Seat bolts..What a nightmare

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..Been out there for an hour and arf just on one bolt..The passenger side all undo bar one which spins around in place..I have modified a 10mm spanner to a 13mm to fit into the rail once the nut becomes 3/4 loose..But you need four arms, Not forearms as i have those..Why is some of the most should be easy jobs so frigging awkward?..I think TVR must of had too many workers as everything seems to be a two man job.."You hold the bolt and we'll turn the car"..AArrgghh..Going back out there to have a re-think..Ziga

[pwd95]

Did this recently. The new bolts I put in had slightly bigger heads so they hold themselves in the runners.

[jmorgan]

Wedge a screwdriver in or a nut splitter on the bottom?

[mrzigazaga]

pwd95 said:

Did this recently. The new bolts I put in had slightly bigger heads so they hold themselves in the runners.

That would of made more sense..I have tried a screwdriver..Unfortunately i dont have a nut splitter only nut crackers....Giving it another try..Cheers..Ziga

[pwd95]

I think I wedged something in the runner to stop the bolt from rising & a screwdriver at the side to stop it turning.

[keatsie]

Zig... I had the same problem in the end I tacked the bolt to the seat frame with a mig welder to stop it spinning.

[Big Daft Lad]

Just cut it off?

[Mr Tank]

Big Daft Lad said:

Just cut it off?

Don't tell him that! With his luck he would end up cutting a big hole in the floor.

[mrzigazaga]

Or a big hole in the seats....And still cant get the buggers out!!!...

Went and got some 13mm allen head bolts as these will be easier to re-fit than putting them bastids back in..I managed to get two nuts off from the rear rails by moving the foam aside with a big screw driver but cant even see the front ones so gave that a miss..Tried to cut them off but cant get a hacksaw on them..I need a grinder and a ramp..And i have neither..Im going to start looking into renting a ramp from a garage as some of them rent the ramp out and the mechs help and you can use all the tools..Not sure if any do it near me though..Cheers..Ziga

[voltage_maxx]

Zig, head over to the Retrorides website (I have a build thread on there).

There's a whole section of the site dedicated to people wanting and offering workshop space. Quite a few community garages have started up as a result.

It's a really friendly website. There's an awful lot of people who's extent of car maintenance and modding seems limited to chopping coils out of springs and taking all the badges off . But there's also a lot of very skilled people on there.

Especially seeing how your car has a lot of classic Ford in it, I'm sure you'd get something out of it (no I'm not on comission!).

[combine]

Screwdriver/wedge into gap between bolt head and runner , done it on both seats to get at big power amps for mega stereo !

[Grady]

I can't imagine getting at the bottom side without ramps or jack stands. I know on one car it was a combination of sockets, wrenches, locking wrenches, a Dremell cutter and a Sawsall. Some were a 1/2 pain and some were a pain and a half. (And on the other car they just unbolted). It helped to have a 14 yr old helper hold the car side tool in place. Grady

[mrzigazaga]

Cheers chaps..I will look into the garage share..I did manage to get one bolt out and cut one off with a hack saw but the other two on the passenger side are just turning and no matter how much wedging of screw drivers i do they just wont stop turning..I spoke to the fella that supplies my tyres and if hes not busy tomorrow then he will pop it up on the ramp and cut them off..Fingers crossed..Cheers...Ziga

[350zwelgje]

For just being able to get under your car:
'Invest' in two axle stands and a basic trolley jack. Only if you do not have it yet of course. Not trying to bankrupt you (think 50 pounds should get you started with something decent), but not spending money in a garage makes a quick payback (one or two visits saved and you have your payback). I even take it with me on long trips that when needed I can do basic work underneath the wedge quick and in safety, or in case to change a wheel, etc. Helped me out to adjust front wheel bearing play, investigate 'funny' noises, etc. at the roadside (coming back from the BBWF in 2004....), and the rest is piece of mind.

Rob

[mrzigazaga]

I do have a trolley jack and axle stands but i cant get to the nuts of the seat bolts with a hacksaw and dont have a grinder so if anything i should invest in one..The garage wont charge me for him cutting the bolts out as i will put the new ones in and sort the seats out when i get back home...Cheers..Ziga

[jmorgan]

Pad saw. Gets you out of all sorts.

[1 Finger Bandit]

Burn it?

[Solitude]

1 Finger Bandit said:

Burn it?

This

[KelWedge]

Took me 4 days to do mine !!!!
Day 1 Spray WD40 all over bolts both sides,
Day 2 and 3 Same as Day 1

Day 4 Car on ramps and top bit wedged with metal bar and undo, No Problem

Apart from scratched/Cut hands and the two bolts that still didnt undo and had to be cut off.

Still replaced with nice flash new bolts and locktight nuts, repaired the rotten passenger seat runner (OK the boys at work welded bits in the old one) and put back with some nice stainless reinforcement plates under the car.

result

[Wedg1e]

My seats are held in with socket-head bolts so can get an Allen key into the seat runner to hold them.