Seat Exchange for 64ragtop

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October 07, 2008, 07:55:40 AM

I'm putting some Y2K vintage Dakota seats in my ragtop Dart. A Previous Owner had set the original seat bases back a good threeor four inches, drilling new holes in the floorpan to do it. The Dart seat bases fit the Dakota seats with only minor modification, BUT the Dak seats are about three inches NARROWER than the Dart buckets, thus the need for more holes in
the floorpan. Compounding this is the fact that the floorpans are not flat, being higher toward the centerline, and sloping down toward the back to form the rear seat footwells.

Has anyone else swapped seats between vehicles and encountered similar challenges? It seems to be not really all that difficult to locate the seat with the bases installed and figure out from that where the new holes for the mounting bolts need to go. But I'm just a bit hesitant to go ahead it there's someone here with experience in this kind of project. The pic is the floorpan as it is today. Primed, but with too many holes already, but needing four more to remount the original seat bases with a narrower footprint.

I'd really like to get some guidance in the tradition of the old adage: "Measure twice and cut once" This one seems like: "work the _heck_ out of the layout _before_ making new holes. Also, I suppose reinforcing the new holes with the largest fender washers I can locate should be adequate. Or do I need to use something thicker and or larger in diameter??? Also, I suppose the best way to close the old holes is to weld 'em, but I don't have a welder or any experience with one. I thought of putting bolts with fender washers and silicone sealant in the unused holes, but that seems kinda tacky. How about some two part epoxy putty worked through the holes and outward like rivit heads inside and out? Or pay a welder?

Advice - anyone???

Thanks in advance!

BC

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with my 64 Dart, orginally I installed some late 1960's Mercedes 2dr buckets. I made some brackets out of oak (!!!). It was a pain to get the seats to sit level. I made sure the car was level, then I'd prop the seat up with various sized blocks of wood until it was sitting right. then I measured and built the brackets for it.. that was 10 years ago,, about 6 years ago I found some original GT buckets and installed them with the factory brackets. I still have the oak (!!) brackets and I laugh when I come acrss them.

with my 63 Dodge 330, I installed a different set of 60's Mercedes seats. this time I did the same thing only I made the brackets out of steel and mig welded them up.. used a level.,,, blocked the seats up to where I figured they should be, ... made brackets....

Yeah, that's What i figured out - first level the car to have a reference even if it doesn't sit level when road ready. Got the slider latch rod "re-engineered to fit the new spacing of the original seat bases mounted to the Dak seats. I'm ready to drill new holes to mount them, but still undecided about how to fill the old holes and whether (and how) to reinforce the floorpan at the new mounting points. Just making it up as I go....

Back to work! Thanks for any ideas and inspiration, folks!

BC

On the inside holes, use some 2"-3" dia. washers on top and bottom, or better yet, fashion some plate to weld to the floor like the the plates used on the outer mount holes in your pic.

as far as filling the old holes,,, hardware store/Home Depot/Lowes have rubber plugs of various sizes... or weld them up, or fibreglass, or duct tape.