C3 Seat removal???

[Tom L.]

I need to access the lap belt (they stopped retracting) assebly under the seat but seem to be missing the trick to reaching the rear seat bolts. Is there a procedure or is it the nightmare it appears to be???

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 Seat removal???

I need to access the lap belt (they stopped retracting) assebly under the seat but seem to be missing the trick to reaching the rear seat bolts. Is there a procedure or is it the nightmare it appears to be???

Slide the seat all the way forward and I think you'll be looking at them, one on each side.
At least, the 71 and earlier cars are like this. I've never taken the time to inspect my 72.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Seat removal???

Slide the seat all the way forward and I think you'll be looking at them, one on each side.
At least, the 71 and earlier cars are like this. I've never taken the time to inspect my 72.

Patrick

Patrick and Lynn-----


1972 used different seat adjusters than 68-71. However, I don't think the difference will matter relative to this issue. Also, removing the seats in a 68-74 (and, later, too) is really very easy. Just remove the relatively easily accessible 4 bolts that fasten the adjusters to the floorboard and out the seats come. One caution: be VERY careful when you remove the seats from the car that the sharp ends of the adjusters don't cut the dash or door panels as you remove the seats from the car.

Removing the seats also provides an opportunity to "rotate" them. The driver and passenger seats are identical, so they can be alternated. Generally, the driver seat gets the most wear. So, by rotating it to the passenger side, wear is "evened out".

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 Seat removal???

The shoulder belt pass-through on my 1970 makes the seats less than completely interchangeable. 1970 and up to the point of the single seat/shoulder belt combo would have the same issue.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Seat removal???

The shoulder belt pass-through on my 1970 makes the seats less than completely interchangeable. 1970 and up to the point of the single seat/shoulder belt combo would have the same issue.

Terry-----


Yes, I forgot about that issue. However, the seat cushions, where most of the wear actually occurs, should be relatively easily interchanged. Just remove the 2 pivot bolts per seat and exchange the seat cushion from side-to-side while retaining the backs on the original side. It also provides an opportunity to make sure the pivot bolts are TIGHT. If the inner pivot bolt loosens and falls out (as they have a "habit" of doing), the seat has to be removed from the car wherever one happens to be at the time tore-install it.

Original pivot bolts used a plastic insert as a "locking device". However, these were really a "one shot" sort of thing and only "lock", marginally well, the FIRST time they're installed. Locktite 242 works well for subsequent installations, but the bolts will still eventually work there way out..

[Tom L.]

Re: C3 Seat removal???

Thanks for the input. Being a tall guy, not a great feature when owning a c3, I simply didn't think of sliding the seat forward. Duhhh...

I will be sure that the pivot bolts are tight too! thanks.

Hope for good weekend weather we would all like it either warm or cold!!!