My drivers seat is getting low-any ideas-I do 500+k per week so i want to get a good seat. Recaro other brands? What fits-brackets etc. 83 240 375k thanks.

Doing the job yourself is the cheapest way. First look under the seat to see if there are any springs hanging loose, or off completely. That's your cue that the wire mat is broken. To replace the wire mat, unbolt the seat from the floor (4 nuts) and slide it out the back door. Bring it inside your house or garage and turn it upside down onto a table, with the seat bottom facing the ceiling. Remove the old wire mat that holds the seat springs together by clipping it off with strong wire cutters. Lay in the new wire mat (cost- $18 Canadian, from the dealer) on one side, attaching all the springs on one side only. On the other side, you will have to find some kind of tool with a bend in it which will allow the spring to slip up and over the wire mat to clip on. I tried a crowbar, but that didn't work. I used, can you believe it, a u-shaped towel holder from the dollar store! The towel bar looks like this: it would mount to the wall where it pivots and has an arm that swings out which holds 2 towels. I take the wall bracket off and use the u-shaped towel part only. I slip the towel holder under the mat, hook the spring, pull the spring over the mat's edge, and sometimes with a bit of persuasion from a screwdriver, it will slip right into place. I have replaced 8 car spring bottoms this way.

When my foam split on the upright part of the frame,(the seat back) the local upholstery shop gladly glued it back together and I placed an extra layer of foam between the metal frame and the original foam so it won't break it again so easily. Replacement foam I have not been able to find for a reasonable price so I am stuck with the old stuff. I wish I cold get rid of the disintegrating foam on the seat bottoms, though. If anyone knows where to get foam for the bottom cushion, let me know.
Thanks... PS- Not all seats are the same width, if you are considering putting another seat in from a scrap/doner car. The early 1980's used a narrower seat than the mid to late 1980's.

My wife and I recently bought a 90 240 and the driver's seat was nearly on the floor and leaning to the right. We took it to one of the many upholstery shops locally and had them reattach/replace springs in the seat bottom and replace the foam in the back, all for about $100. I looked at replacement seats, but ultimately decided, refurbing the originals was best.

Matt

badback,

I know what you mean, though I only do half the number of miles per week that you do. My '86 seat is drooping too.

I would agree with Doug that racing seats are probably not what you are after, if you want comfort. You might be better off getting the foam from a good passenger seat at the p'n'p , fixing up the support grid (heaters too if you have them and they need it), and restoring your driver's seat that way.

IPD (ipdusa.com) offers fancy new seat foam (at least their price is fancy...) but I can't vouch for it as I haven't "sprung" for that yet...

Any Bricksters have any comment on the quality of the new foam from IPD??

Good luck, whatever you decide!

Regards,

TomD
'86 240
'93 240

Looking for another brand seat or just to get your original seat back in shape. Check the Wire mesh under the seat. They may be breaking.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwr and two motorcycles: it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

HI

If you decide to mount sport seats into your car, you´ll need the proper consoles.
This consoles are sold with the seat, you only have to specify your car. I´ve mounted a pair of Recaro seats and if you have the console coming with the seat, the job is finished at about 20 minutes...without welding or other additional work. The console with the sport seat mounted is just screwed on the floor mountig pods of the Volvo seat.

There are also other makes except Recaro ( Sparco, Koenig etc.) who offer seats and consoles fitting to the 240. Check some car equipment stores for further information.

With the seats out, it´s a good opportunity to lift off the carpet and check the floor pans for rusted areas.

Good luck and have a nice day

Ciao M.P.

Short term solution: Switch the driver and passenger seat.
C

Switching seats is fine, but if you will have to remove the knob for reclining your seat in order to fit between the center console. I had my drivers seat redone but did not want to lose my car for the 2 days, so it took them 2 hours to figure out how to pull the knob and fit the seat in.

I've got Corbeau Carrea's in my 242ti with the seat adapters. Made install a breeze. You won't want them if you need comfort for long drives however, they aren't meant for that. Corbeau does make more conservative seats however too.

Pics of mine: http://www.pbase.com/image/9270330
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Sacramento VCOA President, (sacvolvo@hotmail.com) Admin @ clubvolvo.com 2001 S60 2.4t w/17' Amalthea & Premium package 82 242t 5spd (Offical Project Car!) w/ With more parts than I can list, 85 244ti~ Parts car

Hi

Respect, you´ve done a very nice job with your car!

Greetings -- Ciao M.P.

Me? Thank you!

Doug
--
Sacramento VCOA President, (sacvolvo@hotmail.com) Admin @ clubvolvo.com 2001 S60 2.4t w/17' Amalthea & Premium package 82 242t 5spd (Offical Project Car!) w/ With more parts than I can list, 85 244ti~ Parts car

...yes YOU :-)

Have fun with your cars and keep up the nice work!

Ciao M.P.