Seat Slide Installation Questions

I am installing new carpeting in my '62 AH BT7. The old carpet was cut so as to slide in around the seat slides and could be removed without removing the seat slides. The new carpet kit from Moss is installed under the seat slides similarly to the MGB. I confirmed this with one of the Moss tech specialists.

The seat slides had been installed with a steel strip under the wooden packing pieces against the floor panel. This strip is not listed in the Moss catalogue and the Moss tech was not familiar with it. A picture is attached. The steel has been drilled to match the packing piece holes for the T-bolts used on the AH. I have 2 questions:

1. Has anyone else seen or used these steel strips under the packing pieces and would they go below or above the carpet; and

2. The wooden packing pieces are longer than the seat sliders. Should they be trimmed to the same length as the sliders?

Doug Cavil
Gabriola lsland, BC

Without actually looking at my cars I think they way I did mine was metal on the carpet , wood spacers , seat rails .

Thanks for that, I will clean up the steel straps and use them. Did you trim the wood strips to fit or are they sticking out one end?

Nice felt job on the tunnel and floor. Did you use anything under the felt on the floor or tunnel?

Doug

Anderson Moment, p. 122:

Thanks Steve.

I notice that Victoria British does not show the metal strips either. The metal sections are the same length as the wood strips so I am assuming the wooden parts are not trimmed to the length of the sliders. With the excess sticking out, does that go to the front or the back of the car. It appears on mine it was sticking out the back but that doesn't mean it was correct.

Doug

BT7Doug said:

Thanks Steve.

I notice that Victoria British does not show the metal strips either. The metal sections are the same length as the wood strips so I am assuming the wooden parts are not trimmed to the length of the sliders. With the excess sticking out, does that go to the front or the back of the car. It appears on mine it was sticking out the back but that doesn't mean it was correct.
Doug

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Doug - you might be better off to check with Auto Farm (Canada), British Car Specialists or Healey Surgeons on this they would have more expertise than VB.

BT7Doug said:

Thanks for that, I will clean up the steel straps and use them. Did you trim the wood strips to fit or are they sticking out one end?

Nice felt job on the tunnel and floor. Did you use anything under the felt on the floor or tunnel?

Doug

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Didnt trim the wood strips but I did seal them with varnish .
Under the felt/jute the whole floor and tunnel was covered with the foil backed sound/heat foil/ rubber membrane stuff .

Healey Nut said:

Didnt trim the wood strips but I did seal them with varnish .
Under the felt/jute the whole floor and tunnel was covered with the foil backed sound/heat foil/ rubber membrane stuff .

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I plan to use the same material under the jute.

Hi All,

So, what is the reason for the multiple metal strips … accurate spacing? Why didn't they just install thicker wood strips if the reason was to raise the seat? If water has a chance to enter the car and saturate the rugs, wouldn't it be a good reason to want to take all out (rugs and backing) to thoroughly allow the rugs and floor to dry completely?

I must admit I did install the mettle strips and wood on top of the floor as original but did not understand the reasoning behind the metal strips. However, I did appreciate the need of pulling the rugs out to dry and had an occasion to appreciate I was able to. Unless someone has the reason for the mettle strips, I would eliminate their presence as a rust creator and only go with the wood spacer. I would also, again, not install the seat runners on the carpets or padding but directly onto the floor and seal the studs and any openings.

Since the left seat is mounted above the muffler, there were openings in the asbestos to allow the seat runner nuts to be secured directly to the bottom of the metal floor. I was carful to be protected from the asbestos during installation and not disrupt this material.

Ray(64BJ8P1)

Hi Derek,

Attached are a few photos from my 60 BT7. The metal strips have been cleaned up and painted. The wood strips are as they came out of the car. You will be able to see the indentations from the seat slider on the wood strips. The photos with the original carpet (what remained of it) shows the carpet cut outs.

Ray, I figured the metal strips were just for some additional reinforcing.



Joe

Thanks everyone for their insight into the "metal strips". Two of mine were severely corroded and took some grinding to get rid of the rust. As Steve pointed out with the excerpt from Anderson's, the metal strips went on top of the jute matting in the original cars. No wonder the metal strips corroded since if the jute got wet it would stay that way even if the wet carpet was pulled. I too am going to use a foil covered rubber type membrane in lieu of the tarpaper and jute of the originals. The metal strips will help distribute the load on the wooden spacers so they have been painted and will go down first on the membrane which is likely to compress somewhat as did the jute.

Doug Cavill
Gabriola Island, BC

I imagine the metal strips are there to ensure a better and stronger base for the rails to bolt to. The wood packing was probably simply to increase the height of the seat.

DerekJ said:

I imagine the metal strips are there to ensure a better and stronger base for the rails to bolt to. The wood packing was probably simply to increase the height of the seat.

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That's a reasonable explanation--actually, the only one--but I can't believe the strips add a lot of support; they're pretty thin (or at least they are after 50 years soaking in wet matting).

I'm surprised none of the 'usual suspects' sell them; they would be easy to make in even a rudimentary shop.