'Practicality' mod...

[kevinod]

Guys,

something I'm thinking of doing as a 'practicality' mod, is to put hinges on the back seat like on hatchbacks, so it'll fold forward, and bigger things will get into the boot. Might see what the Colt has, and if they could be made to do.

Would be nice if I could fit more music gear in the car (guitar case *just* fits across the back seat, won't go into the boot at all, haven't even tried to get my speaker cabinet in there) or whatever else I needed to transport at the time.

Anyone come across this kinda thing on FTOs before? If someone's already done it no point in reinventing the wheel...

Kev.

[CJ]

It would be difficult to attach hinges to the rear seat becuase its all foam, you could do something clever with a steel bar right thru the bottom of the seat and secure it to the rear wheel arches, after that it would just a matter of sorting out a lock and release mechanism for the top of the seat.

CJ

[Mustang]

Kev,
If you havn't already I suggest you remove the rear seats yourself to familiarise yourself with the set up. It's really a simple job and will take only a few mins. The actual seat part is held in place with 2 fairly flimsy plastic clips. It's at this location where you would likely want to locate the hinges. Or are you planning on just droping the upright (back rest) part of the seat? The upright 'hooks' on just below the rear parcel shelf, and then is held in place by two bolts, attached to metal frame of the upright foam panel, the bolts are located just under the 'seating panel' (the bit you actually sit on). It may be easy enough to fit a hinge arrangement (with some minor mods) onto these bolts. You would likely need to modify the support anchor of the upright foam panel (this is assuming you leave the seating panel in place) because otherwise the seating panel will fowl the movement of the upright panel. Then as CJ said you would only need devise a lock and unlock mechanism. Also as CJ said these are foam panels with a bare minium of a metal frame. You may need to construct an outer frame for structural support. I would also suggest you line or cover the exposed foam area, otherwise you are likely to gouge chunks of foam off the panel evrytime you're loading /unloading.
Really it all comes down to; do you want to be able to move just the upright foam panel, or both the upright and seating panels?

Mustang

[kevinod]

Kev,
If you havn't already I suggest you remove the rear seats yourself to familiarise yourself with the set up.
...
You would likely need to modify the support anchor of the upright foam panel (this is assuming you leave the seating panel in place) because otherwise the seating panel will fowl the movement of the upright panel. Then as CJ said you would only need devise a lock and unlock mechanism.
...
Really it all comes down to; do you want to be able to move just the upright foam panel, or both the upright and seating panels?

Mustang

Haven't fully thought it through yet, just something I've been thinking about and said I'd post a message and see if anyone had done it before.

Taking off the rear seats would be a good way to check it out alright, I've removed the bottom seats when putting in the cabling for my cd changer but just reached under the upright to pass the cable through. Thanks for the 'how-to' though, that'll come in handy.

What I had in mind was to just lean the back or upright part forward, so simple hinge and catch setup. Hinges at each side at the bottom of the upright, and a catch at each side at the top of the upright. I guess if the upright leaning forward gets fouled on the bottom part I could just take the bottom up, just 2 clips as you say.

I'll get a better idea if I take off the upright part and see what happens if its just leaned forward hinged from the bottom, whether it would help much to remove the bottom part, etc. I guess. Last thing I want to do though is introduce a rattle, so whatever I do will have to be fairly tight and tidy.

Kev.