What's the secret to removing the front seats??

[Harlan Chinn]

Ok, What is the secret to removing the seats from a 82 911? There are (4) bolts holding the rails to the floor pan. I can access the front bolts (10mm) and those came out fine. Slid the seat forward and tried to do the same with the rear bolts and the same socket doesn't fit over the bolt. I tried an 11mm socket but doesn't fit into the seat rail channel. Do I need to get a U-joint drive?

Any hints/advice? Thanks

[ZAMIRZ]

the rears should be 10mm as well, you might have to grind down the socket a bit to fit (what I had to do).

[geof33]

Try a 1/8" drive. The sockets are shorter and narrower. If nothing else I would get a thin walled socket before grinding it down. Then you are set next time.

It's interesting, my bolts are allen head bolts. The same ones are in the seat rail on the bottom of the seat. I wonder if you have a hack or if that's how they were in 82...

[Harlan Chinn]

Bolts were stock, allen heads are a retrofit.

[brawlins]

Get a "skinny" socket set - I found one and was able to pull out the back bolts. That's a lot easier than grinding a set down IMHO.

- Bill

[Moses]

Mine were 10mm bolts. Super PIA. Next time I pull the seats, Allens are going in.

[emcon5]

I used a Craftsman ¼" drive socket. Fit just fine.

Tom

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by emcon5
I used a Craftsman ¼" drive socket. Fit just fine.

Tom

ditto

[Harlan Chinn]

The 1/4" drive fits fine, but can't get enough room to get the ratchet under the seat bottom. What a PITA. Will need to replace the hex bolts with allen heads screws

[howie944]

Try using a 1/4" wobble extension on that 1/4" drive socket. Worked for me!

[IROC]

And then when it's time to put the seats back in, use socket head cap screws so you don't have to fight with this problem anymore...

Mike

[trj911]

You guys did what I did. 10mm on the front, then slide the seat all the way forward and use 1/4 on the rear.

[billwagnon]

And then when it's time to put the seats back in, use socket head cap screws so you don't have to fight with this problem anymore...

User modifications make baby Butzi cry!

[IROC]

Originally posted by billwagnon
User modifications make baby Butzi cry!

Then he's going to be scarred for life if he pokes around my car.. :>)

Mike

[TerryBPP]

If you have to, use a dremel to cut a slot into the top of the bolt. Them use a flathead screw driver to unscrew it. Big slot, big screwdriver.

[BGCarrera32]

Get behind the seat when its all the way forward and give it a good solid kick to gain some clearance.

[Larry Harris]

BG,
Stop trying to make sense, and quit calling me Shirley!

[Wil Ferch]

Harlan:
I believe socket head cap screws ( aka allen bolts) were always factory for this model year range of cars....at least for the later 3.2's.
--Wil Ferch

[braddb_82SC]

A Craftsman 3/8 in 10 mm socket functions alright to remove the bolts that hold the seats in my '82. The socket fit is a bit tight though.
Thanks for the hex socket cap idea. This could speed up seat r/r as long as the hex wretch clears the seat back.

-Brad

[sammyg2]

I use a racing seat for DEs and AX and switch back to the stock seats for regular driving so I swap out my seat a lot. The first time was a little bit of a bear, second time was much easier after I replaced the cap screws (bolts) with socket head cap screws (allen). I have a special hex key (allen wrench) I use that I cut down for just this use. I also have the small stub left over, I can insert it into the socket head cap screw and use a cobination wrench on it if it gives me a hard time.
Seems like the hottest set up would be a hex key stub and a small ratchet wrench to turn the stub. I haven't gotten that fancy with it but I might try it one of these days.

I can swap out the seat in less than 5 minutes now, installing the harness bar and 5 points take a little longer