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TR2/3/3A TR2/3 Seat Frames

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CJD

CJD

Yoda
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My TR2 seats came in powder form, so for 2-1/2 years I have been looking for decent seat frames...without much luck at all. This month I removed the TR3 seats to swap the transmission, and that now has me thinking that I am going the wrong direction.

The TR3 seats were intact when I bought the car, but had cracks at the rear mounting holes. I fixed the cracks and also had to straighten them, as the rear portion had bent down over the slide rail in the back. When I was finished, they were as good as new. But, after using them 3+ years, I see they are already bending at the rear again. I am the heaviest in the family at 180#, so it's not like we are over loading them...they are just plain flimsy.

I just wanted to know if any of you have used alternative frames, and how they are holding up. The more I think about the frames...I realize they do not show once the pads and covers are on, so I may be best to forget the OEM. Is there any option that either reinforces the original style or improves on it?
 
Yes those seats are tinnie plus they have that void when the seat is back. I did some repairing on the back by putting/welding an I/8 or 3/16 by 1inch flat stock about 16 inch long all the along in the last indent were the last bolts goes. It real helped stiffen up the bottom. In addition, I took a 3 inch piece of sheet metal and cut pleats into it half way up on one side and wrapped that along the edge and upper back then plug welded that to the seat top and bottom. I did more welding from inside of the seat were the back meets the bottom. This made the seat totally rigid. Once painted, it all blended together plus it all gets upholstered. I will try and take some pictures
 
Twenty five years ago, I had to reinforce the rear bit on the lower seat pans. Since then they are fine but I put a large flat washer under every nut which is securing the pan to the carpet, jute lining and the TR floors.
 
He is some pictures of my hillbilly repair. It really did stiffen the frame up considerable. Once that thin bar was welded in a couple of spots the tin did not flex like before plus the stuff on the back helped because they always tare right there.
 
Bill...do Too Tall's seats look like OEM, with the pleats in the bottom pan?

Steve, that's a good idea. I had to study them to see where the reinforcement went. At first glance it looks stock!

Don, do you recall how you reinforced the pans?

Thanks for the input guys!
 
John,
Too Talls seat are nice but he only offers the rigid backs, no folding seats. I have no doubt you can repair yours to make them work well. Just another little project, right! I rebuilt a 3 steering box yesterday, had been deading it but it actually when pretty quick.

marv
 
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