theraymondguy

I've done some searching on the forum and somehow I did not find this.

If someone has better search Mojo, please forward a link.

I'm looking to refurbish an '85 T/A drivers seat with parts from a passenger seat. My current driver's seat has a collapsed bottom cushion, the upper has good foam but is torn in the usual spot.

The donor has the same seat cover / colour - has the map pocket on the back etc.

Can I swap the base cushions from driver to passenger? I recognize that the uppers are different, so I'm looking to swap the upholstery only - I've done this with success from a firebird donor.

Thanks in advance.

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

Pretty sure the driver and passenger seat base is the same. ( NOT true for the backrest. ) There is a large clip used on the right side of drivers seat ( or left side of passenger seat ) that is needed for the TORX pivot bolt. If that clip gets removed from the left (console) side of the passenger seat base and moved to the right side of the seat base,....... you've basically created a drivers side seat base. The foam might be covering the hinge bolt holes and will need to be trimmed back, but the holes are there. The bolt holes in the fabric will also be visible on the side of the seat, but they get hidden by the center console once the seat is re-installed in the car.

The backrest fabric can be swapped from the pass side to the drivers side too,..... but again the original hinge bolt holes will be visible. ( but mostly hidden by the center console once seat is re-installed. )

naf

iTrader: (7)

You're correct. The seat bases are the same but the back rests are not interchangeable. Yes that clip/bolt can be swapped to the other side of the base.

DId this several years ago when I recovered my 85 TA seats. Reproduction foam was (and probably still is not) available. I could not find a way to remove the foam from the seat back to replace it on the drivers seat from the spare pass seat I picked up. Recovered the original driver's seat back, the base was totally sagged out and the replacement pass seat made it like new.

TransamGTA350

iTrader: (2)

I’m in the process of doing this now with my GTA seats. I have 2 driver and 2 passenger seats that I’m building into 2 good seats. Foam and covers are identical for driver and passenger. Frames are different driver and passenger for both the back and bottom on GTA seats. If the bottoms are the same on the 85’ seats, that saves a lot of work.

theraymondguy

Thanks for your help, here’s my finished product, still very wet from cleaning .

TransamGTA350

iTrader: (2)

Nice job!

naf

iTrader: (7)

looks good

and you'll hopefully note now that the refurbished seats are actually somewhat comfortable. no more lower back pain...

theraymondguy

Thank you, I sit an easy 2” higher in the car. It really tidy’s up the interior.