swapping seats......

[itsSHOfast]

is there anyway to convert a passenger side door into a driver side door? As in put all the controls on the other side?

 

[jelloslug]

I'm assuming you mean useing a passenger seat on the drivers side? Yes you can (I have done it). You have to remove the upholstery from the foam and put it on the seat you want to use. You will also have to cut a hole in the side of the seat for the power seat buttons to go through. You will end up with an extra hole in the side of the seat but it's next to the console and you cannot see it.

 

[Blue-By-U]

jelloslug, you're saying that you still have to take the leather off the seat? Can't you just remove the plastic controls, cut your hole to mount it on the opposite side and then attach the wires?

EDIT: Actually, now that I think about it I believe the brackets on the bottom are offset so the seat won't bolt in on the other side. You would need a gen I or II driver side seat and then attach the upholstery. Can I remove and apply the upholstery myself do or do I have to take it to an interior shop?

Thanks!

<small>[ July 18, 2003, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: Blue-By-U ]</small>

 

[jelloslug]

I think you have the general idea down. It's not that hard to remove the leather. You should go to a fabric or upholstery shop and get some hog rings and hog ring pliers before you start, you will need them.

Start by removing the seat from the car, then remove the plastic trim and controls. Next unbolt the seat back from the seat bottom and rotate it out of the pivot on the opposite side (be carful not to break the air lines to the lumbar and bolsters, the have splices in them to let you unhook the back from the bottom). Flip the seat bottom over and unbolt the rack from the seat bottom. The leather is held on by J clips, they are sewn into the fabric and roll over the edge of the frame. Start on any edge and peel the J clip off of the frame (be carful not to damage the J clips). Once you have the J clips unhooked fold the leather over the foam to expose the hog ring rods. Cut off all the old hog rings and remove the old upholstery. Reinstall the opposite way.

To remover the leather from the seat back start by unzipping the bottom. Next remove the headrest, it may slid right out or you might have to remove the clips that hold the headrest in. They are under the black plastic bezels. Next lift up on the free edge of the bolster and unhook the J clips around the edge. There are 2 clips that hold the movable part of the bolster foam in place, reach under the outside edge and squeeze the clips that will let the bolster foam piece rotate off the rest of the seat. You should now be able to see into the seat and see the hog rings that are holding part of the leather in place, cut those and do the same for the other side. Peel the upholstery up and clip any remaining hog rings. Reinstall the opposite way.

Make sure that the new leather has the same shape bolsters, you may need to swat the entire bolster foam and all for the new leather to fit correctly.

 

[itsSHOfast]

how does it sounds blue? are u interested still? i think i will be able to do the work, and we can always costumise the seat to make sure you can not tell where the old controls were... also, we can take the mount of the seat and swap those as well if it doesnt line up correctly. Get back to me, call my cell if i dont reply here, also, i havent found out about the lights yet i will do that tonight........

 

[Blue-By-U]

Hey Andrew...I'll give you a call tomorrow about the headlights. Maybe I'll come down and we'll do it together. I posted a how-to questions in another section and they said long nose pliers and a flathead should get them off. Expect a call sometime tomorrow thumb

We'll talk about the seats at that time too.

<small>[ July 18, 2003, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: Blue-By-U ]</small>