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MG MG Y Type - Seat runner bolts

Can someone post a closeup photo of, or provide information on the seat frame bolts that hold the front seats to the runners as per those indicated on the attached image.

My YTs seats are not original and the seats I purchased from Tony S have rusted lower frames which I am replacing.

thanks
Stuart

Stuart Duncan

I don t understand all what you want to know
but i have a blog with about 1000 pictures from my restauration
a lot of pictures from the seats too
there you can see how the seats are made

https://www.mgexp.com/forum/t-series-and-prewar-forum.46/mg-ya-no-1675-from-1948.4022768/page-41

less time in the moment because i am building a hardtop for my TA

https://www.mgexp.com/forum/t-series-and-prewar-forum.46/building-a-hardtop-for-my-ta.4731781.4740090/page-6#msg-4740090

you will find a lot of information in my YA blog
FT Franz

Hi Stuart, hope this pic helps original bolts and stop screws
I also have a spare set of seat frames if you get stuck
Cheers Rob

Rob Snell

Hi all,
To be honest, in my profound ignorance, I didn't know the "correct" bolts were available. So I used a work-around for the attachment of the seats to the floor slides.
This is described in the pdf uploaded (hopefully.)
I also used stepped bolts as stopper bolts, with a thread to match whatever I had used for the tee nuts. I don't recall what that was, but it would probably have been M5 or M6.
The cost in the screen shot is for a pack of 5 in 304 SS. High tensile versions are also available.

Regards KGM
PS 8mm is very near to 5/16", certainly within the clearance tolerances normally used with bolts.
K G Mills

Thank you Franz, KM and Rob for your comments and suggestions.

Ron, I never thought to check the NTG website before posting. Your bolts must have been purchased sometime ago as NTG's price for those 2 bolts is now £21.69, nearly double.

Now that I know what the bolts look like, I will check for the bolts at my local nut & bolt shop.

cheers
Stuart
Stuart Duncan

So the brass runners are available from either NTG (http://www.ntgservices.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p9075_Seat-Runner-Strips-Brass-(Pair).html) or MG Car Club Y Type Register (https://mgyregistershop.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=66&product_id=104).

The bolts are available from MG Car Club Y Type Register (https://mgyregistershop.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=66&product_id=103)

But remember you only need one seat set for the YT. The passenger seat is completely different and you need http://www.ntgservices.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p9646_Seat-Runner---Passenger-Side-(Stainless).html with 2 http://www.ntgservices.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p3005_Wing-Bolt-Seat-Adjuster.html.
Paul Barrow

Paul, I already have the L/H seat hinge/sliding piece and the R/H seat runners.

I will try and purchase the bolts locally as the cost of packages from UK is becoming too expensive. I just got new running board rubbers etc from NTG and freight cost more than the pieces, as they are sending parcels by airmail.

I am going to have to wait until after Monday 8 January as business has closed from this morning to then, as has my upholsterer where the seat frames are currently located.

Stuart
Stuart Duncan

Hi Stuart,
I'll be staying with the stepped bolt path. Cost was only about $15 Aus for me .
The nuts I used were on hand, M6 Nyloc. Since you can tighten the nut down before you enter the bolt head into the rail, you don't really need the screw driver slot. It would be handy if the nut comes loose though.

Good luck with you bolt-hunting.
regards KGM
K G Mills

Stuart

Surface mail is no longer available for most shipping these days unless the item is significantly bulky or heavy. I frequently now pay more for shipping than the value of the goods. Maintaining a Classic Car is no longer a cheap hobby, especially if you want to do it properly. Clearly though, if you dont wish to to buy the recommended parts that is up to you. I have seen many people try to make alternate bolts do for seat runners - been there myself too. I am glad to say that eventually I bought a pair of the genuine parts and since then have had no issues other than being annoyed with myself for not having bought them sooner and avoided previous abortive attempts to short cut.
Paul Barrow

Hi Paul, Stuart
Freight is certainly a deterrent. But against that it must be said I have had very good service/advice/parts from NTG over the years. They have always been more than just suppliers but seem genuinely committed to helping me with my rebuild. So I'll continue to use them and just have to wince at the freight cost. (Perhaps the one exception would be the carpets, which weren't a satisfactory fit and I remade a set myself. Maybe my YT is a bit out of shape or whatever.)
And to all, if it is your scene, best of season's greetings.

regards KGM
K G Mills

Interesting to read your experience KG and it mirrors mine - freight is just the "cost of doing business" and no one ever said restoring a Y correctly is a cheap endeavor ever!

As to carpets (as with any part of the Y and early MGs) things fit where they touch! My YB carpet set that I ordered for the friend's YB I am restoring for him were generally quite a good fit with quite a few good "points of touch" LOL.

MTG try hard to get things right for us so we have to be grateful to them for their dedication to Ys.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Stuart
Sorry for the delay -I had to find my seats . Are these photos any help? They are actually off a YA so I wonder if they are the same as a YT?
Am having difficulty loading the other photo ,file too big it says so how are these ? The third photo is a side view of the full length of the runner with fittings. Would this be of any use ? I can email it to you .

Cheers John B




J K Bowman

Hi John
Thank you for the photos. I have the seat slide brackets and locking pin. I will now look for shoulder bolts as suggested by KM.

I am unclear where the lower exposed tube seat frames were Chromed or Cadmium painted, as it is unclear in the IMGYTR website colour scheme list nor on photos posted or taken my me. I am thinking Cadmium as it would be near impossible to chrome just the tubed seat frames.

cheers Stuart
Stuart Duncan

Hi Stuart,

On my YT, the seat frames were definitely not chromed. There're a dull anodised green colour; is that the colour of cadmium?

One thing you may consider whilst you're doing this refirb... taking ~1" out of the seat frame height. 1940's ergonomics and average bloke heights were somewhat different to today. A few years ago I lowered my YT seats by 1", which is much more comfortable. More room for my legs under the steering wheel, better view through the windscreen, less feeling of rolling around. Sitting closer to the floor works well for me at 6' tall. Louise feels more sheltered too, although she does sit on a booster cushion when driving.

Just a suggestion...
Regards,
Rob
R Ades

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2023 and 06/01/2024

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