stupid 'rear seat' install question
 

Could someone breifly explain how to get my rear bench seat installed
back again. I remember it coming out pretty easy, but after my new
carpet install, I cant get the rear seat in properly. The front of the
rear seat doesn't seem to be held down properly. You can pull up on
it and it will lift up. The back rest seems to have fit in properly after
putting the seat down.
Hope I explained my problem clear enough,
my writing skills are prolly worse than my mechanical skills :-(

thanks,

64 gto 2dr hardtop, 389, 4bbl, 4 spd mt

I would install the SEAT bottom first. Notice the hooks on the floor? Make sure those grab the iron bar on the bottom of the lower seat. HOld it at a 90 degree angle, hook it and then lower it down. Then take the seat back and hook it on the hooks that are on the body in the back and push it down then push the lower section into the where it meets the other seat. Very simple actually just takes time to get used to how they come in and out.

hmmm, dont remember seeing any hooks, or taking any hooks off.
I'll look when i get home. thanks for your response.

They're not really hooks, but more like high spots on your floor pan. If you look under the seat bottom you'll see two places where the structure of the seat forms "hooks" or low places in the seat frame. I always install the seat back first, then push the seat bottom in as far as you can. With the seat bottom in place, get in the car facing the rear window. Place your hands, palms up, under the lower edge of the seat on the driver's side. Push the seat bottom straightback as far as you can, almost like you are trying make the top of the seat bottom arch upward. Push hard! You may have to push enough to pop a sweat! As you get the bottom back as far as you can, move your hands down towards the floorboard. Release your grip on the seat and allow the seat bottom to catch on the high spots on the floor pan. Repeat on the passenger side. Now put your hands under the seat and tug upwards gently. You should feel the resistance if the seat bottom has indeed "hooked" on the floor pan. If not, repeat until you do!

thanks PB I think I understand the method now
will try 2nite..
thanks again

Pain in the butt, especially with a new carpet to get the metal to go into the "hooks" but it can be done.

Tom V.

had the same problems with a new carpet. take care to cut it out proper around these "hooks" or the seat will not snap into them.

yes the carpet does seem to be the problem.
It just wont snap in very well. I can get one side to
snap in a bit, but not very well.
how far back should i trim the carpet.
Should it come up over the ledge, or be trimmed
before it gets over the ledge? thanks again

install the upper rear seat cushion front. bolt it in. then install bottom seat cushion once carpet is trimmed. usually easiest to sit on rear floor and push bottom cushion with butt while pushing legs against front seats.

wow, theres no way i can fit into position to do that.
IF you can do that, your either 4'-9" or a contortionist :)

I usually kneel on the ground and lean into the car and use my shoulders. Put one shoulder agenst the front seat and push with the other . You can than you can use your fingers to line it up. Hope this helps

negative comments on techniques are not the way to go. 6'3" if you please.

it was not meant to be negative toward you, thats why I put the
smiley face there, sorry if it offended you engineer, but....
First of all, I could not fit into position to attempt that. (i must be too fat)
Second you state to trim the carpet, but fail to tell me
how far back to trim ( im too ignorant to know),
and third what the heck does "install the upper rear seat cushion front. bolt it in." mean??? (im too dumb to decipher this one)
again sorry to offend you, it was not intended, it was intended
to be light-hearted :-)
thanks, your attempt to help was appreciated!!

The back of the rear seat is ment ot be installed first. They are supposed to be "hung" on hooks near the package tray. Then there are bolts at the bottom of the seat back. These are what makes it neccesary to install the back first. (if installing like the factory did)

I usually install the bottom by kneeling on the rear floorboard (yea, I'm 6'+ and it is crowded) and face the rear seat. I then use my knee to push the seat bottom backwards and my hands to push down to hook the ...."hook".

The hook in the floor board faces rearward, so you must push the seat back enough to catch the rod on the seat on the hook. The carpet needs to be trimmed "just enough" to clear the hook area. Use caution here because trimming too much could cause a prob.

Excuse me, the correct technical terminoligy escapes me. Usually happens when ever I speek or write out loud!

Scott

thanks scott, i understand the technique.
I appreciate all the help everyone.
I know exactly how its sapposed to be done now.

Well, don't keep us hangin'.....did you get it in?

sorry, no not yet, I havent had much time this week to go
out and do it. ....I do see the hooks and the bar thats sapposed to
latch behind the hooks, so its only a matter of time.
(I did have the pass side hooked at one time, but couldnt
get the drivers side to hook) i hope to get to it soon,
thanks