Adjusting seat rails

[MrScott]

I can't seem to get a comfortable seating position with my early SC sport seats. The forward/backward adjustment is either too far or too close -- I need it in the middle. I'll dig into it this weekend to see if the rails on the seat or the shell can be moved but I figured someone smarter might have already figured it out.

[ossiblue]

I have found the same problem even in early cars as well as the later. To avoid hitting the wheel with the knees when using the pedals, you move the seat back but now, it's too far back to adequately depress the clutch without using tip-toes. Can't find the sweet spot for the seat base. Tilting the backrest gives comfortable arm position but the leg distance is a compromise. Smaller steering wheel is a solution, but another compromise itself.

If this sounds like your problem, you've got a lot of company! If you find a solution in your search, please post your results as many making a trade off in seat position.

[Won]

On my 83 the outboard rails have "floating" mounting points. Imagine thick plates with threaded holes in them that can move around a bit, sandwiching the actual rail between them and the slider. Try loosening the 2 bolts for outboard slider (the locking one) and you will be able to move the seat back and forth a bit and see how much room for adjustment there is. Note that the adjustments are also used to ensure both sliders are parallel to each other, so tighten one bolt (the rear one I think), slide the seat back and forth couple times, then put the last bolt in.

[bkreigsr]

you can reposition the rails on the seat bottom, but keep in mind they are positioned for easy access to the bolts that attach the seats to the floor.
once you start to move front-rear, you lose access to the retaining bolts.
let us know if you find a creative solution.
Bill K

[MrScott]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

If this sounds like your problem, you've got a lot of company!

Sounds very much like it except my legs rub the lower dash. The wheel is thoughtfully positioned to prevent me from exiting the car without sliding the seat back.

Originally Posted by Won

On my 83 the outboard rails have "floating" mounting points. Imagine thick plates with threaded holes in them that can move around a bit, sandwiching the actual rail between them and the slider. Try loosening the 2 bolts for outboard slider (the locking one) and you will be able to move the seat back and forth a bit and see how much room for adjustment there is. Note that the adjustments are also used to ensure both sliders are parallel to each other, so tighten one bolt (the rear one I think), slide the seat back and forth couple times, then put the last bolt in.

Perfect, thanks. I'll test and post my results.

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

you can reposition the rails on the seat bottom, but keep in mind they are positioned for easy access to the bolts that attach the seats to the floor.
once you start to move front-rear, you lose access to the retaining bolts.
let us know if you find a creative solution.
Bill K

These are the bolts that attach the seat rails to the floor rails? I dealt with these when I swapped my passenger and drivers seat. Plenty of room to access the fronts, rears were tight so if I can move the sliders I'll move them forward. Thanks for the tip.

[RWebb]

sounds like some need to get a steering wheel spacer