Bench seat conversion to fold down rear seat

[scottfromiowa]

Anyone completed a rear bench seat conversion to fold down?  I am NOT talking about converting to late 80's J removable/convertible seats, but rather making rear bench hinge so it can fold down to allow golf clubs, dog crates, etc. to more easily fit in back seat/cargo area.  Wondering on cost and amount of time to complete.

[rgaines]

I would love to do this modification but there is no reasonably priced STC for this as far as I know.  I believe LASAR will modify the bench seat but it is around $1800 as I recall.

[scottfromiowa]

OUCH!  How could the cost be so high for this?  Sigh....That's a Non-starter...

[piperpainter]

I heard it was $3000.00 I am trying to get ahold of some pictures and information on the 337 so I can maybe do it with my mechanic. Then we'll do his! But think of how awesome it would be to have the seats fold down......you'd have so much room!

[LFOD]

I definitely think the mod is worth it at 3K.  I have the split removable back seats and it was on the top of the list of options when I was looking for my current aircraft.  I rarely fly with more then two people and having all that room back there is awesome.  

[scottfromiowa]

Let me know how your research goes Bryan.  If you are modifying hinges the price tag seems way high.  The labor must be really significant.  I understand seat was not designed to fold...but $3k is a lot of labor.  I bought a whole interior for an F for under $400...(used of course) That's all four seats, carpet and plastic...The front seats have exact rail pin as my '66, but the front seats are better bolstered and have head rests.  I have in shop "converting" my fabric from old seats into newer seats.  My recline on both of my seats (large round knob) did NOT work properly causing both seats to be more reclined than either my wife or I desired.  I built up with sheepskin and Oregon Aero seat/lumbar cushion to make old pilot chair adequate.  Can't wait to fly with new seats...should be completed in a couple of weeks. 

[piperpainter]

I might have tracked down all the info needed to do this mod...hopefuly by the end of the day I'll have all the details!  More to come soon!

[piperpainter]

Info in hand....ohhhh yeaa!!!!  When I get home to my home computer I'll be able to examine the documents. I can only do so much from work.

[hansel]

Quote: piperpainter

Info in hand....ohhhh yeaa!!!!  When I get home to my home computer I'll be able to examine the documents. I can only do so much from work.

[flight2000]

Bryan,

What was the outcome of the folding rear seats?  Anything worth exploring for the rest of us.

Thanks,

Brian

[M016576]

I'd love to hear about it, too... It'd be nice to make that rear seating area a little more useful... anyone know if it's a structural concern?  Does the rear seat play into the fuselage re-inforcement at all?  I know the later model J's have split seats, but do they incorporate extra reinforcement?  Thanks!  -Job

[DaV8or]

I'm a noobie and not even an owner yet, but I am schemeing. Is it possible to just remove the back seat and fly with a large cargo area?

[KSMooniac]

DaV8or, on the Mooneys with the fixed bench seat, it is a PITA to remove it because there is a bolt wedged between the seat and the side panel that is a nuiscance at best.  The seat bottom comes out easily, though.

I've got an idea for an STC to make it easily foldable, but haven't made the time to start working on it yet...maybe this year after my annual next month, though.  I'm anxious to hear what Bryan found too.

[piperpainter]

I've been a bit behind on the seat thing. I really need to recover from a few other things first. Then i'll dive into that. I have to get a few more pictures from a guy that had it done too...he's yet to call me back so I'll try again. I plan on trying to get this done before Oshkosh...we'll see!

[flight2000]

Not sure, what you had in mind, but here's what the area looks like with the rear bench seat removed.  It was out for reupholstering and as mentioned, it is a bear to get in an out.

Brian

[scottfromiowa]

Hey Brian...Tell them to paint your tow bar Gold too!

[flight2000]

Dang it, why didn't you think of that yesterday when they shot the gold....   I couldn't have gotten to it anyway since she was all buttoned up.  I might be able to do that on my own though.  I'll see if he has any gold paint left over tomorrow when I go back to the shop to clean and lay new carpet before the seats go back in.

Brian

[DaV8or]

Quote: flight2000

Not sure, what you had in mind, but here's what the area looks like with the rear bench seat removed.  It was out for reupholstering and as mentioned, it is a bear to get in an out.

Brian

[flight2000]

Maybe we would get better with more practice, but it took us three and a half hours to get the seats back in yesterday.  Not fun in close quarters, even with the front seats out. 

Interesting that there are 6 bolts mounting the lower seat in the cargo area and two bolts at the top.  There are some more underneath for the seatbelts.  I didn't get a good look at those since the owner of the upholstrey shop was working that side.  I was working through the baggage door.

Brian

[N6843N]

I have been following this thread, as it is interesting the trouble some describe with removing their rear seats. I can remove my rear seat in 15 minutes, and that includes removing both front seats for access. Once the front seats are removed I remove the trim from the front of the spar. Sit on the rear seat and unclip the front rod. Kneel down and reach under the upper portion of the rear seat and unclip the aft rod, seat bottom is now ready to remove. I then loosen the 4 bolts which attach the upper seat to the airframe, give a tug to loosen any "set" it has taken, and remove the bolts. The key to those bolts is to use 1/4" drive sockets/ratchet and an ignition wrench to hold the nuts. Hope this helps.

[velodvm]

I have a '77 M20J. Do you know if the back seat removal is the same? Do you have to remove the bench to get the seat back off. I started by removing the upper bolts on the sides of the seat back, but cannot figure out where the lower bolts are.

Thanks for any help you can provide. I'm trying to fly to Colorado in April with two bicycles.

Mike

[kallend]

Quote: N6843N

 The key to those bolts is to use 1/4" drive sockets/ratchet and an ignition wrench to hold the nuts. Hope this helps.

[N6843N]

You can get them from Sears, I actually prefer theres to the Snap-on ones I have. They are about 4 inches long and not much thicker than a couple quarters.

[kallend]

Quote: N6843N

You can get them from Sears, I actually prefer theres to the Snap-on ones I have. They are about 4 inches long and not much thicker than a couple quarters.

[piperpainter]

Lets just say I should have folding seats in by the end of the weekend...well it fold now...but completed by Mon hopefully. And the cost will be less than $50 in parts, not including the upholstry changes. Pictures to come. Haven't had my mechanic spend more than 1hr with me on it so far.