Reclining Seats 73 Mach1

[73' mach 1]

I'm getting ready to reupholster my seats (TMI sport R's) and would love to have at least the drivers set recline some. Has anyone retro fit rails off of anything else and made it work? The pads and skins are for the high back type so I guess I'm sticking with that. Ideas? Thanks

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

Change the nylon spacers at the rear of the bottom section. Best method to determine how much angle you want is to start stacking washers on each side until you reach the desired recline angle. Save the factory spacers to someday put it back to original angle

 

[Boss1Ray]

Are you wanting to adjust to a different angle as explained by Bill73Ragtop above or are you wanting a fully adjustable type to move to different angles as you desire?

While I don't personally have a solution - surely someone has pondered this before. If I was to consider this type of mod, it would have to allow keeping it looking 100% stock. Good luck!

Ray

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

I believe the fox body and SN 197 seats are bolt in

 

[Mister 4x4]

I pulled the nylon pads completely out of my seats, which made them lean back about 10-12 degrees.  Much better, and my head's not scrapin' the headliner.

 

[73' mach 1]

I'm going to dig a little into this. I was talking to TMI to see if I could get my hands on the frame they use on the Sport R Pro seats. It's the same skins I have on a frame that reclines. I'll report back with the end result. Thanks guys as always.

 

[jowens1126]

I would just get the whole seat and sliders. I would really love to drop these in my 71

 

[Don C]

The Procar 1000 series seats from Summit are supposed to work well in Mustangs without increasing the height. And, they cost about 1/5 of those.

I've been thinking about the SN95 seats myself. They come up on Craigslist pretty often, and there are a lot in the wrecking yards. Plus, I like the comfort of fabrics compared to vinyl.

 

[Mister 4x4]

I'm going to dig a little into this. I was talking to TMI to see if I could get my hands on the frame they use on the Sport R Pro seats. It's the same skins I have on a frame that reclines. I'll report back with the end result. Thanks guys as always.

I'm seriously considering having them load up a set of those with the Sport Seat upholstery.  I don't care much for their new designs (with the grommets, and whatnot) - I'm happy with the beefed-up factory look I currently have (Sport Seat upholstery and foam).

I would hope they wouldn't ask much more (if at all) for a custom order than their advertised prices, since I'm sure they'll have to make them up as the orders come.

 

[73' mach 1]

Problem for me is I already have the Sport R (black with red stitching) skins and foam. Hoping I have get my hands on the frames they use or just allow me to return what I have and credit toward a set of fronts already done. If I would have know better I would just got those seats.

 

[Mister 4x4]

Problem for me is I already have the Sport R (black with red stitching) skins and foam. Hoping I have get my hands on the frames they use or just allow me to return what I have and credit toward a set of fronts already done. If I would have know better I would just got those seats.

When you contact them about the seat frames, maybe ask if they can install your Sport R skins and foam for you?  Of course, it would run some money - but how much, I wouldn't know.

I'd be very surprised if their seat frames are anything like the factory seat frames for '71-'73 Mustangs.  You might need to get different foam at the very least to fit their frames.

Just thinking out loud.

 

[73' mach 1]

Problem for me is I already have the Sport R (black with red stitching) skins and foam. Hoping I have get my hands on the frames they use or just allow me to return what I have and credit toward a set of fronts already done. If I would have know better I would just got those seats.

When you contact them about the seat frames, maybe ask if they can install your Sport R skins and foam for you?  Of course, it would run some money - but how much, I wouldn't know.

I'd be very surprised if their seat frames are anything like the factory seat frames for '71-'73 Mustangs.  You might need to get different foam at the very least to fit their frames.

Just thinking out loud.

That might be an option. With regards to the foam...I currently have the sport R style foam that I would end up using on my factory frames . While you still might be correct about being completely different they look really close to the same in the pictures?

 

[Mister 4x4]

It's the internal structure of the foam I was thinking about.  If the seat frames of the TMI seats are a lot different than the '71-'73 frames, then the foam you have may not fit over the frames - the overall 'outside' shape of the foam is probably the same as their turn-key seats (shape and whatnot), however.

Still interested to hear what you find out.   ::thumb::

 

[73' mach 1]

It's the internal structure of the foam I was thinking about.  If the seat frames of the TMI seats are a lot different than the '71-'73 frames, then the foam you have may not fit over the frames - the overall 'outside' shape of the foam is probably the same as their turn-key seats (shape and whatnot), however.

Still interested to hear what you find out.   ::thumb::

Roger that. I understand now. I hope to here something today. I'll definitely report my findings.

 

[73' mach 1]

It's the internal structure of the foam I was thinking about.  If the seat frames of the TMI seats are a lot different than the '71-'73 frames, then the foam you have may not fit over the frames - the overall 'outside' shape of the foam is probably the same as their turn-key seats (shape and whatnot), however.

Still interested to hear what you find out.   ::thumb::

Well no joy. You were correct that the foam that's for our frames will not work on the "Pro" frames even though the skins and foam "style" are the same. So this leaves me with either trying to sell what I have and repurchase, live with it the way it is or see how much I can gain be removing the stops. My only concern with removing the stops is how the hook latch sits right on the seat then. Also, with the latch that far away from the catch bracket won't it want to move a lot forward hitting the brakes? Maybe I'm missing something? I haven't had the back cover off yet to see how the latch mounts to see if there is a way to raise it up to offset me lowering the back rest.

 

[Mister 4x4]

I'm not sure what you're asking regarding the seat back latches.  With the seats in the normal position, the seat backs stay put - I have to use the latch releases to fold them forward, just like normal.

When I removed the pads in mine, all it did was allow the seat backs to recline back a little bit.

Here is the best I can offer for comparison.  The first pic is Day One of my restoration - the seats have all hardware in-place:

And here's the same seat frames with new Sport Seat upholstery installed without the seat pads.  Notice the difference in the angle of the seat back.

I do notice that when I put the seat back to the normal driving position, the latch sometimes doesn't 'click' into place (it just rests on top of the bracket), then when I hop in, it 'pops' into place latching itself.  First couple of times it was scary (thinking, "What did I just break?!)... now, it doesn't bother me.

I'm sure that over time, the seat cover fabric might wear against itself, but if that ever becomes a major problem, I'll address it then.  After everything I had to do to get this car where it is now, pretty much everything seems trivial to me.

 

[secluff]

Eric, Glad to see most of the Rusted out Redneck seemed to have buffed right out!  Just like Memphis said about Eleanor, "A little tape, a little polish and she'll be as good as new"       :whistling: !

 

[73' mach 1]

I'm not sure what you're asking regarding the seat back latches.  With the seats in the normal position, the seat backs stay put - I have to use the latch releases to fold them forward, just like normal.

When I removed the pads in mine, all it did was allow the seat backs to recline back a little bit.

Here is the best I can offer for comparison.  The first pic is Day One of my restoration - the seats have all hardware in-place:

And here's the same seat frames with new Sport Seat upholstery installed without the seat pads.  Notice the difference in the angle of the seat back.

I do notice that when I put the seat back to the normal driving position, the latch sometimes doesn't 'click' into place (it just rests on top of the bracket), then when I hop in, it 'pops' into place latching itself.  First couple of times it was scary (thinking, "What did I just break?!)... now, it doesn't bother me.

I'm sure that over time, the seat cover fabric might wear against itself, but if that ever becomes a major problem, I'll address it then.  After everything I had to do to get this car where it is now, pretty much everything seems trivial to me.

My god man have you put in some work! That really is incredible. Looks like the angle you have it at would be the furthest back I'd want to go. Guess I'll just work with what I have. Again, you have one nice ride there man.

 

[Mister 4x4]

LOL!!  Thanks for the kind words.  My before and after pics never fail to blow minds.   rofl

I had also moved my seat platforms back about 2" when I put the floor pans back in... you can tell by the position of the front of the lower cushion in relation to the 'Ford' emblem on the thresholds (it's not on the newer pic because I hadn't stuck them on yet).

If you don't want 'em leaned back as far, maybe only remove the ones from the upper side, which should effectively cut the angle in half.  Or, you could try the 'stacking washers' trick Bill mentioned to get the exact angle you're after.