4kq/CGT front/rear seat and/or upholstery interchangeability

[Jpinkowish at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/3/02 10:31:41 AM EST, fega at fega.comwrites:

> I would also like to know if someone has just changed out the upolstery part
> of the seats. Most drivers sides are shot, but the passenger sides are in
> good shape. A little time and some hog ring pliers looks like it might solve
> this, but not sure if it will work.

I just rebuilt the front seats and replaced the rear seat on my 4ksq, so here
are my observations:
1)  Passenger and driver seat bottom cushions are (almost) identical and can
be swapped.  The only difference is the slope of the outside bolster.  The
outer bolster is slightly flatter to ease entry/exit.  Just remove the
seat(s), remove the seat backs from the bottoms, remove the fabric
cover/cushion as a unit, and make the swap.  No hawg ring pliers needed, but
make sure you pull very tight the wire that snugs the bottom of the cushion
cover.
2)  You can cut off damaged side bolsters and replace them with good ones.
Only the inner side bolster will be good.  The plastic frame guide on the
underside of every outer bolster is broken(but can be reinforced).  At least
one other lister posted his repair.  Contact me privately for this post and
my BTDT upgrades to his procedure.
3)  CGT seat bottom cushions are physically identical to 4kq seat bottom
cushions.  There are fabric differences, so if you're getting cushions by
long distance, be sure of the fabric design.
4)  CGT passenger side seat bottom metal frame will fit into 4kq.  Sounds
obvious, but this swap gives you a height/pitch adjustable pass seat.  This
ain't standard on a 4kq.
5)  You can swap whole the passenger seat back to the driver side.  This is a
20 minute job.  The seat back angle adjust is now on the left.  It's a tight
fit between the knob and the pillar, but mine doesn't rub, doesn't squeek,
and adjustment is still easy.  Do this and save yourself a big "hawg ring"
headache.
6)  CGT/4kq rear seat backs are interchangeable.
7)  The CGT rear seat bottom will fit in the 4kq, but it is a force fit.  The
knife edge at the back of the cushion is thicker, and you really need to work
it in.  All other dimensions are identical.  "Just put the bottom in first"
you say.  Tried that, and couldn't get the seat back to slide down and lock
in place.  Also, get the CGT seat belt bottoms when you get the seat.  I
believe they're longer, and you'll need that extra inch or so when you make
the swap.
8)  This is the time to clean and polish all those palces you will never see
again.  I retrived $4US in change -- most of it dated before I owned the car.

HTH.

Jan Pinkowish
'85 4ksq
Bristol, CT