Transfer Seat Part 2

[rydog1130]

Got a little more work done with the help of my nephew. I wasn’t super happy with the way the unit was sitting in there. It wasn't sitting level so everything had to be loosened up and some custom shims were made to get it sitting level. I also bored out the holes on the trans tunnel to give us a little more wiggle room. We also worked on getting the column out of the car as I plan on relocating the mounting bracket about 2-3” so the wheel sits closer to the dash. I’ll include pics of that project once we get it out. Currently I need to pop the bushing out of the shifter arm off the column and I ordered a new one because I don’t think they come out easily unless there’s a trick I’m unaware of?

 

[rydog1130]

I think i found my solution to getting my shift rod out of the bushing. Behold a windshield wiper arm puller...

 

[rydog1130]

I think i found my solution to getting my shift rod out of the bushing. Behold a windshield wiper arm puller... View attachment 948515

This little tool worked great at popping out the linkage arm with out damaging the bushing

 

[rydog1130]

Ok had my nephew out again helping me this time! Got a few things done, took a hot minute but we got the steering column out. I compared the collapsible steering shaft I ordered and the rag joint ends don’t match up so I’m either going to order one from the graveyard or modify the one I have possibly. We also got the supports for the seat cut and will weld those in next. We also cut some 1x2x5” pieces that I plan on making spacers for my roll bar that was tied into the frame.

 

[rydog1130]

Today was pretty productive! I cut the rag joint off of the new collapsible column I bought and then cut the end off of the original that mates w/ the stock column and it fit perfectly together. I ran a bead around it and now my lower steering shaft issues are resolved.

I was also able to cut the spot welds and relocated my bracket about 2” to give me more room. I also had to modify the shifter arm off the column so it would sit back 2” as well!

I was trying to get the supports that my seat will mount to welded in but I ran out of time. I was able to figure out where to put them and hopefully sometime this week I can get those welded in.

 

[stout22]

It's the the little details that take time. Looks like great progress.

 

[rydog1130]

It's the the little details that take time. Looks like great progress.

Yup, I feel like I’m actually getting somewhere now though as things are going together instead of fitting and taking them apart then back together again! I was going to weld my seat supports in but was struggling to get a good position to tack them in. My dad had positioned them by using boards as shims and magnets to hold them in place but it wasn’t far enough out of the vehicle where I could get to it easily. After literally sleeping on it a few days I think I have it figured out! I’m going to cut 2 pieces of angle iron and clamp them to the supports to create a flange that can be clamped to that slanted piece of steel controlled by the 4 link. This should allow me to pull it out further with less bulk in the way and weld it up! TBC…..

 

[Yeller]

Sometimes you just have to leave it and sleep on it lol. I can’t count the times I’ve slapped my forehead in the middle of the night with a simple solution to what was an insurmountable problem.

 

[DirtDonk]

And I hope after that you wrote it down!
So that when you woke up later, you’d still remember it.

 

[rydog1130]

Ha yup, hopefully this week i'll get it welded up

 

[rydog1130]

Had 2 days to get a few things done, one I got the seat supports welded in. I tacked them in then had my buddy Nate weld them in. It’s just too hard w/ the chair to try to get to the inner side to weld them up nice. He got them 90% welded in until we ran out of wire oof! I’m going to repurpose an old seat project and cut it to fit the supports and weld that on top to help stiffen it up. Then I had Nate help me get my column back in, the rubber shifter bushing popped right in that I ordered from nicks my old one melted when I welded it back together. Anyways one of my wires for my column harness broke so that got solderd back together. I swear modifying the column was easier than getting that thing back in the vehicle lol!

 

[rydog1130]

I have some flex going on and I’m going to build these little rollers I came up with an awhile back! These will support the main beam/tube that pushes the seat out. This will keep it from bottoming out on the floor pan and reduce friction making it easier for the lift to be pushed out and pulled back in.
It will also keep it from wiggling side to side

“So i had a redesign pop in my head at the hardware store when I went there to look at materials for my extra floor pan roller/support and decided it would be easier to just make two 18” long sections of 3/4” angle iron and attach rolling steel spacers to help support the beam if there’s any flex and it’s going to be way easier to make”
View attachment 927151 View attachment 927152

 

[rydog1130]

You can see the side to side wiggle, I’m going to use some angle iron and make a track on both sides that fit on the bottom of the beam to support it when it rolls out. I also have some slippery hard nylon plastic that I’m going to use with some angle iron to make supports that will minimize the side to side wiggle

 

[Yeller]

If some 1/2” thickUHMW or HDPE, I can’t remember which I have and probably a mixture nor how to identify the difference, would be helpful I would be happy to send you some. I have a bunch of pieces from building skid plates for rock buggies.

 

[rydog1130]

If some 1/2” thickUHMW or HDPE, I can’t remember which I have and probably a mixture nor how to identify the difference, would be helpful I would be happy to send you some. I have a bunch of pieces from building skid plates for rock buggies.

Thanks yeller but I think that’s what I have! I have like 5 strips that are probably 36”L x” 4 Wx 1/2” thick that I can use! I don’t remember why I bought it lol but I have it fortunately!

 

[rydog1130]

My dad and I were able to make one of the 2 brackets that will hold my rollers that will support the beam once it’s out! I think it turned out pretty well!

 

[rydog1130]

Dug out the plastic, I thought I had more but this is plenty! I made to piece to cradle the gear rack on the bottom of the in/out beam. It did a great job of taking out the side to side wobble. However I made them 1” longer than they needed! I thought I had 21” of room and the additional support tracks I made were 18” but it’s only 20” lol ! Anyways, support tracks are made and I’ll make new shorter plastic supports later. I had to take out the part that lowers the seat but it’s ok as I need to finish welding some things on it and get it painted before it goes back in!

 

[rydog1130]

I made new glides that are the right length and the rollers I made consisted of 1/4” and 3/8” wide by 5/8” OD steel spacers on a 1/4” diameter grade 5 bolt. I thought maybe they have a bearing in that size and sure enough I found some 3/16” x 5/8” OD bearings and if combine 2 it’ll give me the same thickness as my widest spacer used. This is going to work better and have less friction. So, while I’m waiting for those to show up I’ll get my collapsible shaft in and linkage hooked up etc .

 

[rydog1130]

Finished welding the spots on the seat supports where we ran out of wire. It was way easier having it out of the vehicle ha! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before ? Maybe I was being lazy and tired of taking things apart and back together again. If it weren’t for the additional rollers needing to go in I probably wouldn’t have done it! Anyways got it welded up and did a test fit with the seat on it! It lines up pretty good! I’m going to mark the holes drill them and add some weld in nuts to fasten the seat too. It’ll get some paint and back in the vehicle. Then it’ll be some simple electric and hopefully we’re in business!

 

[rydog1130]

Well, I apologize for not updating in a while. I’ve had some setbacks healthwise since October that have kind of kept me out of the garage. I ended up getting a really bad finger infection from a burn on my two fingers. I was on some pretty heavy antibiotics from the end of October through the beginning of December to prevent/possibly treat the bones in my fingers because they thought maybe those were infected too. My lower G.I. system was never the same after that and mid January I ended up with an infection in my colon from a bad bacteria that got to run away since all the other bacteria got wiped out. I finish antibiotics for that infection about five weeks ago when I decided to come back again last week. Currently I feel like I’m on the mend and my colon is returning back to normal. I’m hoping when the weather warms up here in Michigan, I’ll get back in the garage to finish this project and show you guys the fruits of my labor. Here’s a few pictures to show what my fingers looked like if you’re not squeamish.