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Sat Feb 01, 2003 12:29 am

We are doing some interior work on our 71 SB. It would be much easier if we could pull the front seats out. We can't figure out how to get them out though.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

Sat Feb 01, 2003 6:54 am

I am not absolutely certain, because I have a standard beetle, but here goes:
The seats slide all the way forward for removal. Three things are necessary.
1. hold the seat adjuster open.
2. push the seat all the way forward.
3. release the "front stop" spring which is a bent flat metal spring stop approx 3/8" wide and 2" long which stands in the way of a small bar attached to the seat or seat frame.

Since you have to do three things at once, it can be a bitch to get it out. Also, this area is prone to rust and debris, so that may gum up the work. I would spray liquid wrench on the seat tracks and seat release first. Sit in the seat and slide it forward and backward like you are just adjusting seating position first. If you can't do that smoothly, you could have problems. Once you can, get someone to sit in the back seat and push the seat bottem forward with their feet while you reach under the front of the seat and hold the seat adjuster lever and push the seat stop spring.

Good luck.

Oh, Once the seat slides free of the track, it is easier to remove from the car with the seat back folded forward.

Sat Feb 01, 2003 7:51 am

Hey Meghtony;

I have a 71 SB also. J.Pickens is absolutely right about the whole procedure. It takes some jockeying around, but once they're out, you'll say, "Geeze, I can't believe it was that simple."

JSH

Sat Feb 01, 2003 7:55 am

OK, I guess it's different for verts, or else my vert was messed around with by the previous owner. On mine there is a little bolt at the front of the adjustment track (with the holes in it to lock the seat in at various positions). When I undo that bolt, if I squeeze the seat adjustment handle I can slide the seat out BACKWARDS out of the track. I've done it four or five times so I know that's how I do it.

Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:32 am

79;

I think that's because yours is a later model, not because it's convertible. I know that the seats in my 75 Super aren't the same as in the 71.

I think so... but I'm not sure.

JSH

Sat Feb 01, 2003 3:47 pm

My 73 super has a clip under the middle bar on the seat. I just pulled down on the clip while pushing the seat all the way back.

Sun Feb 02, 2003 1:55 pm

I should add that the seat stop spring is mounted along the seat track rearward of the seat adjusting lever.

Sun Apr 27, 2003 5:18 pm

I have a 72 sb and CANNOT figure out how to get the seats out, there are NO visible bolts, NO clips, etc... Ive removed the spring, it slides well... on a site listed under the upolstry section, it says to depress a metal tab.. with no description of where that tab might be, I find NO depressible tabs anywhere, if anyone could help me out thatd be the awesome, thank you

Mon Apr 28, 2003 6:40 am

Just replied to your other posting, and you dredged up this thread which has my earlier postings. The tab is there, on the stationary track welded to the pan, near the shift lever on the driver's side. Just struggled with my seat this past weekend. Every time I "find" the tab, its hard to get to. But it is there nonetheless.

Tue Apr 29, 2003 3:08 pm

Hey NeoWatashi, if you still haven't found it, look underneath the right rail (same for both left and right seats); it's two inches back from the very front of the rail. Don't look for it on the rail itself, it's just under the rail.

Thu May 01, 2003 12:47 am

There's a picture of the tab in Bentley's.