Installing~Prototype~Custom Seats in 1965 Monza Convertible

[Charlie]

Thanks to everyone for all the caveats ~ good to know we look out for each other!!!
(PS: I'll try not to crash ~ I'll heal, but the Corvair won't heal so easily ;>}~!

NOTE : I'm using the brackets depicted as "prototypes" to get the bolt holes right before making the real brackets.
The final brackets will be the 1/4" armor plate of the same size once I get the holes right!
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I'm installing custom seats from a 1996 Ford Probe that I scrapped to pay for work on my 1965 Monza convertible:

I wanted to use the seats I scarfed from the Probe, but my first priority was not to ruin the Corvair floors!

So I fabricated (prototype) brackets that would match the Ford's sliding rails to the Corvair bolt holes:

The trick is to keep the new seats facing forward, with the correct range of movement.

The trick is to keep the new seats facing forward, with the correct range of movement.

Here is the floor with the brackets matching Corvair bolts and bolt holes:

Lining up the new brackets

Now to make a unit assembly of the seat with the brackets installed.

Front Passenger Seat Brackets Installed on Seat Rails

Now it's necessary to bend the brackets to match the flatter Corvair floors!

This makes it easier to install the seat and attach the brackets, but this works better if the bolts line up!

I adjusted the measurements to make the farthest reach from "firewall" to seat back about 46" (same as Corvair?)


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[cad-kid]

I don't think your metal brackets are strong enough. In a mild crash they could bend and break.

[El Burro]

Those are definitely not strong enough. Don't crash

[terribleted]

Certainly not safe. What is the material? Looks like 1/8 soft steel stock from the home center. 3/16" thickness steel is thick enough. I have used 3/16 and even 1/4" steel for adapting seats. You can actually use 1/8" cold rolled steel to fabricate some good brackets but you must weld up flanges to stiffen them or perhaps utilize some 1/8 cold steel un channel. Flat pieces are simply not strong enough in the long run particularly where you are expecting to hold the back of the seat suspended above the floor with them.

[ihscomputers]

According to his original post, Charlie states that those brackets are only "prototypes".

I bet that he realizes those brackets aren't safe to be used on a permanent basis.

[cad-kid]

According to his original post, Charlie states that those brackets are only "prototypes".

I bet that he realizes those brackets aren't safe to be used on a permanent basis.

Good eye

[sailadams]

NOTE : I'm using the brackets depicted as "prototypes" to get the bolt holes right before making the real brackets.
The final brackets will be the 1/4" armor plate of the same size once I get the holes right!