I'm looking for unobtanium. I need the power rails for the driver seat (split bench). They sit right down flat on the floor and since the previous owner of this car didn't grow an inch in 25 years, they never moved and are rusted beyond solid. I've found 2 possible donors in 6 months, both equally useless. I'm presently using manual rails but while it works, it's a long way from right. If you have unobtainium, perhaps we can reach an accomodation.
and if that same person happens to have an uncracked dashpad for the same vehicle, I'd be willing to make their wife happy by helping them free up some cupboard space and take it off their hands.
I've got the TH350. I was a little bummed since a deal for an '88 Safari with a 307 backed with a 200r4 that I'd been working on for 6 months had just gone titsup on me, but I wasn't letting another get away from me without a fight.
Would you believe it took me 2 weeks just to get the deal through the DMV? Since it had just turned 25 years old, they insisted that I have it professionally estimated for value. Cost me $125 for the paperwork so that they could charge me $4 in sales tax.
Any idea what the interchange is on the seat rails? I can likely make some calls and find out but thought you might already have an idea what else can be used.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
no idea, 'cept the Caprice naturally. A local scrapper suggested that the caddies might have suitable ones, but since they don't hang on to anything of any age he had no way to check.
and if that same person happens to have an uncracked dashpad for the same vehicle, I'd be willing to make their wife happy by helping them free up some cupboard space and take it off their hands.
That's the piece ... but that's a bit more than i was looking to spend for used. NOS maybe ...but a rusty used ... ?
but that's unobtainium for ya.
So theres lots of them, but your budget makes them unobtainium? There must be a old beater sitting somewhere oh course regular non power tracks will be a dome a dozen
No. That's the first working one I've seen since I started looking in may. I've scoured the yards in this area and noone has kept anything of that era. Even on Ebay, anyone that posted bezels or anything else from parisiennes or caprices I emailed, but they'd already crushed the carcass. Even regular manual tracks can't be found. What I'm using is the only set of manuals I've tracked down, but the seat itself was designed for the 6 way adjustment and so the incline of the seat with the manual rails isn't where it needs to be (for me) and there's no way to adjust it. the slightly later model (I'm told) allowed for the seat back to be adjusted, but mine's fixed. It's rather annoying since the passenger side is stock manual, and has a reclinable back.
As for this auction, the price is higher than I wanted to pay, but that doesn't mean I'm not considering paying it if someone else doesn't come across with a better offer or cleaner parts. I need this before winter. Once I add in the winter coat and boots, I'll need that adjustability. Did I mention that this is my daily driver?
-- Edited by Professur on Friday 22nd of October 2010 08:59:38 AM
-- Edited by Professur on Friday 22nd of October 2010 09:01:13 AM
Thanks. Reply from the seller on Ebay. he'll ship to canada for the same cost as US, but zero movement on the price. His own words .."I've never seen one on E-bay, so it's hard to get"
Broken transmission is fine ... mine works well. It's the metal rails that are seized.
-- Edited by Professur on Friday 22nd of October 2010 05:06:45 PM
" this will fit 77-90 B body--Caprice, Impala, Olds 98, 88, Buick Electra, etc with 60/40 style front seats"
That's quite the spread. Unforunately the transmission on it was made of nylon and self destructed easily. Models after '85 supposedly did away with it and used 3 different motors.
" this will fit 77-90 B body--Caprice, Impala, Olds 98, 88, Buick Electra, etc with 60/40 style front seats"
That's quite the spread. Unforunately the transmission on it was made of nylon and self destructed easily. Models after '85 supposedly did away with it and used 3 different motors.
Do yourself a favour Prof and replace the complete assembly with the newer, 3 motor - Caprice seat assembly. I was in the same boat as you regarding the power seat in my '86 Parisienne. The nylon transmission was split as well. I purchased the complete seat bottom assembly from CDN2PLS2's Caprice and here is how I made out.
The Caprice assembly (1988 - 1989) is an exact fit to the floor and the bottom of the seat in your '85 (as it is the same as my '86). Just be sure to get the complete harness and switch when you find one because it is completely different than the one that is currently in your Parisienne. Once you see what the 3 motor model looks like in comparison to the single motor "junk" in our cars, you'll know why GM changed them.
It took about 4 hours to switch them out. The majority of the time was trying to unbolt the seat from the floor. The seat was all the way back and seized in that position. That made getting at the rear bolts "fun" and time consuming. Do yourself the favour and switch it out. You won't regret it.
and your 
) 
tom120