62 seat removal, grab bar

[Paul M. Berard]

I'm trying to remove the seats from my '62 to replace the carpeting. I have the DIY network's video on restoring a '62, and they make it sound real easy to take the seats out. It looks like the backs just pop out by pulling straight up, and then the seats pop out afterwards. Well, no amount of tugging could get the seat backs out. Can anybody out there give me some clues? Also, I can't seem to get the grab bar out. I removed the 4 screws from underneath and also the 4 screws holding the chrome and pieces. It seems like you need to slide the end pieces toward the center to clear where the grab bar mounts to the angle brackets, but when I try to do that, the end pieces don't slide easily and the Naugahide gets scuffed. Any clues on that? Thanks in advance.

[Mike E.]

Re: 62 seat removal, grab bar

Paul--
Regarding the grab bar, you're doing what it takes to get it out.
Regarding the seats--you need to remove the bolts that hold the front of the tracks to the floor. Then you pull the entire seat forward several inches, and it then has cleared the rear brackets. You then lift it out in its entirety. You can't separate the bottom and the back while it's in the car very easily.
Good luck,
Mike

[Christopher R.]

Re: 62 seat removal, grab bar

Seats: Slide the seat all the way back on its track. That'll expose the bolts on the front of the track to the floor. Take them out. Now slide the seat forward without releasing the slide bar. The tracks are held in at the front by the bolts. At the rear, they go under a "U" bracket. Once the front bolts are out, you should be able to slide the tracks (with the seat) forward and out from under the rear bracket. They're usually stuck. So it might take some persuasion.

Grab bar: Yes, you have to slide the end pieces towards the middle to clear the brackets. Protect the Naugahide as best you can. When I did mine, I compressed the Naugahyde in front of the end piece as I slid the end piece forward. Some lubrication may help. Soap??? I wouldn't use anything greasey because it'll never come off.

[Paul M. Berard]

Re: 62 seat removal, grab bar

Thanks, Mike and Chris. Got the seats out OK. The seats in the video must not be OEM. In that car, the seat back and bottom popped out and the frame/rails stayed in the car. Is there a good book to purchase that would contain this kind of information?