Back in the 350Z seats into the 280Z. Seat belt reel will (hopefully) be relocated to strut tower, like the later 77-78 280. Welded the rails I made to the 350Z rails, Checking that the seat was level to the car before tack welding. Used an weld mat to protect the interior. Removed to finish the welds. Wired the passenger seat (fore/aft only). Have to wire the seat heater
Looks good here
I didn't seam weld these. There is a plastic guide rail inside that may (did) survive some heat, wouldn't trust it to survive a bead, especially on top
Test fit after welding to check for distortion /displacement due to welding, all good sits level with no wobble in the rails
Testing wiring for seat fore/aft. I bought used 350z heater switches, however it will be easier (I hope) to rewire the seat grids to the aftermarket relay & switches I already have in place
Full forward setting
Seat sits substantially lower than stock height. Furthest possible recline in full rear position
Wesco reel will hopefully go here. Does not feel like there is a metal plate under the cover, which may actually make it easier
A beating was in order. Not really happy about pummelling the perfectly good and clean tunnel, so I was gentle at first & used a mallet & block of wood to gently invert the bulge. Problem is that there is a major panel overlap seam in the way, forward of the inner seat belt mount, rearward of the stock rear cross member/seat support. Had to break out the large dead blow to reshape that.
After the "gentle" mallet work
Beating administered. Cleanup & paint to come, on the underside also. Edit - that is glue on the inner forward seat cross member , not Rust!
Now the seat can be made level without lifting the sill side
Side note - I guess Nissan wanted to build in the rusting process that was mostly resolved on the outside (compared to classic Z's anyway
Seat cushion controls clear the sill
Inside clearance matches the pas side
Slight problem in that the rail spacing is not even left to right - I have to make a wider rail conversion for this side. Fortunately a 2" "U" channel will take up the gap.
I don't want to simply cut & offset the bolt down points relative to the rail.
Started on the wider inner seat rail . Need to weld it up, however the basic element is ready to move forward