I am creating this thread to track my progress of converting front and back s197 seats into my 1988 LX Fox. I hope that this information will be helpful/instructive for those wanting to take on the same challenge.
The goal:
My goal is to fully convert my stock front low back interior seats and rear seats with a pair of retired s197 front and back seats. The red leather donor seats are out of a 2007 GT. The most difficult part of this project will be the rear seats. The s197 body design isn't anything close to our fox body mustangs. The rear seats will require a heavy level of modification/fabrication.
Rear seat plan:
The rear seat of the s197 has three parts, just like our fox bodies. The s197 back seat will NOT work in the fox bodies at all, whatsoever. To make it work, it will require a very large level of fabrication, specifically to the bottom seat. The bottom seat is too wide at the back (by your butt), so it will not slide back far enough to properly meet up with the two vertical back parts. I will have to trim a few inches off both sides and shape it to match the contour angle of the original bottom seat. Also, the bottom back section that meets up with the back section comes up to high. This will require several inches to be trimmed off to properly line up with the two vertical seats.
The s197 rear bottom seat is thinner and flatter than the fox rear bottom seat. The challenge will be to add support to the bottom of the s197 seat to accommodate for its flat and thin design. My plan is to create a wire frame similar to that of the fox bottom rear seat frame. This will be used to give support to the s197 bottom, as well as location to snap the seat bottom into the original floor pan clips. To adjust the s197 bottom contour and thickness, I plan on using a expanding foam compound. I will line the back of the car with plastic sheeting and build a damn using wood frames; this is a similar concept like poring concrete. I will lay the custom wire frame down on the bottom floor, then poor the liquid foam compound onto the floor. As the foam expands and hardens, it will take on the contour of the floor pans, as well as attach itself to the wire frame. Once the foam sets, I'll work it out of the car and begin to shape the top/sides to accept the s197 bottom. After getting the two pieces blended together, I'll use hog rings to tie them together.
I’m sure this plan will change along the way, but it’s the direction I'll be going with for now.
Front seat plan:
The front seat will be a breeze compared to the back. There are two options available when tackling the front seats: first, one could remove the s197 tracks and replace with the fox tracks; second, one could fabricate the s197 tracks to line up with the fox floor pan stud/bolt locations. I am going to go with option 2, as I want to retain the power seat feature.
My plan will be to grind off the rivets/spot welds retaining the “feet” on the s197 tracks, as well as on the stock tracks. I’ll take the “feet” from the stock tracks and fasten them to the s197 tracks. This will allow the seats to have the same level as the stock seats. Based off my measurements, I’ll be able to pull this off once I shorten up the fox feet a bit.
For a quick win, I am going to start with the front seats. This will build my motivation to tackle the back, as it is going to suck….to say the least.
Hope you enjoy the ride!
The goal:
My goal is to fully convert my stock front low back interior seats and rear seats with a pair of retired s197 front and back seats. The red leather donor seats are out of a 2007 GT. The most difficult part of this project will be the rear seats. The s197 body design isn't anything close to our fox body mustangs. The rear seats will require a heavy level of modification/fabrication.
Rear seat plan:
The rear seat of the s197 has three parts, just like our fox bodies. The s197 back seat will NOT work in the fox bodies at all, whatsoever. To make it work, it will require a very large level of fabrication, specifically to the bottom seat. The bottom seat is too wide at the back (by your butt), so it will not slide back far enough to properly meet up with the two vertical back parts. I will have to trim a few inches off both sides and shape it to match the contour angle of the original bottom seat. Also, the bottom back section that meets up with the back section comes up to high. This will require several inches to be trimmed off to properly line up with the two vertical seats.
The s197 rear bottom seat is thinner and flatter than the fox rear bottom seat. The challenge will be to add support to the bottom of the s197 seat to accommodate for its flat and thin design. My plan is to create a wire frame similar to that of the fox bottom rear seat frame. This will be used to give support to the s197 bottom, as well as location to snap the seat bottom into the original floor pan clips. To adjust the s197 bottom contour and thickness, I plan on using a expanding foam compound. I will line the back of the car with plastic sheeting and build a damn using wood frames; this is a similar concept like poring concrete. I will lay the custom wire frame down on the bottom floor, then poor the liquid foam compound onto the floor. As the foam expands and hardens, it will take on the contour of the floor pans, as well as attach itself to the wire frame. Once the foam sets, I'll work it out of the car and begin to shape the top/sides to accept the s197 bottom. After getting the two pieces blended together, I'll use hog rings to tie them together.
I’m sure this plan will change along the way, but it’s the direction I'll be going with for now.
Front seat plan:
The front seat will be a breeze compared to the back. There are two options available when tackling the front seats: first, one could remove the s197 tracks and replace with the fox tracks; second, one could fabricate the s197 tracks to line up with the fox floor pan stud/bolt locations. I am going to go with option 2, as I want to retain the power seat feature.
My plan will be to grind off the rivets/spot welds retaining the “feet” on the s197 tracks, as well as on the stock tracks. I’ll take the “feet” from the stock tracks and fasten them to the s197 tracks. This will allow the seats to have the same level as the stock seats. Based off my measurements, I’ll be able to pull this off once I shorten up the fox feet a bit.
For a quick win, I am going to start with the front seats. This will build my motivation to tackle the back, as it is going to suck….to say the least.
Hope you enjoy the ride!
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