restoring bucket seat sliders

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str12-340

str12-340

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So I'm restoring the bucket seats in my 70 Dart GT. It's time to do the sliders. I'd like to be able to take them apart so I can blast all the rust away, paint the painted parts and reassemble and relube. It seems like there is no way to get them apart without drilling stuff out and then somehow fixing them when back together. Am I missing a way to release the top from the bottom?
 
I've restored mine. They cannot be totally disassembled. The more difficult part is the cleaning off the old lube in the tracks. I used gasoline, even submersing it, brushing it, working the track back and forth. When thoroughly dry, I bead blasted them. Finally paint including that little spring.
 
Murray, do you think pressure washing would help get the old grease off first?
Then evaporust.
 
Mike,
another method for rust removal is molasses 10 to 1 mix with water soak for week or so and no more rust and it does not eat the metal. I have a plastic container I have been using for a year and its still removing rust. I found this on U tube and buy the molasses at Wilco 4 gallons for 20.
Mike m
 
Mike Mulholland said:
Mike,
another method for rust removal is molasses 10 to 1 mix with water soak for week or so and no more rust and it does not eat the metal. I have a plastic container I have been using for a year and its still removing rust. I found this on U tube and buy the molasses at Wilco 4 gallons for 20.
Mike m
Click to expand...

Wisdom from across Colvos Passage!
 
The studs need to be removed (cut the swaging). It's still difficult to get them apart, but can be done. When cleaned and greased, put the stud back in and weld it in place.
 
So I took my sliders apart today and as advertised it was just a matter of straightening the bent over corners.
I have a follow-up question - the grease in these things is like molasses - sticky nasty stuff (just like described in the video). What was originally used to grease these things and is there a good substitute that is easier to work with?
By the way I'm on the hunt for a source for the little cages that hold the ball bearings and cradle the roller. All the bearings and rollers are in good shape but twp of the 8 holders were really mangled and would best be replaced. If somebody wants to save me an hour on the interweb because they know where to get them, please let me know.
 
str12-340 said:
the 8 holders were really mangled and would best be replaced. If somebody wants to save me an hour on the interweb because they know where to get them, please
Click to expand...

i had a couple mangled ball bearing cages as well. I couldn’t find any aftermarket replacements and found some used ones after I placed a wanted ad on one of the forums. There are two different cages per track. As for grease, I used white lithium from a tub (not aerosol).
Lots of time with solvent and a toothbrush to get all the hardened old grease off. Messy job for sure. Post pics of what you need. I might have an extra or two left over.
 
There are different types of tracks with different cages. I'm not sure when they changed. One the right is the early type track.
Parts from bench tracks will work in bucket tracks. Thats where we get parts. More detail than "70 Dart GT" in your want ad will help.

seat tracks.JPG
 
I'll get some pics posted today. The ones that came off the car that I am trying to restore for reuse are either like the ones on the left or the center (I'll compare when I get out to the shop this evening. Do you know what years the ones on the right are for? I ended up with a complete set of those in a parts swap and they seem to interchange with the ones I'm working on (same size and bolt spacing top and bottom) but the tracks don't have a feature to lock on the inside track, just the outside track where the knob is. Do you know what year they are for?
 
str12-340 said:
I'll get some pics posted today. The ones that came off the car that I am trying to restore for reuse are either like the ones on the left or the center (I'll compare when I get out to the shop this evening. Do you know what years the ones on the right are for? I ended up with a complete set of those in a parts swap and they seem to interchange with the ones I'm working on (same size and bolt spacing top and bottom) but the tracks don't have a feature to lock on the inside track, just the outside track where the knob is. Do you know what year they are for?
Click to expand...
The one on the right is 67 bench seat. The other pair are later model bench seat but like I said, dont know what year they changed. The very latest tracks had white plastic/nylon roller cages.
I dont recall seeing any that didn't have a wire tying 2 latches/releases together. Seems to me only 1 would allow the seat to turn sideways in a serious collision.
 
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