67 Seat Back Latch - need some help/ideas

[Greg C.]

I recovered my seats and am trying to get it all back together.
But when I try to put the seat back in the upright and locked position, my latch mechanism doesn't clear the cushion of the seat, and the latch "anchor" seems to be too far back to be reached by the moving locking part. I "feel" that I have the anchor as far forward as it can go...

Restored Seat Frames, AL Knoch Covers, Corvette America (New) Pads.


Any suggestions as to what I did wrong and how to fix?


Thanks, In advance.

[Gene M.]

Re: 67 Seat Back Latch - need some help/ideas

Greg,
Do you have the original hockey stick chrome seat back arms? Your seat backs look too far forward. What does the upper seat back latch mechanism look like? assembled correctly? As a general statement the seat base frame is pretty stout piece and not subject to bend, but the seat back frame is less so.

Most 67 latches assembled favor the position toward the front but not to the extreme you show that they miss the catch.

[Greg C.]

Re: 67 Seat Back Latch - need some help/ideas

They are original hockey sticks... and they are reconditioned frames/hardware.

I think I figured/solved the problem. The seat foam was too long at the back, and the foam was too high in front of the anchor/catch. Also, the catch "leaned back" a bit. I stuck it in a vice and whacked it with a hammer a few times to get it to "lean forward" I took the seat covers back off the frame (ughhh) and shaved the foam a bit.
Its better (I can get the mechanism to work) but I am hoping that with use, the seat foams will settle and make operation easier.

[Gene M.]

Re: 67 Seat Back Latch - need some help/ideas

Greg,
You could add a seat cover wire hook (short version) and pull down the seat cover tighter in that area around the front edge of the catch. A small hole may need to be drilled in the frame since there are no wires to hook to in that area.