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  1. #1

    Default 85 GT seat repair

    The latches on my seats are not working correctly so I started searching for doners for parts. I found a set from a 86 convertible, not a GT, but they seem to be just different enough to make me Leary about buying them. Could anybody verify that these won't work and or suggest what seats would be good doner seats? Thanks

  2. #2

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    A couple of things you could try would be to check with one of the parts vendors, such as NPD, LMR, etc. or ask a Ford parts guy if there was a different part number for a vert. Notice I added was, chances are they're no longer available but at least it will help narrow the search. Good luck.

    Try to get an older parts guy to help you.

  3. #3
    FEP Member jeff85's Avatar
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    Default

    I think the only difference is the convertible frames have a steel plate for mounting the seat belt hook,
    otherwise they should be the same.

  4. #4

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    All fox body seats will swap onto the mustang tracks. There are minor differences, my favorite seats are the 85-88 turbo coupe / xr7 seats in cloth. They are nearly identicle to the 89ish gt seats with adjustable lumbar and side bolsters with all the funky air bladders.

    The cougarbirds seats in non sport models are similar to 4 and 6 cylinder base seats.

    What's really funny, swapping a gt seat onto tbird seat tracks, you can actually have two seat belt buckles.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Haystack View Post
    All fox body seats will swap onto the mustang tracks. There are minor differences, my favorite seats are the 85-88 turbo coupe / xr7 seats in cloth. They are nearly identicle to the 89ish gt seats with adjustable lumbar and side bolsters with all the funky air bladders.

    The cougarbirds seats in non sport models are similar to 4 and 6 cylinder base seats.

    What's really funny, swapping a gt seat onto tbird seat tracks, you can actually have two seat belt buckles.
    So, I noticed on the very seats a handle high up on the bolster, this is what made me think the seats were too different but by the sounds of it the recliner and latching mechanism are probably one and the same!!!! I need to take a closer look, thanks guys for your thoughts on this, they really helped and I'll report back with my findings.

  6. #6

    Default

    The latch on the back of the seat is an inertia switch. I always thought it was a broken rear seat release to let backseat passengers out. If you flip the seats upside down they lock until you hit that little plastic switch.

    Side note, the earlier escort and tempo seats can also be swapped onto the same seat frame. There are also two different patterns for the seat to mount to. If I swap seats, I usually move it to the rear holes. It moves the seat back about an inch, but I am 6'5 and pretty much run with the seats all the way back all the time anyways.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

  7. #7

    Default

    I'm a little confused, are you saying you latches aren't broken and the seats are supposed to be loose and locked in position?

  8. #8
    FEP Senior Member
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    Default

    I'm not familiar with the Mustang seats specifically, but most two door US market seats have (or had) what is called an inertia latch (as mentioned by Haystack above). Basically this allows the seat to fold forward for easier ingress/egress of rear passengers without having to flip any switches or anything else. There is a little pendulum on an inertia latch that swings when the car experiences a certain degree of deceleration and locks the latch into position so the seat back doesn't just fold forward in an accident. That is what he means when he says flip the seat over and see if the seat back locks. When you flip the seat over you can "trick" the pendulum into moving into the latch position.

    You didn't really explain what was not working on your seats so we are kind of guessing what your actual problem is.
    '89 XR-7 5 Speed
    '95 SC 5 Speed
    '91 Crown Vic P72 351W
    '97 Thunderbird
    '85 Ford LTD Squire

  9. #9

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    as explained, the seats don't lock into place unless there is an accident. Your seats are fine
    Jeremy
    -86 mustang SSP X CHP Unit # 3788-bone stock & staying that way
    -66 Mustang, bench seat car,8.8,t5 fuel injected 92 engine
    -72 Maverick 5.0 resto in process
    -12SS Camaro 6 speed. 600 FWHP, Kraftwerks Supercharger
    -03 z71 Avalanche 9" lift on 35s Daily Driven 20k a year. 290k miles at 11.8 mpg
    Entire 1986 electrical and vacuum troubleshooting manual download
    http://slantnosefox.com/picturehosti...g%20manual.zip

  10. #10

    Default

    Ok, now I understand. I was going on old technology of yesteryear when seats did latch a day was unaware of the inertia set up, thanks for setting me straight on this. That said my passenger seat will fall foward when hard braking hard so something is not right in there for sure. I just pulled my seats so I'm going to open them up and see what's wrong. Are these rebuildable?

  11. #11
    FEP Senior Member
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    The mechanism itself is most likely swaged together, but you might be able to access the inertia pawl and figure out why it is sticking and free it up. Could very well be some 30 year old grease or dirt migrated in there. It is worth a look. There really isn't much to rebuild on most inertia style seat back latches. Just a main pivot point with some bushings and the lock mechanism.
    '89 XR-7 5 Speed
    '95 SC 5 Speed
    '91 Crown Vic P72 351W
    '97 Thunderbird
    '85 Ford LTD Squire

  12. #12

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    They modified that in 1990. The 90-93 seat backs are locked in place 100% of the time and you MUST use that little lever on the back to release them. It was because the '87-93 sport seats were so top-heavy with that huge headrest that the passenger seat backs (when empty) were constantly slamming forward during just spirited braking and people complained. There is likely a way to retrofit those later style locks but I can't say for sure.
    This and complaints about the monster headrest hurting rearward visibility was the reason they cut 2 inches off the top of the seat and switched to the non-sport seat log style headrest.

  13. #13

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    What then is the purpose of the little arm on the back of my 85 seat?

  14. #14
    FEP Senior Member
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    Emergency release and/or if it gets stuck in the latched position.
    '89 XR-7 5 Speed
    '95 SC 5 Speed
    '91 Crown Vic P72 351W
    '97 Thunderbird
    '85 Ford LTD Squire

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by KevinVarnes View Post
    Emergency release and/or if it gets stuck in the latched position.
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  16. #16
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    Agree on the above. Swapped 1992 leather seats into my son’s 1986. They latch 100% of the time where as the original 1986 seats are inertia operator.

  17. #17

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    OK thanks guys for the info, you've been very helpful

  18. #18
    FEP Super Member bwguardian's Avatar
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    Don't know about other years but the difference in the vert seats versus the hard roof seats in 85-86...specifically the seat belt holder...is in the foam and NOT the frame. There is a small rod inside the foam that runs in a U shape that has a bracket that the seat belt holder screws to. When I replaced my foam the new units do not come with the internal rod and I had to weld a bracket to the frame in order to keep the factory side seat belt holder. When you get in there you will come across a plastic bushing that is probably in very bad shape on the hinge closes to the console on both seats. Take it to Home Depot and match the i.d. and o.d. up with a copper bushing for longevity.
    HAD
    '82 GT monochromatic (red)...black cloth

    HAVE
    '85 GT vert two tone (white on charcoal)...white leather
    '00 F350 two tone (white on silver)...gray cloth
    '00 Excursion Limited two tone (white on tan)...tan leather...wifes ride
    '08 Taurus Limited ice blue...tan leather...daughter ride
    '08 Edge Limited white sand tri-coat metallic...tan leather...other daughters ride

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