Installing leather S-type seats in an older car

[MJW16]

Evening all,

So I've removed my old style leather seats from my 91 Supersprint and it's time to install recently purchased S-types.  Naively I hoped the mounting holes/brackets might be the same - no such luck of course!  The S-type runners sit further apart then the old ones.

The old seats have a pair of mounting brackets that run front to back, bolting between the cross member and mounting points by the rear bulkhead.  I could reclaim these brackets for a clean up and reinstall if beneficial,  but that wouldn't help the fact they would position too close together for the S-type runners to land on them.

From a quick search it looks like I have two options:

• Ignore the old mounting holes/brackets completely and buy later style ally seat mount plates that go under the floor pan and reinforce it.
• Make up some bespoke brackets that run front to back and utilise the old mounting holes, but step outwards to achieve the right width for the new seats runners.

Has anyone else done this upgrade and found an easy solution?  Or a product on the market that adapts the fitment?

Thanks

Mike

[Jonathan Kay]

I'd prefer to take the load on brackets attached to the chassis rather than onto the floor.

Previous discussion.

Jonathan

[Drumster]

My car came with S-type seats mounted to the floor with the u-shaped channels mounted underneath the floor panels and i found that after many years use the floor panels were bending and although only a few rivets had disappeared many of the holes around the rivets had been stretched.

The mounting brackets for the old style seats were present on my chassis and I had a friend make up some supports that bolted to the chassis and ran across the top of the floor so the weight is now taken by the chassis.

As a cross-reference to your other thread re fixing carpets. When I rebuilt mine I noticed the original builder (?) had fitted popper bases (you can see a few at the top of the picture) to the ali panels and then fitted poppers to the carpet. I then did the same with the new panels and carpet.

[alan c]

I faced the same dilemma a few years ago.

I purchased the Chanel's that go under the floor, they are long enough so you can bolt these in situ using the old seat mounting points. I recall that there are rivets supplied as well which I also fitted. The channel is therefore held firmly in place with some of the load on the chassis rails as before. ( I didn't but i guess you could also use some "glue")

i then mounted the new S type seats with bolts through the channels

It took some effort to get it all lined up but it has held for many years now with no problem.

The alternative with the brackets above the floor as shown above is probably neater and easier if you can get the brackets made.

alan

[MJW16]

Thanks guys.  The forum as ever proves to be a fantastic source of advice and experience. 

I'm inclined to agree on the merit of the brackets - I'd feel happier with the weight of the seats on the original mounting points rather than the floor pan taking the load.

I'll have a chat with my friendly local fabricator about adapting the old brackets or making new to suit and update with a photo in a week or two.

[MJW16]

Mission Accomplished!

Brackets were made up to suit.  Old next to new below..

Everything cleaned up.  Sound/Heat proofing added to tunnel sides, and to 'flesh out' the top the tunnel where previous owners had flattened it

Carpet fitted (went for the popper option so that it's easy to remove)

And then in went the seats.

All went well, and got her out for a drive in the sunshine this afternoon too! 

I know the subject of seat weights has been covered extensively in the past, but out of interest I weighed the old leather seats complete with runners and brackets and compared them to the new S-types complete with runners, brackets and headrests.  There was very little in it - 9.5kg for the old ones vs 9.8kg for the S-types.  But lets face it if I was chasing weight loss it would be Tillets going in with no carpet or front mats!

Thanks again for the advice gents 

 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Well done, you should be happy.

[Drumster]

Excellent 'slimline' version of the brackets compared to mine 

[MJW16]

Yes I did shamelessly copy your brackets then put them on a bit of a diet!

Good shout on the carpet fitting with poppers. Works well and it's nice to know it can be taken out really easily if needed. 

[Drumster]

You're welcome