hueveaj

I bought a pair of strato buckets to replace my bench for my restoration project. I am nearly done restoring them, i bought a set of springs for the track, it contains two big springs about 8 inches long and one inch diameter, the other two smaller springs are about 5 inches long and about 3/8" diameter. How do they hook up? The manuals I have do not show where they anchor. Also, there must be some kind of connector rod between the seat adjusters, as both rails have catches, what does this look like? can I make one to replace my missing one?

70Post

No connectors or wires between the seat tracks on each bucket. The two springs go on ONE TRACK (the one with the adjuster arm). Can't get to one yet to take a pic...will try Monday....in the meantime if someone has one handy snap a pic!


EDIT: Looks like each spring may mount on a separate track going by 70Supremevert's pics below. Larger spring on the inside track for each seat and the smaller spring on the outside track (for the seat adjuster handle).

hueveaj

70post,
Looks like you're it. Can you tell me which springs attach to the front of the rail, the big one or little on?
Al

70Post

Here's all I can provide right now. Two different seat tracks shown in the pics....one pic shows typical placement of the smaller spring (this spring "springs" the adjuster handle).


Other pic shows attachment of the larger spring on the seat track...the other end of this larger spring slips into a small oval hole on the underside edge/lip of your bucket seat metal frame.

1970supremevert

Al,

70 post has it right,

I hope this helps , the one picture shows the left frt seat spring location the other 2 pics show a r/s frt seat and the oval hole location.

I wish I had bid on the frt seat

70Post

Good pics....I edited my post above (#2)...looks like each spring goes on a separate track. Thanks

hueveaj

ClassicOldsmobile contributors,
Thanks so much for taking the time to post pictures, they are very helpful. I will definitely be able to correctly spring my acquired strato buckets.
I have noticed that there must be different versions of the strato bucket rails, as mine have position locks on both rails, I do not see that on the pictures posted. It appears the same other than that. given that, I think I could safely lock the inner rail open and not worry about creating a linkage between the two rails. any additional thoughts on this?
Al

70Post

At this point you're the only one that hasn't posted pics on this thread

hueveaj

Good point, and taken 70post, I'll put pic's of my seat rail set up tonight.
Al

70Post

Are your brackets original to the car? Is your car an original bucket seat car?

I've never seen bucket seat tracks from this era as you describe but who knows....we find out new stuff all the time. Maybe you have some sort of bench seat tracks that were adapted to the buckets...those have a connecting wire between the two and both have notches/position locks in them.

hueveaj

The bucket seats are not original to the car. They are definitely Strato buckets though. I bought them from a guy who restores Cutlasses and deals in parts. I've attached images, however, they aren't all that good. I hope you can see what I'm talking about.
Al

70Post

You're gonna have to take some better pics...better yet, remove them and lay them on a solid light colored surface and take some clear pics. So far, those don't look correct for '69-72 Abody buckets.

Get some pics showing the shape of the outer track release handles as well.

Check your "inner" ones and look for evidence of someone having sawed off a release arm.

On the correct tracks the foot/leg with the single hole mounts to the floor at the front of the buckets...the feet/legs with two holes in them go to the rear.

Thanks

1970supremevert

Al,
I have seen the double release tracks before , not sure what they came from, but I seem to recall a rod went diagonally across so when you moved the adjuster **** , the inner adjuster would release and allow both tracks to move in unison, the best I can tell from your explanation that is what is sounds like(I missed the post from 70 post) the wire is a better description

70Post

Couple more pics so you can compare to what you have.

First pic shows underside of bench vs. bucket seat track

Second pic may be useful so you can compare measurements...I measured the center-to-center distances b/n the track mounting holes - Bench VS. Bucket tracks. There's a substantial difference.

Who knows?? Maybe you have some other version of bucket seat tracks. I've rebuilt/restored/re-covered 5 sets of these from '70-72 Olds Abodies in the last year and none of those bucket seat cars had tracks that look like yours. However, with these cars, just about the time you decide to say "the factory NEVER did that! (or used a particular style part)" you get proven wrong