Not the answer I was hoping for, but for what it's worth...

A few days ago I posted asking how to switch the seat back adjustment mechanism from one side to the other, so I could install a passenger seat on the driver's side. I had done this once years ago and couldn't remember how I had done it the first time.

Turns out the mechanism on a 1983 seat is sneakily different from the 1979 I did before--and I don't think the adj wheel can be relocated on the newer seat. It looks like you have to take the whole mechanism off a driver's side seat and bolt it onto the frame of the seat back you want to use. This involves hog ring pliers and peeling back the upholstery, which I didn't want to get into, but that appears to be the only solution.

Doug Harvey

Darn I just turfed an old seat frame. I think you can switch them though, going by memory, since I no longer have a frame kicking around. There are two sping clips on each side. One on the inside, one on the outside. You just have to get one off each side. Take your pick. I have gotten them off with difficulty. They kind of look like a sun. The connecting rod that connects the two sides just pops out. Pull it from the center and it will bend enough that it will pop off. Then once you have one clip off each side the mechanisms shoud drop out. Then just switch sides and put the "sun" clips back on. I am pretty sure it can be done. Those sun clips are just a real pain to get off. I think I used a flat head screwdriver to pry them off.

Remembered something else. Sorry the thing that looks like a sun is just a tension spring. There is a smaller washer shaped clip that holds it together. And I did pry it with a screwdriver. It is the type of clip that makes assembly easy (at the factory) but really difficult to get off. I removed the inside one. I did it for a different reason but I am pretty sure you can reverse them.

Doug - You are correct in your assumptions. I found a lovely passenger seat to replace my driver's seat ('93), and you do have to peel back the upholstery on the seatback to swap the bracket/rod assembly from the old seat. When I did mine, I left the lumbar support in place, though, because of the hole in the upholstery - and despite being on the "wrong" side it's actually far easier to get at!

In any case, don't let the hog rings dissuade you! Just cut them with wire cutters and throw them away! I used large-size plastic "zip ties" to replace them - just thread them through the same holes, being sure you thread them behind the tension rod, zip them closed and cut off the tag end flush. Attach all 5 loosely before you cinch any of them up just to make sure everything's in place. Trust me - it works like a charm! You can't do this in most places - like under the bottom cushion - because the hog rings hold the upholstery to sharp metal that would just cut the zip ties, but for the seatback bottom you're drawing together two round, fabric-covered rods. You c-a-n buy "hog ring pliers" at places where you find furniture upholtery supplies, but for this job I wouldn't bother.

If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!

- Doug

Having re-hab-ed the front seat bottoms of 5 or 6 240's, I got good with hog rings. Grip one side tightly with Vise-grips, twist the other side with alligator pliers to open the ring up. Replacing the ring is similar. Get it close and then finish with the Vise-grips or a pair of slip-joint pliers.

It's easy.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)