Seat back fixings (series 3 109)

Hi, I've got an issue with the front seats in the 109 Safari, namely that they keep falling off.

Has anyone come across such a daft design before and if so, what did you do to fix it?

It looks like each seat back is head on by 4 short screws that attach to a couple of mouldy old strips of softwood inside the seat, which invariably break as soon as any weight/force is applied.

Thanks!

Was probably ok with original seats, soft crap in those can be hardened by dribbling in some super glue or drill out to fit some plastic wall plugs and glue them in.

Thanks, still have what's left of the original seats in the back of the car (you can see them in the photo).
Good idea re the wall plugs and glue, I'll get on it

JoMo1974 said:

Hi, I've got an issue with the front seats in the 109 Safari, namely that they keep falling off.

Has anyone come across such a daft design before and if so, what did you do to fix it?

It looks like each seat back is head on by 4 short screws that attach to a couple of mouldy old strips of softwood inside the seat, which invariably break as soon as any weight/force is applied.

Thanks!

View attachment 290963 View attachment 290964

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My 12 seat Station Wagon had a metal rail across the body where the internal bulkhead would be on a Hard Top.
The seat backs leant on the rail, and were attached to it by little straps attached to the seat backs.
I can't see any such rail in your pics. Not sure if the rail was done away with, mine was a 1967 Series 2a.
Or whether yours once had the rail, and it has been removed by a previous owner.
Either way, it might help with your issue if you can reinstate it. It was just a round steel bar about 1 and 1/4" OD, with brackets either end that bolted onto the pillars behind the front doors.

Looks like I could do with something like this (picture found using Google search):



The plan is to fit seat belts too so I may end up with some sort of rail anyway...

JoMo1974 said:

Looks like I could do with something like this (picture found using Google search):

View attachment 290985

The plan is to fit seat belts too so I may end up with some sort of rail anyway...

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That is exactly the set up I had in my 12 seater SW. Much better than those little angle irons in your first pic.
Also gives the rear seat passengers something to hold on to.

Found a bar for sale in Brum, £175 ono
Seems very steep for a bit of old bent metal, but then I guess you could describe the whole car as a collection of bits of old bent metal...

Well, I've done what @tottot recommended and gone for wall plugs and glue, and it seems to have done the trick. So thanks!
And thanks to @Turboman for the tip about the hand rail thing, definitely on my shopping list.
Next job will be... hmmm, sooo many to choose from

JoMo1974 said:

Found a bar for sale in Brum, £175 ono
Seems very steep for a bit of old bent metal, but then I guess you could describe the whole car as a collection of bits of old bent metal...

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Its amazing how prices have risen for series bits. If I had the space, Id take mine apart and sell the bits. Probably worth 50x more in pieces compared to the vehicle as a whole

Col

JoMo1974 said:

Found a bar for sale in Brum, £175 ono
Seems very steep for a bit of old bent metal, but then I guess you could describe the whole car as a collection of bits of old bent metal...

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Not going to be many of those around now, except on people's motors, which they aren't going to want to sell separately.

The other option would be to make one, or get a fabricator to make one for you, but by the time you have had it made, primed it, painted it, etc, that may be even more expensive.

I guess my next questions regarding the rail are: a) will it greatly simplify fitting of seatbelts in the front? And b) will it still work ok if there's no centre seat in the front?

JoMo1974 said:

I guess my next questions regarding the rail are: a) will it greatly simplify fitting of seatbelts in the front? And b) will it still work ok if there's no centre seat in the front?

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It will work with no centre seat.

No idea about seatbelts, I never fit them if I don't have to.

Inertia reel belts? Copy the defender station wagon arrangement. It's probably safest.

Wildefalcon said:

Inertia reel belts? Copy the defender station wagon arrangement. It's probably safest.

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Hi, would you happen to know where I might find details on that? Thanks

JoMo1974 said:

Hi, would you happen to know where I might find details on that? Thanks

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This is for the front seats? The seat belts wouldnt have any interaction with the bar. And the centre seat would only be a lap belt.