Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Seat Mod Mercury Tracer (88) to 89 Festiva L

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Seat Mod Mercury Tracer (88) to 89 Festiva L

    After finally finding the seat mod thread I was looking for I'm off to a good start.
    Those instruciton in the thread are really good.

    I have the Tracer passenger seat transferred to the Festiva bottom seat frame and it is installed.
    The 88 Tracer only had 44,000 on it and the interior was in great condition, so the seats are really nice.
    I had to use the tracer side trim and it does not cover the seat rail adjustment springs, but it's not biggie.
    There is not foot trip mechanism in the back but that's no problem. It's mostly trips and hangs up the seatbelt anyway.
    I didn't attache the under seat tray yet. I'm going to take the seat back out and do a little modding underneath so
    I can attach the tracer tray rails.

    I am amazed at how much more comfortable the new seat is. Here are some pictures. The drivers side will be a little harder.
    [IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

    I had to drill a hole in the side of the rail for the front screw for the side trim, Otherwise everything else was by the book.
    Last edited by 1990new; 10-01-2014, 07:09 PM.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Today I removed the seat cover from the drivers side tracer seat and washed it in the washing machine (front load type).
    (I didn't do the passenger side since it was already nice and clean.)
    Came out really nice. It's in the dryer now on low heat. I'll post pictures when it's finished.
    Looks like I will be able to remove the outside seat back hinge from the festiva drivers seat and transfer it to the tracer seat back
    so I will be able to use the same recline mechanism. I will post pictures of how I did it later when I make sure it all works out.
    Last edited by 1990new; 10-02-2014, 10:41 PM.

    Comment

    • #3
      Yeah Jess, the Festiva seats are not the most comfy seats for sure! I'm lovin' my Pontiac Montana seats!!

      Good job on the Tracer seats. They look real nice in there!
      Last edited by drddan; 10-02-2014, 10:52 PM.
      Dan




      Red 1988 Festiva L - CUJO

      Black 1992 Festiva GL Sport - BLACK MAGIC

      I'm just...a little slow... sometimes:withstupid:

      R.I.P.
      Blue 1972 Chevelle SS-468 C.I.D. B'nM TH400-4:56 posi-Black racing stripes-Black vinyl top-Black int.
      Black on black 1976 Camaro LT-350 4 bolt main .060 over
      Silver 1988 Festiva L

      My Music!
      http://www.reverbnation.com/main/sea...t_songs/266647

      Comment

      • #4
        Looks really nice, good job. :thumbleft:
        Last edited by Spike; 10-02-2014, 11:11 PM.
        White '92 GL 5-speed BP, G series, Aspire/Rio swapped, "Nancy"
        White '89 LX 5-speed, Aspire swapped, Weber carb
        1988 LX 5-speed
        ​​​1993 L 5-speed B8, E series, Aspire/Rio swapped

        Gone:

        1986 Chevrolet Sprint 1990 L Plus Auto

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by drddan View Post
          Yeah Jess, the Festiva seats are not the most comfy seats for sure! I'm lovin' my Pontiac Montana seats!!

          Good job on the Tracer seats. They look real nice in there!
          Thanks... Have more to do. The 89L had the least comfortable seats of any. My 90 LPlus was a little better and the 92 GL was a little better than the LPlus.
          These Trace seats are even better (even has lumbar adjustment on the drivers side). Your Montana seats with the armrests are super nice.

          Originally posted by Spike View Post
          Looks really nice, good job. :thumbleft:
          Thanks, I just hope the drivers side mod turns out well with the seat back hinge change.
          Last edited by 1990new; 10-02-2014, 11:36 PM.

          Comment

          • #6
            I don't know what happened to the seats in my 92 GL. The drivers seat is, um, like how do I put this? Slumped? Its like the lower part of the back of the seat is rounded. Kinda makes you sit in a slumped position. Not comfy at all.

            Might have to try and find another set of that style of Montana seats for the 92! Or maybe Tracer seats! Much easier change over than the Montana seats,and look great.
            Last edited by drddan; 10-02-2014, 11:50 PM.
            Dan




            Red 1988 Festiva L - CUJO

            Black 1992 Festiva GL Sport - BLACK MAGIC

            I'm just...a little slow... sometimes:withstupid:

            R.I.P.
            Blue 1972 Chevelle SS-468 C.I.D. B'nM TH400-4:56 posi-Black racing stripes-Black vinyl top-Black int.
            Black on black 1976 Camaro LT-350 4 bolt main .060 over
            Silver 1988 Festiva L

            My Music!
            http://www.reverbnation.com/main/sea...t_songs/266647

            Comment

            • #7
              Maybe you can find some Tacer seats like these Dan. There are pretty easy to adapt to the Festiva Frame.

              Completed the job today and it came out really nice. I'm very happy with them.
              Here is a link to a slide show of some picture I took during the transfer.

              Now to find something to make the back seat more comfortable and nicer looking.
              http://s1222.photobucket.com/user/1990new/slideshow/88%20Tracer%20Seats%20in%2089%20Festiv

              Now I need 3 of those little grey plastic caps to go over the little metal clip that hold the seat back pocket strap on the side of the seats.
              I have 1 good one and it's on the outside of the drivers seat back.

              Also I thought the passenger seat was really clean but after I see it beside the drivers seat that I washed in the washing machine, it now looks dingy. I'll try some upholstery cleaner first but if that doesn't make it look as good as the drivers seat, I take it off and wash it too.
              Last edited by 1990new; 10-03-2014, 03:40 PM.

              Comment

              • #8
                There is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry. Even if the fabric looks clean, the laundry water will be pitch black. Do the other seat too.

                Now you see why I didn't shed a tear selling my Sport interior seats at Ohiostiva and replacing them with black leather ones.

                I am willing to bet, that your next project will be adapting some black leather VW seats into your other Festiva.

                Here's one. Offer $200 after he sends you a pic of the mounts. Lots of lateral support for high speed cornering.
                Last edited by bravekozak; 10-03-2014, 06:40 PM.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by bravekozak View Post
                  There is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry. Even if the fabric looks clean, the laundry water will be pitch black. Do the other seat too.

                  Now you see why I didn't shed a tear selling my Sport interior seats at Ohiostiva and replacing them with black leather ones.

                  I am willing to bet, that your next project will be adapting some black leather VW seats into your other Festiva.

                  Here's one. Offer $200 after he sends you a pic of the mounts. Lots of lateral support for high speed cornering.
                  You convinced me.. I'm going to take it off and wash it tomorrow (sunny skies and cooler weather 75F for a high tomorrow, will make it nice to work outside.)
                  I'm also going to change the hinge and recline mechanism to use the one from the Festiva seat on the right also. The left one works well and looks good and I don't like
                  seeing that exposed spring when I open the right door. Drove it this afternoon and the difference in the seat comfort is amazing.
                  Leather seats would be nice in Bessie (my 330,000 plus 90). Currently the right seat is the original but the left seat is from a 91 GL so they are different.
                  Now that I know how easy it is to change the seats, I'm definitely going to keep an eye open for some leather ones at the PnP.

                  BTW...my right power window armrest is on it's way. They wire hanging out of the right door will soon disappear.


                  Now I have a beautiful set of 89L seat covers that would look good on someone's Festiva. I'm going to wash those in the washing machine and they will look like new too. The seat foam is in good shape too.
                  Last edited by 1990new; 10-03-2014, 07:04 PM.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Today I finished up everything with the seats.
                    Removed the right seat cover washing it along with the original 89 covers that I removed.
                    Rinse water looked dingy after the first wash so I washed them a second time. They came out sparkling clean ...Dried them on low heat.
                    Removed the right passenger seat back hinge from the Tracer back and replaced it with the Festiva seat back hinge and now I can use the original side cover and hide the springs.
                    Also drilled 6 holes in the seat frame underneath, bolted on two small metal L brackets and installed the Tracer underseat tray. It fits and works perfectly.
                    I uploaded more pictures to the link so you can see how I did it.
                    http://s1222.photobucket.com/user/1990new/slideshow/
                    Last edited by 1990new; 10-04-2014, 10:08 PM.

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...
                    X