Seats rusted in place - help?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale California
Seats rusted in place - help?
Finally getting back to the vette after a way too busy year.
Here's the issue: Both seats are rusted solid in their seat tracks. I can pull up on the seat lever, but can't move the seats forward or backward on their tracks. I think the previous owner let some water accumulate in it and the seats tracks are frozen.
How do I get these out?
The seats are in their all the way back position, so I can't access the seat track bolts. The seatbacks do pivot forward, but that's not helping much (not as far as I can tell).
Should I just spray some penetrating oil back there and hope something works? Or is their a way to get these out that doesn't include prayer or destruction?
Thanks as always, this forum has helped me maintain my sanity.
Here's the issue: Both seats are rusted solid in their seat tracks. I can pull up on the seat lever, but can't move the seats forward or backward on their tracks. I think the previous owner let some water accumulate in it and the seats tracks are frozen.
How do I get these out?
The seats are in their all the way back position, so I can't access the seat track bolts. The seatbacks do pivot forward, but that's not helping much (not as far as I can tell).
Should I just spray some penetrating oil back there and hope something works? Or is their a way to get these out that doesn't include prayer or destruction?
Thanks as always, this forum has helped me maintain my sanity.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Houma La
I wacked the tracks with a rubber mallet after soaking with penetrating oil to get at the bolts. Once I got them removed someone on this very forum suggested to soak them in vinegar. It is a lot cheaper than any penetrant I have found and it works!!!! My car was knee deep in Rita/Katrina water for a week. I did not get to work on her until May 07. Other priorities as you can imagine. Good Luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Finally getting back to the vette after a way too busy year.
Here's the issue: Both seats are rusted solid in their seat tracks. I can pull up on the seat lever, but can't move the seats forward or backward on their tracks. I think the previous owner let some water accumulate in it and the seats tracks are frozen.
How do I get these out?
The seats are in their all the way back position, so I can't access the seat track bolts. The seatbacks do pivot forward, but that's not helping much (not as far as I can tell).
Should I just spray some penetrating oil back there and hope something works? Or is their a way to get these out that doesn't include prayer or destruction?
Thanks as always, this forum has helped me maintain my sanity.
Here's the issue: Both seats are rusted solid in their seat tracks. I can pull up on the seat lever, but can't move the seats forward or backward on their tracks. I think the previous owner let some water accumulate in it and the seats tracks are frozen.
How do I get these out?
The seats are in their all the way back position, so I can't access the seat track bolts. The seatbacks do pivot forward, but that's not helping much (not as far as I can tell).
Should I just spray some penetrating oil back there and hope something works? Or is their a way to get these out that doesn't include prayer or destruction?
Thanks as always, this forum has helped me maintain my sanity.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I wacked the tracks with a rubber mallet after soaking with penetrating oil to get at the bolts. Once I got them removed someone on this very forum suggested to soak them in vinegar. It is a lot cheaper than any penetrant I have found and it works!!!! My car was knee deep in Rita/Katrina water for a week. I did not get to work on her until May 07. Other priorities as you can imagine. Good Luck
OH MAN, that SUX....sorry to hear of it.....
but on those bolts, I never heard of vinegar....but reaching up and under the tracks with a flashlight, seeing the tracks and ball bearing glides, up under the seat front bottom edge....you MAY be able to hit it with aerosol penetrating and let it work....dunno how to get vinegar in there, but a garden pump sprayer.....humm....maybe that cheeeper and easier???
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale California
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'll have my head in the footwell tonight!
Oldguard, thanks for asking on the conversion. I've made little progress since last summer since I had to finish the house remodel and I spent 9 months flying back and forth to New Zealand on a project for work. (I know, New Zealand doesn't sound that terrible, but it meant that I didn't get much time at home working on the vette.) I did work on the brakes and suspension, but I didn't really get clearance from the tower (wife) until now to start working on the vette. But my New Year's resolution this year (which I'm starting now in July) was to get the basics (including the bumper conversion) done by Christmas time. I'm taking a pile of photos, so I'll post them for sure.
Gotta keep reminding myself of my own username, otherwise I'm gonna go insane waiting to drive this thing around.
Oldguard, thanks for asking on the conversion. I've made little progress since last summer since I had to finish the house remodel and I spent 9 months flying back and forth to New Zealand on a project for work. (I know, New Zealand doesn't sound that terrible, but it meant that I didn't get much time at home working on the vette.) I did work on the brakes and suspension, but I didn't really get clearance from the tower (wife) until now to start working on the vette. But my New Year's resolution this year (which I'm starting now in July) was to get the basics (including the bumper conversion) done by Christmas time. I'm taking a pile of photos, so I'll post them for sure.
Gotta keep reminding myself of my own username, otherwise I'm gonna go insane waiting to drive this thing around.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Vinegar will do a good job of removing rust once you get the tracks off the seat. Spray PB Blaster (available at AutoZone and Advance Auto) liberally on the tracks daily until they free up. Each day try to move the track a bit. The PB WILL free them up but it might take a week or so of daily dousings. The tracks might loosen up enough that you may not have to do anything else but grease them well - and paint them of course.
Rick B.
Rick B.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 263
Likes: 4
From: Maineville OH
Same Problem
I've got the same problem going on, and will try the vinegar soak once I take them out...my tip is more on the line of how to shuttle the seat forward and back. My seats will slide, but only if I grab the bottom of the seat pan next to the lever and push forward and back on the bottom of the seat pan. Any torque added by pushing from the seat back in either direction will lock it up. This might help get it free the first time.
Mark
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
if you pry against the rear surface of the passenger compartment, you may cause some unwanted results. quickest is to just get under the car and drill the rear bolts out, then rethread the backing plates, or just use a nut when you reinstall the seats. grind off all of the bolt that extends below the backing plate, and you only have about 3/8" of bolt to drill through. with a good carbide bit, it's a very easy job.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 263
Likes: 4
From: Maineville OH
jnb5101's got the plan...I tried to take my seats out last night after replying to the post. I got the seats pried forward by putting the tip of the prybar in front of the stop in the middle of the seat track behind the seat bottom and pried against the seat bottom. "Great" i'm thinking - got to the bolts pretty easily...one side was rusted through already, one came out easily, and I had to break the other one off because it was fused. Then I went to the passenger's side. I got the two near the trans tunnel without much issue and the third from the front-outside. This allowed the seat to ****...when I tried to pry the seat (with seatbelt removed) I pushed it into the windshield and it popped. Big ol' nasty spider web. It needed replaced anyway, but if yours does not, I second jnb's recommendation to drill out from the bottom. I still don't have the last bolt out because 
I grabbed a 12-point socket to try to turn the bolt and it stripped the head. If you do try to get tot he bolt heads use 6-point sockets! Good luck
