The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1951 sliding seat

My 51 truck seat didn't come with any kind of rod or cable that operates the driver side lever to move seat front and back. I can't find this rod or cable anywhere for sale, has anyone done this??
Ideas? Pictures?

There is a rod that goes from driver side to passenger side and then in the middle of your seat where there is a support it runs through a rubber grommet (see www.ClassicParts.com item #28-911) to hold it up/in place. I have several seat rods if you send me a PM we can discuss. The reason why you don't see them for sale is they are 4' long and hard to ship. I think I have about 6 of them laying around. They came with the seat frames from 1951-1955 1st series. Maybe I could fold it and then ship it? Hmmmmm.

The best way to ship things like that is to drop it into a piece of PVC pipe and tape up the ends.

Or a card board poster or document tube. Then mark 'EXPLOSIVE' on the side

If it is just a steel rod I could buy locally. Are the ends bent a certain way? Does anyone have pictures? I sure would appreciate if someone could pop their seat off and take a few for me.
Thanks Brad, I may contact you if I come up empty handed!

BruceO. I would work with Brad on getting one shipped.

Bruce,

It has a couple bends on each end. I will shoot you some pictures.

thanks! I'm kind of a "like to create if I can guy".

Bruce,

Here are the pictures and details:
Rod is just a shade under 3/16" dia.
Rod is 48-3/4" long.
The bends on each end are the same except one goes up and the other goes down where it enters the seat track, good luck!
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2932719380102454676jfVMPS
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2067190830102454676afVkMl
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2924479670102454676kWqSLD
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2680496180102454676hkeDji

Brad, Thanks for photos, they say it all. I'm off to work on.

Thanks again!

I'm trying to figure out the seat set up as well. My assembly manual doesn't really cover the rod portion, and the old parts truck I took the seat frame and tracks out of already had the rod missing. So do the ends of the rod fit into the top holes on the sliding tracks?

There are two slotted holes near the center of each track the rod goes in there. Right across the middle of the seat frame is where it goes. There is about a 1/4" hole in the seat frames middle support where the grommet goes this then supports the rod's length to keep it from sagging or hanging up on the seat pan.

Is this the slotted holes you are referring to in this picture? http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx100/mrcrapps/DSCN0641.jpg

Also, how important to the operation of the seat is this bar? Thanks for your help,

Andy

No, look at this photo see the holes in the tabs themselves right in the center of the track. These tabs are what allow the seat to release so it will slide. The bar is the seat release for forward and back motion of the entire seat.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2241223250102454676UcyPoL

I think I have a different part. This seat was taken out of a 1950, I believe. This is a picture of the underside of the seat with a cable mechanism http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx100/mrcrapps/DSCN0635.jpg.

There was no rod when I took it out, but there is the hole in the middle for the rubber thing the rod goes thru to keep it from rattling, which is kind of confusing me. Here are my tracks
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx100/mrcrapps/DSCN0644.jpg

http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx100/mrcrapps/DSCN0643.jpg.
I think they are a little different. Any information about this would be helpful. I am currently de-rusting and refurbishing this seat, and I have a new cable to put back in it. Is the rod a replacement for the cable system or vice versa? Thanks for your help!

You have the earlier cable style. Those 2 bolted clips on your tracks grab a hold of the cable and that is how it moves the seat back and forward. You do not need nor can you use the rod for this application. I was looking through my photos to see if I have a detail of how the cable attaches but have not found it yet.

any tips on removing the sliding bench seat from a 1949 chevy?

Jon,

Once the cushions are out there should be 4-bolts holding the frame to the sliders (2-each side). Once they are out you undo the cable from the slider 2-bolts (one each side). That is all that holds the frame in on the 47-50 trucks. You may want to soak them in PB blaster for a day before you try and undo them as the back two collect crud and rust and often break.

After looking at the different styles, it seems clear to me that:
1. The seat sliders utilizing the rod both lock in any given position. the rod is connected to the lever when pulled also acts on the opposite slider to unlock it.
2. The seat sliders with the cable only has on slide that locks (side with lever). The cable clamped to both slides keep the far slide from moving. When you unlock and push the seat, the cable allows both slides to move together.

I am guessing the cable style system would operate easier as it seems it would help to keep the seat from binding when pushed fore or aft.