Just found this site. My son (14) is working with me on his first car, a 86 IROC Z28. Body is clean but the interior is shot. We have stripped the interior and are in the process of painting all the plastic, replacing head liner, sail panels, carpet etc. My problem is the seats. The recliners are in the layed back position and won't allow the seat back to be positioned in a more upright position. The seats just flip flop from full reclined to full forward with no detent in the middle. What do I need to be looking at to better understand what is wrong with these recliners? The ******* in me tells me to weld them solid but then your going to have to be pretty skinny to get in the back!

 

is a common problem on thirdgens for the seat frame to be bent out of shape.

see these threads for info on finding some suitable replacement seats:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...&postid=651020
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=101074

 

Thanks for the update. We got the seats out and removed the covers and noticed the recliners are bolted to the frame. Called the local GM dealer and was able to purchase new recliners for $60 each.

 

recliners are not a common failure part on thirdgen seats, lots of salvage yard f-bodies are crushed with them intact.