I am in the process of restoring my 1986 Trans Am and I am working on the interior . I found that Classic Industries sells the exact uphostery for my car. The problem I ran it is the car came with a single seat back not the split seat back. I was able to come across a used set of split seat backs but my question what additional hardware do I need to make the switch. Has anyone ever accomplished this ?

 

The. Only difference is there is a "T" welded to the DS tunnel, mine was the same way and I didn't notice till I installed the seats smh. But its only noticeable when u fold a seat down, past that its completely functional. I've been throwing around the idea of just spot welding a 6 inch rod there

 

You'll need an extra latch post and a piece in the center that was spot welded in place. If you find one in a junkyard that doesn't allow cutting tools it is possible to use a chisel to free it from the body.

 

Lol, it made me shrink the images to upload, but they turned out huge when posted on here!

 

Thank you all for the help, found the latch post and the T rod on eBay already. One last question , do you need any parts for the additional hardware to screw the additional latch post in ?

 

There's 1 other thing I forgot....you only have 1 hole for the latch on the top of the seat, with the split back your gonna need another drilled into the quarter....I'm wondering if you have the hole in the interior panel, either way you need an extra hole

 

Drilling a hole in the plastic is easy, u think there is a nut or something to screw the additional latch post into ?

 

You may have to fabricate something for the post. Sometimes the plastic panels have an indent on the back to locate the hole.

 

Welcome to TGO, Pete. You might take note that a search is usually a good idea as most questions have been asked and answered. Here's a how-to that you may find helpful:

https://www.thirdgen.org/splitseat

JamesC

 

You need/should make a brace & weld it on.Dont mount the striker on the plastic trim, tried that already.I eventually made a brace to mount a latch on the driver side & 86 the pass latch.I didnt swap to split back though.

Always pissed me off having to fold down the seat back & walk/reach over to unlatch the damn thing!Why did GM put the latch on the pass side?

 

A friend of mine had a brill bit almost the same size as the latch post, and my black rear panel had the hole already, so I just marked and drilled a hole, the treads caught pretty well so it just screwed right in, into the back of the quarter panel/wheel well area I mean, not just the plastic

 

Careful with that, water will leak thru.

 

The thought crossed my mind...after it was too late of coarse, but I went back in about 8 months later for sound proofing and checked it, I didn't see any rust around the hole so I'm assuming its its not leaking....but a lil rtv wouldn't hurt I guess

 

Was the split seat backs changed at one time,I've never seen a 86 TA with one back??

 

That's a good question mantaguy, I bought the car used , I am gonna check this out.

 

Sure it's a genuine TA?

 

No need to check,I did.The single backs were part of the Deluxe Interior RPO Code YS2,so your car seating is stock and correct,the split seat backs were part of the Custom seating RPO code YS1.That's something I've never seen.Boy you learn something everyday.Before you order your upholstery,maybe you can contact PUI Interiors(That's where Classic's comes from) and ask if the 1 piece rear seat is available.Just a thought

http://www.puiinteriors.com/index.php/contact

 

Thanks everyone for all your help