86 cab rear seats to 83 coupe

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

hi , anyone know if 86 cabriolet rear jumps will fit an 83 coupe, whats the difference if any? could they fit with mods? i assume the front seats will work, am i correct on that?thanks , ben

bkreigsr · 06:17 AM

Not sure on the cab rears - pretty sure the targa rears are different from the coupe though.
As far as the fronts, I know the sliders changed in 85 from a single locker to the double locker. (both rails have notches and lock into the spring loaded catches.) Also, I think the seat belt receivers changed from seat mounted to console mounted somewhere 84-86. I found all this out the hard way, so do some more investigation before you jump.
Bill K

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Not sure on the cab rears - pretty sure the targa rears are different from the coupe though.
As far as the fronts, I know the sliders changed in 85 from a single locker to the doulbe locker. (both rails have notches and lock into the spring loaded catches.) Also, I think the seat belt receivers changed from seat mounted to console mounted somewhere 84-86. I found all this out the hard way, so do some more investigation before you jump.
Bill K

bill , thats why i am asking..... on the fronts i am wondering if i could switch out my rails and put them on the later seats, any thoughts? ben

group911@aol.co · 12-22-2011, 05:51 AM

Ben
Easy on the fronts as your seat belt mounts on the 83 are on the tunnel. You can update to the later seat mounted anchors if you get the anchors on the seats and the seat belts themselves. I'd go with the double locking tracks regardless.
All that is bolt on stuff.
On the rears, the cab seats are shorter for sure but I can't remember if the width is different on the cab/targas. Easy enough to find rears though.

bkreigsr · 06:16 AM

I don't remember it being as easy as Bob suggests. most of the 85, and up, seats were power-something, and the seat belt receiver was welded to the seat chassis - so if you are moving the later seat into the earlier body, you should be okay - as long as you get a decent set of receivers with the seat. I was able to hog out a pair of earlier receivers to go on to the bolt on the seat base. -there's a couple of ways you can go about this. also, I think the same seat belt will work regardless of where you end up mounting it. Bill K

Dueller · 12-22-2011, 06:10 AM

What color are you looking for...I may have a set of tan ones from 87 coupe

nesslar · 12-22-2011, 06:14 AM

Cab rears are shorter. They are also each 1.5" or so narrower at the outside but still hug each other in the middle on the inside. They work, and will bolt right in, but look a little odd, being "minis' in effect. Targa and coupe are the same.

nesslar · 06:28 AM

Pictures: Coupe/Targa 1st, then cab seats...you can see the shorter height easily (four 'ribs' as opposed to five) and the 'flare' at the outside, near the window, is wider/flared out at more of an angle, though that is hard to see in the photos.

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

I don't remember it being as easy as Bob suggests. most of the 85, and up, seats were power-something, and the seat belt receiver was welded to the seat chassis - so if you are moving the later seat into the earlier body, you should be okay - as long as you get a decent set of receivers with the seat. I was able to hog out a pair of earlier receivers to go on to the bolt on the seat base. -there's a couple of ways you can go about this. also, I think the same seat belt will work regardless of where you end up mounting it. Bill K

bob, if i understand correctly my older seat bets are still usable if the seats i am buying have belt mechanism in place...could seat tracks be swapped or will the later ones need to be used? thanks, ben

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by nesslar

Pictures: Coupe/Targa 1st, then cab seats...you can see the shorter height easily (four 'ribs' as opposed to five) and the 'flare' at the outside, near the window, is wider/flared out at more of an angle, though that is hard to see in the photos.

nessler,
getting good schooling here, if the backs are indeed not as wide would there be a space in the middle or on the sides...seems like shorter (this case only!) might be a benefit when seats are folded down as more room in the back of front seats....still trying to understand the width issue....may just get some seat backs with the rear carpet in place and then dye to match if too difficult to install. have you done the swap before will i need spacers to make up the difference at the hinges or do they bolt in?
thanks, ben

nesslar · 12-22-2011, 06:49 AM

Yes, I actually bolted a set right in 'til I bought a pair of the right size. No spacers/extra washers at all. The seat backs still fit right together in the center; space at the window side is wider with the Cab seats. It creates a gap at the very top, outer point of the seat backs of about 1.5"/1.75" each side. It works, and yes, the seats fold down not so far forward, but don't create a whole lot of extra room. The seat bottoms are still there, after all.

group911@aol.co · 12-22-2011, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 56 nomad

bob, if i understand correctly my older seat bets are still usable if the seats i am buying have belt mechanism in place...could seat tracks be swapped or will the later ones need to be used? thanks, ben

Ben
Your seat belts can be retained by leaving the mounts you currently use on the tunnel.
Just remove the receivers from the later seats.
Bill is correct that if the later seats are electric, you will have to supply power to them and have to use the tracks that came with them. The track to chassis mounting holes will also be in different locations so you will have to drill new holes in the tracks.

bkreigsr · 07:43 AM

yes the seat belt can be used regardless of where you end up mounting it. Anything is do-able - just depends on how much effort you are willing to throw at the project. If I remember correctly, the earlier tracks will not work with the later seat, unless maybe your older seat was also power? Another thing I ran into was that on my 85 - the driver's seat was power, and the passenger seat was manual. you can only switch the tracks manual to manual, and power to power.
Bill K
MANUAL SEAT RAILS - 85 Carrera

POWER SEAT RAILS - 85 Carrera

MANUAL INBOARD MOUNT - on Recaro - note aftermarket "L" brackets

POWER INBOARD MOUNT - welded on stock seat

bkreigsr · 12-22-2011, 06:53 AM

seat tracks from 84 Carrera - totally different animal

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by nesslar

Yes, I actually bolted a set right in 'til I bought a pair of the right size. No spacers/extra washers at all. The seat backs still fit right together in the center; space at the window side is wider with the Cab seats. It creates a gap at the very top, outer point of the seat backs of about 1.5"/1.75" each side. It works, and yes, the seats fold down not so far forward, but don't create a whole lot of extra room. The seat bottoms are still there, after all.

hi, do you mean narrower at the top?, ben

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

seat tracks from 84 Carrera - totally different animal

bill,
one more time for this hard headed guy...lets say i remove the seat from the slider and replace it with my old slider hardware...is it "doable" or a real pain in .....?
regards ben

bkreigsr · 07:44 AM

yes it's do-able, and yes it's a pain. you are going to have to drill new holes in the older slides, (body-side, and seat-side) to get to the captured nut in the newer seat, and match the mounting holes in you floor rails.
then the seat belt receivers will be a non-issue.
....but you won't have the safety offered by the double-lockers (with the heavier seat) Bill K

56 nomad · 56 nomad's Garage

thanks to all that answered , got my answers .....have a happy holiday. ben