Tweet
The Problem:
The seat that came in the 93 Festiva I bought was torn up beyond repair and I did not really like the seat anyways. However the seats in the 91 Protege DX were in really good shape.
Soultion:
So we had to figure out a way to swap the Protege seats in without any custom mods. After discussing all the options the most practical way was to swap the seat cushions and seat backs from the Protege to the Festiva seat frame. No welding, cutting, bending, etc...
Tools Needed:
1 Pair Needle Nose Pliers
1 Phillips Screwdriver
1 Flat-head Screwdriver
1 Ratchet Extension (preferrably 12-18in)
1 Hammer
1 10mm Deep Socket
1 14mm Deep Socket
1 T-50 Star Socket
20 Medium Zip Ties (optional)
1 Can WD-40 (optional)
The Set-Up:
Pull both sets of seats out with frames intact. Leave seatbacks on until its time to remove as the some of the bolts can only be removed by lowering the seatback intact. Without the leverage and weight of the seatback lowering the seat hinge to expose the bolts is extremely difficult.
Protege Seat
Festiva Seat
The Process:
Step One (Removing the Seat Cushions):
Turn both seats over and remove metal clips from vinyl. These are like circle staples that are fastening the vinyl seat cushion cover to the frame. There are generally 3-4 on each side. These are easily removing using a flat-head screwdriver to pry up the clip and then a pair of needle nose pliers to bend it back. You can re-use the metal clips if you like but I used medium zip ties to refasten the seat cushion cover to the frame.
Note: On the Protege seat there are two clips that are hard to see as they are hidden under the adjustment assembly. It is easier to remove the entir cushion and cover then pull the last two clips.
Wire Clips Intact
Wire Clip Pulled Open
Wire Clips Removed
Step Two (Removing the Seat Backs):
Remove the plastic molding around the seat back adjustment assembly to expose the two bolts holding the seat back to the frame. In order to do this you will need to first remove the seat back adjustment assembly handle. e found the easiets way to do that is to use the Ratchet Extension and a hammer to lightly punch it off. On the Festiva seat, most likely, you will need a T-50 Star Socket and Ratchet Extension. On the Protege Seat, most likely, you will need a 14mm Deep Socket and Ratchet Extension. You will have to adjust the seat back from the up to the down position to expose and remove one on these bolts. Remove the adjustment side first and then remove the adjacent side. If you remove the adjacent side of the seat back first it may be quite difficult to lower the seat back to the down position as the hinge is very strong.
Removing Handle Cover
T-50 Star Socket (Festiva Seats)
Bolts to Remove Seat Back
Adjacent Side Screw
Step Three (Swapping the Seats Cushion Springs):
Once both seats have been disassembled the swap is pretty simple. You will need to use the springs from the Protege because the seat cushion is thicker in areas and more form fitting. Additionally, you will want to use one of the Festiva Springs for the front support of the seat cusion. On the Protege Frame there is only three springs whereas on the Festiva frame there are four. This will give some extra support and a nice upgrade to an already superior seat.
Festiva Seat Cushion Underside
Festiva Seat Frame
Protege Seat Cushion Underside
Protege Seat Frame
Step Four (Reassembling the Seats):
Once the springs have been swapped all you have to do is reassemble the seats. All of the bolts and bolts holes line up perfectly. There is no modifications needed. The seat cushions and seat back are a direct bolt on. Even the seat cushion vinyl cover is already cut to fit directly over the bolt holes. This is definitely the easiest part of the swap. Once the seat is put back together we used medium sized zip ties to anchor the vinyl cover to the frame. This will make for easy future removal and give you the option to wash the seat cushion cover occassionally should you so desire.
Note: It is recommended that you use the seat back bolts from the Protege for reassembly. The threads are the same and it is much easier to remove the 14mm than it is to remove the star bolts.
Seat Cushion Swapped
Finished Swap
The Conclusion:
All in all, this process was fairly simple once we figured it out. The seat from the Protege is a much better seat. It is more form fitting, has an adjustable head rest, is made from a much thicker and more durable fabric and vinyl and even sits a little higher. This seat will give you a more stable ride around those tight corners. All that aside, we personally like the asthetics more as well. But we'll leave you to decide.
Happy swapping and good luck.
The seat that came in the 93 Festiva I bought was torn up beyond repair and I did not really like the seat anyways. However the seats in the 91 Protege DX were in really good shape.
Soultion:
So we had to figure out a way to swap the Protege seats in without any custom mods. After discussing all the options the most practical way was to swap the seat cushions and seat backs from the Protege to the Festiva seat frame. No welding, cutting, bending, etc...
Tools Needed:
1 Pair Needle Nose Pliers
1 Phillips Screwdriver
1 Flat-head Screwdriver
1 Ratchet Extension (preferrably 12-18in)
1 Hammer
1 10mm Deep Socket
1 14mm Deep Socket
1 T-50 Star Socket
20 Medium Zip Ties (optional)
1 Can WD-40 (optional)
The Set-Up:
Pull both sets of seats out with frames intact. Leave seatbacks on until its time to remove as the some of the bolts can only be removed by lowering the seatback intact. Without the leverage and weight of the seatback lowering the seat hinge to expose the bolts is extremely difficult.
Protege Seat
Festiva Seat
The Process:
Step One (Removing the Seat Cushions):
Turn both seats over and remove metal clips from vinyl. These are like circle staples that are fastening the vinyl seat cushion cover to the frame. There are generally 3-4 on each side. These are easily removing using a flat-head screwdriver to pry up the clip and then a pair of needle nose pliers to bend it back. You can re-use the metal clips if you like but I used medium zip ties to refasten the seat cushion cover to the frame.
Note: On the Protege seat there are two clips that are hard to see as they are hidden under the adjustment assembly. It is easier to remove the entir cushion and cover then pull the last two clips.
Wire Clips Intact
Wire Clip Pulled Open
Wire Clips Removed
Step Two (Removing the Seat Backs):
Remove the plastic molding around the seat back adjustment assembly to expose the two bolts holding the seat back to the frame. In order to do this you will need to first remove the seat back adjustment assembly handle. e found the easiets way to do that is to use the Ratchet Extension and a hammer to lightly punch it off. On the Festiva seat, most likely, you will need a T-50 Star Socket and Ratchet Extension. On the Protege Seat, most likely, you will need a 14mm Deep Socket and Ratchet Extension. You will have to adjust the seat back from the up to the down position to expose and remove one on these bolts. Remove the adjustment side first and then remove the adjacent side. If you remove the adjacent side of the seat back first it may be quite difficult to lower the seat back to the down position as the hinge is very strong.
Removing Handle Cover
T-50 Star Socket (Festiva Seats)
Bolts to Remove Seat Back
Adjacent Side Screw
Step Three (Swapping the Seats Cushion Springs):
Once both seats have been disassembled the swap is pretty simple. You will need to use the springs from the Protege because the seat cushion is thicker in areas and more form fitting. Additionally, you will want to use one of the Festiva Springs for the front support of the seat cusion. On the Protege Frame there is only three springs whereas on the Festiva frame there are four. This will give some extra support and a nice upgrade to an already superior seat.
Festiva Seat Cushion Underside
Festiva Seat Frame
Protege Seat Cushion Underside
Protege Seat Frame
Step Four (Reassembling the Seats):
Once the springs have been swapped all you have to do is reassemble the seats. All of the bolts and bolts holes line up perfectly. There is no modifications needed. The seat cushions and seat back are a direct bolt on. Even the seat cushion vinyl cover is already cut to fit directly over the bolt holes. This is definitely the easiest part of the swap. Once the seat is put back together we used medium sized zip ties to anchor the vinyl cover to the frame. This will make for easy future removal and give you the option to wash the seat cushion cover occassionally should you so desire.
Note: It is recommended that you use the seat back bolts from the Protege for reassembly. The threads are the same and it is much easier to remove the 14mm than it is to remove the star bolts.
Seat Cushion Swapped
Finished Swap
The Conclusion:
All in all, this process was fairly simple once we figured it out. The seat from the Protege is a much better seat. It is more form fitting, has an adjustable head rest, is made from a much thicker and more durable fabric and vinyl and even sits a little higher. This seat will give you a more stable ride around those tight corners. All that aside, we personally like the asthetics more as well. But we'll leave you to decide.
Happy swapping and good luck.
Comment