TC seat bracket fixings

[Ray White]

There are seat adjustment brackets fitted to the wheel arches. On my car these appear to be countersunk but the bolts are 3/16" Whitworth with hex heads. Obviously something is not right here.

Can someone tell me if countersunk machine screws are the correct fixings ? ...and presumably chromed?

[Steve Simmons]

I believe these were originally rivets.

[antijam]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7XtEeMfVQ0

[Ray White]

Thanks guys. I missed that video (for some reason) so having the measurements for bracket location on the wheel arches is very useful. Anyway; the point is that the holes in the brackets should be countersunk (as I suspected). I didn't know about the rivets so that's another help.

[antijam]

I have to admit I used countersunk screws to retain mine. Since they don't show when the trimming is done.....

....the only giveaway is from underneath in the wheel arch, where there's a nut instead of a rivet tail.

[Ray White]

I can't see me taking a torch anywhere near my new body tub! (Secondly) when it eventually arrives it should be painted in primer. I don't want to mess it up if I don't have to. I shall be fitting countersunk screws and nuts.


Those wheel arch trim pieces are tricky, aren't they? I am not looking forward to doing mine. I have chosen to eschew vinyl in favour of leather. I may regret the decision if there is not enough 'stretch' in the leather.

[Duncan M]

That's great that Doug sells the rivets. Always nice to have an original/unrestored example to reference. Pic of passenger side. Looks like the impact on the hot rivet was provided by someone right handed. Note the flat heads. Appears they brushed on some sort of paint, after. This is TC9866, a black car.

IMG_0837.JPG (64.02 KiB) Viewed 2172 times

[Rob Zucca]

The rivet can also be heated prior to sticking it in the hole. Just move fast.
Rob TC5464

[Ray White]

I have just received two new chrome plated adjusters with brackets that screw to the seat back. They came with special dumb bell butterfly bolts. I ordered them from Octagon Spares Dept and they are absolutely fabulous!!!!!

The wheel arch brackets will need new chrome but before that the countersunk holes need to be tidied up.

[Rob Reilly]

Slotted flat head screws on TA.

[antijam]

Interestingly Doug's video shows the bracket riveted directly to the wheel arch metal. On my '48 the brackets were originally riveted through the wheel arch padding.....

They were definitely riveted - here's the underside....

I'm not sure how secure the brackets would have been - even if the padding hadn't caught fire during hot riveting! Mind you, after 60 years of rust, they weren't going anywhere!

[Ray White]

Just one question. What diameter were the original rivets, please?