Rules on mounting seats/seat rails???

[RB30X]

I've installed my new floor pans and the old seat rails/pans look pretty banged up after their removal with a big hammer. I've cut up some lengths of alluminium box section with holes to match the seat rail bolt pattern (2 lengths per seat).

 

My question is, do I weld some brackets onto the floor and use bolts through the steel brackets into the alluminium to hold the box section down or bolt the box section through the floor? What are the rules and regs as far as securing seat hardware?

 

Or is there another alternative such as new replacement pieces (in Aus)??

 

Cheers

[waxhead]

Yeah im keen to find this one out as well

[Aaron Neubauer]

Code LK for seat modification

 

ADR 3 (second gen)

 

I don't think anything other than steel can be used in seat anchorages, aluminium doesn't have the modulus of elasticity to be able to resist impact forces.

 

[ackent1]

You can't modify seat mounts without getting them re-engineered.

[PeterAllen]

There is a lesson here for others contemplating a floor replacement. If you want to retain the seat mounts then carefully remove them with a spot-weld remover. I actually left the front bracket attached to the transmission tunnel and sill.

 

I think your best option now is to try and resurrect your original mounts or see if Paul Woolf (sp) at ZBits might cut you out some old brackets.

 

 

 

[Brabham]

Hi Peter,

          What is a spot weld remover and how does it work? Will drilling out the spot welds work the same? Cheers.

[PeterAllen]

Type "spot weld" into eBay - you should purchase the three extra 5/16" cutters while you are at it. In fact I would recommend you buy two of the tools as they are inexpensive.

 

The remover cuts through one layer and allows you to separate lap joints. You need to think about which half you want the hole to be in.

 

To use it;

- centre-punch the middle of the spot weld,

- position the pointer on the arbor in the centre-punch indentation,

- cut through the top layer - a puff of brown dust (rust) with usually indicate you have gone through the top layer.

 

Notes: You can use a small drill bit to make the centre-punch point a bit deeper if the tool starts to wander around. It's also a good idea to flatten out the area you intend to cut so the cutter gets an even start.