Interior: Reclining front seats

[Robert]

I have a set of GT Hawk front seats that I am replacing the original bench type front seat in my 54 K Champion.Can these seats be changed to recliners by changing hinge mechanism?Were there any problems,weaknesses with the reclining mechanism.Are parts available? Bob

[candbstudebakers]

It can be done, first you would need to find an original set to get the parts, there is welding to do so every thing needs to come off, cheaper to find an original set and use them and for get trying to make a set been there done that.

[jclary]

I have a '60 four door Lark with split bench reclining seats. They are great but I wouldn't think about monkeying with the mechanism except to make sure it was properly maintained. I suspect they could be quite dangerous if the driver's seat malfunctioned.

[StudeRich]

All of the New Old Stock parts are available to rebuild worn units if necessary at the many Studebaker Vendors at: studebakervendors.com

However as C and B Studebaker Bob recommended, it is far better to buy a set of used reclining seats than to try to convert the non-reclining type, the seats are not the same.

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

Actually, the seat bottoms are the same when comparing reclining to non-reclining seats. The differences are in the seat backs. This of course does not apply to full back-full bottom seats as used in four door cars, but it does apply to split back-full bottom seats, individual bench type seats, and bucket seats.

[53k]

I have a '60 four door Lark with split bench reclining seats. They are great but I wouldn't think about monkeying with the mechanism except to make sure it was properly maintained. I suspect they could be quite dangerous if the driver's seat malfunctioned.

I suspect there are more than a few of us out there who have experienced sudden full recline while driving.

[Robert]

I guess I'll forget the idea of converting.I was hoping it was just a matter of changing a few parts.I've got enough projects without re-engineering the seats. Bob

[Bob Andrews]

You might want to consider avoiding reclining seats altogether, due to their risky nature. How often will you really use them anyway? See this thread:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...d-car-pictures)

[53k]

You might want to consider avoiding reclining seats altogether, due to their risky nature. How often will you really use them anyway? See this thread:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...d-car-pictures)

Only two times that I ever really used the recliners- second time was when I got my wife and new son out of the hospital in Rhode Island on Friday mid-day and left on a 1500-mile trip, the destination where I had to be first thing Monday morning. I put down the passenger seat in our '61 Cruiser (would go completely flat in the long wheelbase cars, but not in the 109-inch Larks) and made a bed on that side. She could sit up in the rear seat or lie flat in the bed. The first time- we drove to DC where I wanted to visit my detailer about my next assignment. We got in to DC fairly late, saw a park, stopped, put down the seats and slept undisturbed. Can you imagine doing that now?
IMHO the recliners aren't comfortable when driving. The first notch is too far back for the driver and is just OK for a passenger.

[candbstudebakers]

Only two times that I ever really used the recliners- second time was when I got my wife and new son out of the hospital in Rhode Island on Friday mid-day and left on a 1500-mile trip, the destination where I had to be first thing Monday morning. I put down the passenger seat in our '61 Cruiser (would go completely flat in the long wheelbase cars, but not in the 109-inch Larks) and made a bed on that side. She could sit up in the rear seat or lie flat in the bed. The first time- we drove to DC where I wanted to visit my detailer about my next assignment. We got in to DC fairly late, saw a park, stopped, put down the seats and slept undisturbed. Can you imagine doing that now?
IMHO the recliners aren't comfortable when driving. The first notch is too far back for the driver and is just OK for a passenger.

My 53 Blue coupe has GT seats that the original owner made into recliners but he was real young at the time and I think it was for a different reason, lots of work in doing so.

[studeluvr]

The 64 Cruiser recliner is broke and had a Mfg. wood block thing holding it in place. I've used bolts to try and secure the seat without much luck any suggestions on how to best secure the back of the seat. I thought I had it fixed once until it reclined while driving, exciting.

[bezhawk]

AMC used the same mechanism in some of their reclining seats......however, the main gear was made of steel, instead of Studebakers brass ones.
A direct replacement. I don't have the model year info I took it out of, but it was a 70's Ambassador.