Convertible Rear Seat attachment to body?

[Harts56]

OK, 70 Challenger convertible.  Rear seats have just never fit well, been told that the lower seat (bench part) from convt or hardtop will generally work difference is the seat back frame.  I can see and have the mounting bolts near the floor but how where does it attach to the car at the top?

I am missing what I believe is a frame for the seat back to attach to I think.  The guy who had car befor me put a 2x4 from wheel well to wheel well and zip tied the seat back in place....looked like it fit until you get a little closer and there are gaps on either side of the seat and the body.

So, guess I am looking for:
Any part or ID number to verify seat back frame is correct for a convertible.
Any easy visible difference to identify the convertible frame vs hardtop frame.
A picture of what the seat back attaches to in the car itself, aside from the two bolts near the floor.

I get the car back from the paint shop soon and will need to put it together and would like to try to fix this correcty.  I know PG sells a kit, but after paint and new chrome and such another $600+ is not what I really am looking for.

Thanks,  John

[wiging19]

 

[ragtopdodge]

Got any pics?

2x4 between the wheels wells?  That...sounds...pretty hokey to me.   

[Harts56]

No pics right now, car is at shop being painted.  Think I figgured out how attached, now just trying to find easy way to tell if seat back is for convt or hardtop.  Thinking I must have incorrect seat back for convt!  PG re-pops the convt. seat back frame, but that is $600 and not sure if that is what I need.

Unless someone knows an easy way to tell convt vs hardtop I need to wait until I get car back.

Thanks

[buddydog]

So it sounds like you are missing a "pump brace". Was your car a converted coupe?  :poopoke:I'm guessing you have the stock wheel wells that were never converted to the capped convertible style. The brace in question holds the powered pump for top operation and has a couple of hooks that the seat back should attach to. Is your seat back notched to accept a convertible boot etc.?

Geoff

[Harts56]

Dug through a zillion pics from when I tore car down for paint shop.  Did find these pics:

Pic #1 shows the pump brace with the "hooks" for seat back to drop onto.

Pic #2 shows how it was attached with 2x4 and bailing wire

Pic #3 shows the backside of the seat.  Note that it does have part that the boot slides into, and appears to be original looking.  I examined the frame and could not see wear where it may have rested on those "hooks" for forty years.  Did find tags on seat first one I believe is manufacture date:  SS 8 20 69.  The second I am not sure of:  SS 2942639B.

I probably should have tried to install the seat on the tabs/hooks when I first noticed this, but I was on a mission to strip everything out of the car for painting.  At this point I should have the car back pretty soon and will take a much closer look at that time. 

If anyone has a convertible and knows how to tell the diff between a hardtop and convertible seat back that would help put me at ease until I get the car back!

Thanks

[Harts56]

    Opps, here are the pics!

[Harts56]

Ok, got the car back from painter and started on interior install and have some answers to this mystery.  The seat back IS from a hardtop.  It does "fit" side to side however the top of the hatdtop is straighter than the convertible seat back and is pitched to the rear of the car creating about 2 inches slack in the boot.  Prior owner had used the 2x4 to space/tilt the top of the seat foward so that the boot would fit correctly - taught.   Took car to interior shop to have them give me a few pointers and the owner determined that the convertible back is angled slightly foward near the top where the boot ribbing slides.

So, finding a seat frame from a convertible is difficult at best.  PPG repops the frame for $600+, shipping, then I would need skins, and then install skins I am out about !,000+.  Solution: for $125 the interior shop will take my existing boot (in good shape) cut and sew it so it will fit and only a true MOPAR fanatic would be able to tell. 

[wiging19]

I like your solution.  In your place I probably would have shelled out the money not thinking of another alternative.  It seems with the convertible that all the parts I buy cost close to $1K.  Of course what should I expect from a car over forty years old.  Your solution definately is thinking outside the box for me and is a significant cost savings.

[4Cruizn]

Have someone look at Carlisle to see if they can find a convertible seat back first I would think . . . If not, then move forward with your plan.