Finally got the back seats upholstered as good as they are going to get. I'm having a problem getting one side of the seat bottom to lock down into the bracket on the floor. Removing the seat was a breeze compared to what I've been going through the last couple of attempts. (72 Supreme) I can see under the seat that the part of the seat frame that fits into the bracket is about 1/2" high of locking into place. There also seems to be more of a gap between the floor and bottom edge of the seat front than when I removed it. All I did was replace the carpet/padding and recover the seat. Am I missing some little trick or technique? Chumley

 

You've got to push really hard from a very awkward position (unless the front seat is out), and you may have to push hard back and down at the same time.
In your case, maybe it would help to have someone else push down after you start pushing back.

- Eric

 

It is bugger to get it back latched, as stated above.

 

You push ONE side in first, then the other. Make mechanical advantage work for you, not against you.

First, slide the front seat forward as far as it will go. Incline the seat for more room.

Now line the seat up with the back tilted down (this would be a good time to also put the seat belts on top of the seat).

Note the location of the 2 latch clips on the floor pan; then note the location of the front retainer bar on the seat frame. Hint, put a piece of tape on the seat / carpet to line them up.

Push in/down at the first one; you can usually hear it go into place. It takes SOME force but you don't need to be 'da terminator' to do this. Repeat the process on the other side. If one side is properly secured it will not pop loose when you do the other side. 2 minute job at tops. I've done this many times and it works like a charm every time.

 

Thanks, I do have one side in(passenger) It went in with no problem. The driver side is lined up, but just will not move down far enough to engage the retainer. When I push down, the springs just compress but not the frame. Maybe I'm pushing on the wrong spot? I'll rest up for a few days, eat my Wheaties and spinach and try again.

 

Chum,
Press in on the lower front of the seat where it's got to latch. Much easier. If you press in at the top of the seat you're just compressing the foam and some of the springs.

 

My seat was tough to get in too, after being reupholstered. The back end will be thicker and tougher to compress under the seat back. Remember, push the bottom IN and DOWN at the same time. I actually had to use some 2x4s wrapped with towels to lever off the front seat...

 

Wow Rob, Lady sounds like she's tight! must be all that sound deadener you put all over the floor?

 

Yeah, the only part of the seat frame that will push the clip backward is the bottom rim, so you need to push backward against the very bottom-most structural part of the cushion.

For those of you who haven't done it, imagine squatting in a space just large enough for your feet and reaching down between your legs to put about 30-40 pounds of pressure straight ahead of you (ie: at a 90° angle to your arms, which are reaching straight down) against a ¼" wide horizontal strip that is about 6" above the bottoms of your feet, with nothing to effectively brace against (because the seat-backs have to be forward for you to even fit in there).

It's no picnic.

- Eric

 

The spinach and Wheaties didn't work. I'll pump some iron for a couple of weeks. I figurered out the "pushing on the bottom of the frame" thing. The retainer bar on the frame is on the top of the bracket, I just can't get it back far enough to drop down into the lock position. It must only be 1/16" or less. I think I'll get out the 2x4's like Rob did. Thanks for all the moral support.

 

I had this problem on a few cars, started using a heavy rubber hammer to persuade the lower seat frame and have not had trouble since.

 

Chum,
Here's a suggestion I found worked pretty good on my car when I had a tough time getting the rear seat back in. Usually I had trouble with the drivers side. So what I did was installed the tough side first (drivers) because I could lift the seat up lengthwise to see where the problem was on the latching. Didn't affect how the passenger side went in.

I know you said the seats got re upholstered. Check the bottom of the drivers side where the latch point is to see whether the upholsterer might have bent the lower frame up a bit? That would make it a bear to get the right amount of downward force to install. Measure the side that goes in easy and compare heights on the side that doesn't. Also check the floor latching area to see if the carpet/underlay at the front of the seat may be keeping the seat from going down far enough. I know how tough these seats can be to get in, but in all honesty I don't think it should take 2X4's to lever them in. The factory didn't do it that way.... There has to be something simple that's just being overlooked.

 

Here's a method I used on more than one occasion that proved successful for both installing and removing a stubborn seat bottom. I would open the door, sit on the rocker, have my back against the door and hinge area and I would place my foot on the lowest part of seat bottom and push it with my foot/leg. That usually gave me enough leverage to get it to move back and drop into place. As Allan mentioned, make sure the carpet is not in the way.

 

Thanks for the ideas. I covered the seat myself, so I know the frame is not bent. Also the carpet is not an issue, there is plenty of clearance. I just need that extra bit of testosterone. I'll try the last suggestion, as my legs are pretty strong still. Or, if I can loosen the other side and do the bear side first, that sounds good. I'll let you all know what works so the next guy won't have to struggle like I have. Chumley

 

Here's what you need...

 

The problem is that the foam will be really puffy at the back edge of the seat bottom, so it has to compress as it slides under the bottom of the seat back. It is hard enough to get it in without sompressing anything. After a several years, and after heating and cooling, the foam will stay compressed, so the next time it should be easier.
The 2x4 levering got mine in fairly easily.

 

I had the exact issue with my 72 after new padding and covers. Front seats out is easier, but I did it later by a 4 x 4 against the front frame and a small bottle jack pushing on a padded 2 x 4 against the rear seat bottom. A hydraulic jack has a lot of power in a confined space.

 

One other thing to check is the seat belt mounting bolts/attachment. I had this prob before, I had also taken out the belts to clean them. I had the chrome belt tabs going the wrong way...I think pointed down with the webbing going down. No way would the seat go in. Flipped them and fixed it. It's a thought.........