Driver seat issues

[IndyFiat]

Not sure if this is the right area on the board to discuss this, but I'll give it a try. I'm trying to fix the driver's seat on my
'80 Spider and was wondering if anyone could share pictures of what the seat tracks look like and what the bottom plate looks like when taken off the tracks. I found a strip of vinyl with curved hooks on it that look like it should easily attach to both sides of the seat tray (plate)? Does anyone know what I'm referring to? If so, please advise me on how this strap is to be attached. It sits right under the foam bottom cushion.

Having trouble sliding drivers seat on tracks. It gets caught before reaching its most forward position. Any help would be appreciated.

[4uall]

does this help?

[IndyFiat]

Thanks for the picture. Helpful to know how it's supposed to go on. Thanks!

[baltobernie]

Having trouble sliding drivers seat on tracks. It gets caught before reaching its most forward position. Any help would be appreciated.

The Phillips-head machine screws and extremely thin star washers used on the sliders are proprietary to these cars. If someone has replaced them with hardware-store fasteners, they might be too tall, restricting the extreme forward (and rearward) motion of the seats.

I found a strip of vinyl with curved hooks on it that look like it should easily attach to both sides of the seat tray (plate)?

Perhaps you have a torn piece of vinyl from the bottom hem of the seat cover. The perimeter of the cover is attached to the pan with "hog rings"; circular staples unique to upholstery applications that secure the material, but allow movement.

[4uall]

New allen key bolts for easier access and removal of seat rails

[IndyFiat]

So I was able to pull the driver's seat out of the car. I inspected the seat adjustment arm mechanism and when I was doing so two ball bearing type things feel out when sliding the rail. Any idea what these are? Where are they supposed to sit inside the rail? It doesn't look like they even fir properly. I tried sliding them back in, but they continue to fall out.

Anyone?

[baltobernie]

Sounds like your sliding mechanism is broken. They are replaceable.

[IndyFiat]

Installed new used slider seat track on driver's side and now it works flawlessly. Thanks to the parts guys for the quick fix.

[wikkid]

Does that single, wide strip of rubber (like a flat rubber bungee) really hold the seat bottom foam sufficiently? Has anyone beefed up that arrangement when re-doing their seats? Mine are dry-rotted and pretty much non-functioning.

[baltobernie]

"Early" and "late" seats are different, but I don't know the cutoff year. In Early seats (my only experience), the foam is held to the pan by the cover. The cover has three small fabric channels on its underside; a square "C", aligned with the lines created where the front and side bolsters meet the seat bottom (pleated area). Coat hanger-size rods go in these channels. The four rod corners align with holes drilled thru the seat foam. Cords attach to the set pan, go thru the foam, and are attached to the rods. Downward pressure on the "C" provides definition of the seat contour. The cover hem is attached to the pan with hog rings; see earlier post. The finished seat and cushion can compress and move slightly when occupied.

If the foam and/or the cover are glued to each other and the pan, the foam will quickly disintegrate from internal friction. The assembly must be able to move, but still be constrained by the seat form. Maybe Late sets are different in this regard. I have seen some aftermarket covers that lack the channels.

Sorry I don't have photos; DC Fiats intended to do a tutorial on this, but I forgot my camera