1956 Power seat movement distance | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

1956 Power seat movement distance

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Clayton
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George Clayton

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Thunderbird Year
1956
My 56 has power seat. It does not appear to be going back very far. Took off the seat and frame looking for some type of blockage. It stops about 6 inches from the rear of the frame. Is that correct? How far should it travel? I feel like I am sitting with my chest nearly up against the steering wheel. All the gears seem to be working properly.

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People were shorter and skinnier back then, so they definitely did not go as far back as they do now! This has been discussed many times, however you could still have another issue.
 
I have not gotten to my interior completely yet but I have noticed the top rear edge of my seat back is about 3” from the car body when fully retracted. My soft top is folded up behind the seat and does not appear to be interfering with movement. Hope that can help somewhat. On the other hand if you still feel cramped behind the wheel, I can easily endorse the 15” diameter steering wheel. It took away that feeling of the wheel in my chest and my arms with limited movement and made a huge difference for me….in my opinion
 
The attached article describes how you can gain an additional inch + by performing a simple modification to the seat track/frame and the floor bracket.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

Power Seat Modification.JPG
 
I have not even looked under the seat yet and remain thoroughly unfamiliar with its operations but if you can clarify one thing. The extra hole in the seat bracket: is this becoming an optional location to mount the motor ?
 
No, the horizontal motor is still mounted to the bracket under the seat, the second hole is drilled in the bracket on the floor just in case after modifying the seat tracks the range of the horizontal motor is affected.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue




Power Seat.png
 
I'm taking the power seat assembly out of the car to have the seat cushions redone. I recall seeing an article a while back on how to add maybe 1-1/2 inches of legroom by grinding some studs and/or a few other minor modifications. I can't find that article again now that I'll have the seat out and can perform the mods. Does anyone have a copy of that article, or know where I can find one. Or even summarize it for me? Thanks
 
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