Fastback fold down seat not folding down

-
E

ESP47

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
2,520
Reaction score
1,475
Location
Sacramento, CA
Just recently put some seat covers on the rear seat and when I install it, I can only get the seat to fold down to about a 45* angle before the cams hit the brackets that the bolts go through to attach the seat to the car.

I took pictures of the brackets so I could get them back on the same way and everything looks identical to me. it's almost as if the cams need to be pushed in another 1/2" or so a piece but they are in as far as they'll go. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
check your hinge cover screws//I had lost one and improvised//it was just long enough to keep it from folding down
 
ESP47 said:
Just recently put some seat covers on the rear seat and when I install it, I can only get the seat to fold down to about a 45* angle before the cams hit the brackets that the bolts go through to attach the seat to the car.

I took pictures of the brackets so I could get them back on the same way and everything looks identical to me. it's almost as if the cams need to be pushed in another 1/2" or so a piece but they are in as far as they'll go. Anyone have any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Post a pic of the cam and the release lever. Is this a 67-69 Barracuda fastback?
 
I have a 69 FB, and last year the back seat would not fold down. I could see that when the lever on the back side of the was pulled all the way, one of the cams was not moving enough to disengage from the post. I took the back seat out and laid it on my workbench back side up. As I moved the lever. I could see what was happening. Both of the cams were missing one of the two set screws, and on one side, the remaining one was loose. It only took a few minutes to fix. That may not be what you have going on, bot take another look at your pictures, and compare carefully to what you have now. If the seat was working before, There is probably a 90% chance that you have done something wrong. If I remember right, the cams can be put in wrong which would make them stick out too much. Please post pictures.
 
Last edited:
My 69 always takes two movements.

Release and fold down about half way, “45 “ degrees and then let go of the knob. The same in reverse when raising. The cams get bound at 1/2 fold.
 
Last edited:
It always works though and I love it! What a great feature to load all the crap needed to enjoy a car show! These cars are almost station wagons or cross overs with awesome styling! And big Mopar power!
 
Last edited:
If yours does not work this way, then likely the return spring is broke! Mine was but, fabricated a new mount and return spring using a standard coil spring when I recovered the upper back!
 
Maybe I should say, release and hold to 45 then let go and lower and lock. Do the the opposite on raise, release and hold to 45 let go and lock.
 
Hey, @ESP47, while in the USAF, I lived in the Sacramento area for 5 years while stationed at at Mather AFB. 1973 as a Navigator student, and 77 - 81 as an instructor. I lived in Rancho Cordova both times. We LOVED that area. I bet it has changed since then.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I can tell that the return spring inside the seat is broke but I don't think that's having any effect on the issue I'm having here. The cam is getting hung up inside the lip of the bracket as seen in the picture. On the other side, the cam just ever so barely squeezes by the bracket but on the side pictured, it gets hung up inside it and it won't allow the seat to fold down all the way.

I took the brackets off and reinstalled them by trying to push them as far toward the inside of the seat as possible to give the cam more room but it was to no avail. Really weird.

@harrisonm I was born a few years after you left the area but I can tell you that Rancho probably isn't anything like you remember it. It's not considered to be one of the better parts of town. The biggest local Mopar show is held at a park in Rancho every summer so it gets a pass in my book!

Rear seat cam.jpg
 
Are the cams adjusted all the way inboard on the cross shaft? You can see the set screw in your pic.

if so you may need to space the mount brackets outward with washers and or shims between the seat frame. Particularly on the forward bolt in your pic. Has this been mini tubbed?
 
A pic of the other side would help as well!
 
1969383S said:
Are the cams adjusted all the way inboard on the cross shaft? You can see the set screw in your pic.

if so you may need to space the mount brackets outward with washers and or shims between the seat frame. Particularly on the forward bolt in your pic. Has this been mini tubbed?
Click to expand...

Yeah I pushed on them as hard as I could. One of them is flush with the shaft and the other is sticking out just an rch but it wouldn't make a difference if that one was flush as well since I need even more room than that.

I was thinking about shimming as well but I don't remember the seat not folding down when I got the car but I basically tore it apart as soon as I got it so there's a chance that I didn't even test it. I'll give that a shot this weekend and see if it works out.

No mini tub. It's all stock.
 
What about the outside bracket mounts! Have you popped the small cover and see if you can adjust the mount to body bolts? I will try to find time to snap some pics of mine tomorrow after unloading chairs, gazebos and such from the show this past weekend.
 
Never mind. I see your small covers are already off.
 
The cam on your driver side has a nylon washer on it or maybe steel. You may need the put a thinner one in there to push that cam in further.
 
1969383S said:
The cam on your driver side has a nylon washer on it or maybe steel. You may need the put a thinner one in there to push that cam in further.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's a nylon washer and you can see that there is a little gap there but I can't get it to sit completely flush no matter what I do. Not sure if there's an issue there or if that's just how it's supposed to look.

I'm going to attempt to shim it out and report back if that works. Appreciate the advice.
 
It’s all about adjustment! You may need to loosen all four body bolts and shift it around a bit.

My car had 4 long U shims behind the body bolts and between the bracket on the driver side and only 2 on the passenger side. These cars were not so squared up when built.

I assume they were there to align the seat bottom to the rear floor area, but impact the over all alignment.
 
Last edited:
These are the shims I am talking about.

28D5E356-C043-452E-8908-456570182078.jpeg
 
Did notice your body mount bolt on the passenger side is not snug. Assume you are still trying to align it all! Please report back when you can!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top