1966 Loose Seat Tracks

[Jerry A.]

I just took out the seats in my 66' and the inner tube is very loose relative to the outer tube. The tracks are loose side to side. Can you advise a fix?
Much thanks, jerry

[Randy S.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Jerry,

The seat tracks ride on a spring that wraps around a grooved holder. Kind of a poor mans ball bearing. There are 2 holders on each track. Your springs are probably broken. You need to separate the tubes then you see how they go together. I know the replacement springs can be purchased from LICS but I bought mine at the local hardware store.

Check the archives for more details.

Randy

[Jerry A.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Thanks Randy,
Can You tell me approximate spring size and how they are assembled??

[Randy S.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Jerry,

The springs are approximately 1/4" diameter x 2" long x .025 dia wire. 2 per track 4 per seat. They mount laterally in the track and ride on the inside diameter of the outer tube. They act as roller bearings not as springs.

Randy

[Jerry A.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Thanks Randy, I appreciate your help!!!
Jerry

[Jack P.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Here is a picture what the parts look like The springs are put in the two ring spacers/spring holders and inserted into the frame tube The springs we are talking about are the long skinny ones on the left of picture.

Jack



Together

[Gary J.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

This is a different issue that I have is that the seat rocks, nothing is wrong with the mounting plates, it is in the seat itself, what would be that cure?

[Jerry A.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Thanks Jack but I still will have a side to side slop problem even with springs.
I noticed a hole on each arm in the area of the FRAME latch sub-assemblies. Should there be a spacer assembly in each hole to preclude lateral movement of the tracks to the frame??
Jerry

[Jack P.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Thanks Jack but I still will have a side to side slop problem even with springs.
I noticed a hole on each arm in the area of the FRAME latch sub-assemblies. Should there be a spacer assembly in each hole to preclude lateral movement of the tracks to the frame??
Jerry

I think you will find slop with the seats not attached to the car. If the springs are the right size , and all parts are there, some of that slop will go away once you bolt the seats down.

Some play is unavoidable, due to the metal tubes stretched and fatigued after 45 or more years.

Jack

[Jack P.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

This is a different issue that I have is that the seat rocks, nothing is wrong with the mounting plates, it is in the seat itself, what would be that cure?

If the seat is bolted down and no play in bolts or nut plate, the rocking could be the broken springs described in the other reply. Check the seat stops on the back of seat, if the seat is rocking beyond the stop, the frame that the nylon stop is screwed into may be rusted out.

Jack

[Jerry A.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

Yea, my springs are still there. Will put bottom frame on car and see what happens. Still looks like a bad design!!!!
Thanks, Jerry

[James W.]

Re: 1966 Loose Seat Tracks

If you were to PV the car what play or front to back rocking would be acceptable?

Thanks,

James West