with my '73 Delta 88 and eventually gave up and just left the seat back in place. I had wanted to get it out to clean it up, so I just cleaned it in place.
The problem with getting those seat belt bolts out is that they're buried down there under the seat with the seat belt retractor cover partly in the way. I can see in your photo where your tool has scraped against the bottom edge of the retractor cover and damaged it slightly. It's difficult to get any leverage on the bolt when you have the torx bit inserted without having the bit constantly twist out. A breaker bar would probably work, but there is no room for it.
I did try using an impact wrench. Wouldn't budge it.
While I did spray the top part of the bolts with PB Blaster several times and let them sit, to no avail. I did not try getting under the car and spraying.
Thank you. Am I correct in assuming that to get the trim/panel cover off - to work on the window tracks - that I need that seat back out? I think there are some screws holding the vertical trim next to the seat back off, I'd need that seat back out of the way? Maybe, maybe, I could squeeeeeeze the cushion toward the back, maybe I'd expose the screws holding that metal verticle trim???
Thank you. Am I correct in assuming that to get the trim/panel cover off - to work on the window tracks - that I need that seat back out?
In other words, you're talking about removing what's circled in the photo below. It's the panel under the rear side window on a two-door style.
The '73 Fisher Body Manual (I don't have the '72 manual, but I'm guessing it's identical in this regard) seems strangely silent on this. Any mention of windows is in relation to doors. There's information all day long on how to work on door windows on two and four-door styles. But there's no mention of getting at or working on the rear side windows on a two-door style. These windows are not in a door, and there's no section in the manual labeled "Windows".
Anyway, in looking at the situation with my car, I would suspect that removal of the rear seat back to get at the window mechanism is not necessary. You would want to remove the rear seat bottom, which I think you've done. That allows you to remove the armrest panel ("1" in the photo). Then you remove the two screws next to "2" in the photo, along with the window crank. Then, I would assume, that you just pull upward on the upper panel as, if it's like the upper panel on the doors, it hangs over clips at the beltline. The locations of the screws might be different in your car if it's not a convertible.
Do you know how to get the window crank off? That took a bit of effort to figure out on my part. I tried one of those tools you can buy to push the spring clip out, but it didn't work. After I removed the crank, I found out why it didn't work. The wide part of the tool is too wide while the narrow part is too narrow.
After looking at some Youtube videos, I found that the way to do it is to get some kind of an awl with a bend at the end, kind of like a j-hook. Then push against the trim panel around the crank to clear a little room and then reach down with the tool (between the crank handle and the crank handle washer) to grab the clip and pull it out. The clip is U-shaped and protrudes in one direction (opposite the side of the part of the handle you grab). To install the crank is easy. Push the clip into place on the crank and then just push the crank onto the splined spindle. Here's a nice diagram of the situation.
Here's what the tool I used to pull out the spring clip looks like. It's called a "glass installation hook tool." I'm sure you can get something that would work at any hardware store. Or get a regular awl and bend the end of it in a vise.
I think your convertible is laid out a bit differently, as well as mine are power windows; (sorry I did not make that clear).
As you can see from my pic here, there are really only 2 screws (red arrows) holding the lower plastic section in place, and with them removed the arm rest is quite loose. However, it wont come out - or at least feels like it doesn't want to come out. I believe there are either clips or screws (vertical yellow arrows) between the armrest section and the curved vertical metal section that goes up along the side of the backrest. And that verticle metal piece, I believe, has probably a couple screws attaching it to the metal walll of the car (green arrows). With those two pieces out, then I'm curious - since there are no screws like the 2 you mentioned/showed in your car - what may holding that cosmetic/padded trim piece in place; (other yellow arrows pointing horizontally on the trim way back under rear windshield. There is one or two screws along with the rubber weather stripping around where the windows goes up and down, but not sure what I'll find after I remove the armrest and that metal vertical trim alongside the seatback...
Yes, your situation is much different from mine. Perhaps the '72 Fisher body manual, if pored over sufficiently, will have a section showing how this part of the car is disassembled. Good luck.
Yes, your situation is much different from mine. Perhaps the '72 Fisher body manual, if pored over sufficiently, will have a section showing how this part of the car is disassembled. Good luck.
I ended up smashing my skull into the padding of the seat, as close to the edge where the armrest is, and looked over in the direction of that lower green arrow and ...there was one screw/bolt. Removed it and the armrest and the vertical metal trim came out. Then I took the decorative panel out and VOILA - I was in working at reattaching the window.
