Interior: '64 Hawk Bucket Seat Question

[FAK]

Non-Reclining Seats.

In the upright position, the drivers side seat back is a few degrees off from the passenger side, not drastically but noticeably. It leans further back than the passenger side. When viewing the two seat backs from the side, the two seat backs are not aligned with each other.

Recommended fix?

[jackb]

as is seen, the seatbottoms are perfect in each alignment telling you that the seat combo is fine by down below, without seat to floor shimming for driver comfort. You can probably tell the difference in cushion firmness too (driver's side is wallowed some).... So .. the seat complex has been worn according to the seat usage and the supporting structure has bent slightly backward due the usage. Lean the front seatback forward and see if there is a little, shiny metal stop with 1 screw, bottom left. If so, that stop not only stops the seat back but also protects the vinyl under it. You could probably remove the stop & screw, shim under with similar, thickness-specific stock, and install with a longer, same diameter screw. GL (.... these little things always bother me too.....)

[41 Frank]

The drivers seat in my GT had the same problem. Turned out to be a broken seat back and bottom. The welds on the seat frame tend to crack.

[studebaker-R2-4-me]

This is quite typical for the drivers seat, where the seat is actually bent from a heavier person sitting in the seat more often than the passenger seat. I've seen a couple of fixes for the seat back. One where a 1/8" round rod was bent around the end of the seat frame and welded on to the frame, making the frame longer for the stop. Another was where I increased the thickness of the metal stop and screw. I used a peice of 1/2" stock (thick) x 3/4" wide x 7/8" long,... drilling/chamfering for a longer screw and mounting on the Dirvers side seat in my Lark. I would not mind having even a thicker piece for a more upright position on this particular seat. This winter I may think about welding a rod on the frame to acheive a more upright position.


Allen.