1954 seat frame

[Gabe A.]

Hi! New member here with a question on removing the seat frame on my 54 corvette. There are 6 bolts that connect through the body to the seat frame, are these the bolts that need to be removed? If this is the case, I'm having a problem reaching the rear two bolts as I can't get the seat to move far enough forward or back to reach with a socket. My only other thought is the two bolts at the front top of the frame (you can see these in the pic). Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
Gabe

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 seat frame

Welcome of NCRS! I seem to remember being able to get to the rear two bolts by going under the seat frame with an open end wrench. You may only be able to turn each bolt a little at a time and may need to flip the wrench over from one turn to the next in order to engage the next set of flats on the bolt heads. You definitely won't be able to get to them with a socket.

[Eric F.]

Re: 1954 seat frame

I just removed the seat from a 54 and I was able to remove the rear bolts with a socket by sliding the seat frame to the rear until the notches in the frame aligned with the bolt heads. You said "My only other thought is the two bolts at the front top of the frame (you can see these in the pic)." I looked at the pic and I'm not sure which ones you are referring to. My initial thought was your seat glide was interfering with the frame and preventing you from sliding it enough to gain access but Peter said he needed a flat wrench to remove his seat. Weird, cause my seat from looks just like the one on your pic. The only difference I see in your photo is the bracket (bar) between the seat frame and door opening; which might be for a seatbelt. That bracket isn't in this 54. Good luck. Eric

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 seat frame

I take back what I said yesterday about using an open end wrench. I must have been recalling a different car. I just went out and removed my driver seat cushion and took the attached photo. My seat frame is sufficiently adjustable fore and aft that the cut outs in the seat frame can be located over the front bolt heads or the rear bolt heads, allowing use of a socket wrench on them.

[Gabe A.]

Re: 1954 seat frame

Thank you both, Pete and Eric. You have both confirmed what I thought, the seat frame should move far enough fore and aft to allow the cutouts to align with the bolts. Unfortunately my seat is mostly stuck and only moves a few inches in each direction. I'm thinking of spraying some WD40 on the track and working the seat back and forth to get the slide mechanism free. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 seat frame

Gabe, If the frame won't slide enough to allow you to reach the bolt heads through the cut-outs, then perhaps my earlier comment about using an open-end wrench would apply after all. As the bolt comes out, you can raise up the frame until eventually you remove the frame together with its bolts all at the same time. Then you can work on freeing up the tracks until they slide, allowing you to remove the bolts from the frame.

[Troy P.]

Re: 1954 seat frame

I'd say go with the WD-40 as you will need to get the frame moving eventually in your restoration anyway.

Once you let it soak a bit then put the seat cushions back on, sit on the seat and push back on it with your feet against the floor. Then slide back and forth to get it moving freely. You can get more force on it by sitting on it than pounding on it with something. If that doesn work use a gear wrench. Works better than an open end.