I removed the original deluxe vinyl seat covers, padding and hogrings from my seat frames this week and discovered that both of the seat backs are broken on the front seats. The breaks are in identical places in the sheet metal near the top of the back portion of the seat. It looks like the metal ripped in the very same place on both seats.

I know my car led a rough life with the original owner but I'm wondering if this is a common problem with these seat frames. I was going to just weld the seats back together at the breaks but I'm considering beefing them up so this isn't a problem again in the future. It won't show and the only way to see it would be to remove the new vinyl and padding I'm getting ready to install Anyone have any experience with these seat frames? Any suggestions, hints, ideas for making them the way GM should have in the first place? I'm doing a full original resto but I'm willing to improve things that aren't safe or are prone to failure. Thanks.

Steve

I'd weld in a reinforcement piece. I did that on one of my seats that had a small stress crack. I figured, for peace of mind, why take a chance. You don't want to have to remove the seat covers, if it cracks again.

That's what I'm thinking as well. It seems more than coincidental that they both broke in the very same place and welding in extra support won't be any more work than just welding up the breaks. Thanks.

I tig welded mine. You can weld enough area for the needed strengh. The top piece breaks because the factory only put one spot weld on each side of this part and it breaks from the movement .

i just stripped down my 67 strato bench seat and along the top where they meet on the downward start of metal mine were broken too. both sides. also down by the catch where the seat latches has a couple hairline cracks. i got the frame sandblasted and now we are going to just lay over about 20 guage along the area that is not going to block anything and reinforce it that way.