Simon928

I have an '84 auto with a ripped front driver's seat and I would like to replace it with a seat from an '87 that I have available to me. I remember reading that you couldn't just drop the newer seats into the older car--you would have to use washers or something and there would be significant potential shear force on the allen bolts. Does anybody know if a safe workaround has been discovered for this issue? I'd like to get better looking seats in my car, but I just don't want to put my life in danger at the same time.

brutus

The early seats the seat belt is bolted to the floor late seats it is to the seat. so late seats use larger diameter bolts BECAUSE the belt is attached to the seat. Use your old belts and no problem.

Simon928

That's good to know--thanks for the info! Is the S4 seat shaped in such a way that the old seatbelt might not fit well, or is it pretty much plug and play? (The S4 is at my in-law's place an hour away, so I can't verify this quickly on my own. Sorry.)

Rod Underwood

I switched them in an 82 with no problem.
Rod

Simon928

Then it looks like those seats will no longer have to live in neglect. Thanks guys!

Landseer

they must be shunned. Which ensures shear in event of frontal impact. At least retain the 84 tunnel Mount seatbélts for a fighting chance

Landseer

SHImmed. Blacberry / old eyes

Landseer

they must be shunned. Which ensures shear in event of frontal impact. At least retain the 84 tunnel Mount seatbélts for a fighting chance

Alan

Arghh! - now you are just arguing with yourself....

Alan

Simon928

Hmm, so you're saying that there is no way to put the '87 seats into an '84 without shimming them, thus creating the bolt-shearing problem? What happens if you don't shim the seats? Does the seat still fit and is just positioned at an odd angle or something or does it not fit at all? I've had people tell me both sides of the story before (you do have to shim and you don't), so now I'm starting to have my doubts about going through with this. I definitely would be keeping my original seatbelts if I were to do this, but I don't want to make the car more dangerous just for the aesthetics of prettier seats. And for the record, I'm certainly not doubting anyones opinion here, as my ignorance is well documented. I just want to be relatively sure that I'm not turning my car into a death trap.

Landseer

Simon, I have them installed.

The 84 seat and base mount interlock.
Take one apart and see for yourself.
Same with 87, just a different pattern.

In front collision, the design lookS like its intended to stretch the bolts.

If seat moves fwd relative to base, the they separate vertically.

Car is death trap anyway, shim a set in like I did and never look back.

I waS the first to post about this a year or so ago, thought there were some pictures, cant find w/out my computer