saab 9-3 seat fitting

[bicolour]

I fitted some saab 9-3 seats and as i couldn’t find any information on doing it i thought i post one up.

this is not a guide and im no expert but if you wish to follow you do so at your own risk, please note that this requires you to remove the old runners and drill very close to the fuel expansion tanks.

remove seats

and you will see the two runners, these need to be removed by drilling out the spot welds i used a standard h/s drill bit with no problem

The red cicles indicate a spot weld (may vary) you can clean and easy see where they are



I used a drill with a depth guide but still managed to drill all the way though
Not a problem as I filled (just be careful when you are drilling the last two at the back on the outer edges as the expansion tanks are close)

With the runner removed (takes a hammer and chisel)



I filled the wholes and added a knee strap to tidy the area up



Once I had offered up the seats onto the base I drilled the wholes starting at the front and double checking my aliment

I used m8 nuts and bolts with washers and spring washer and just for safe measure some tread lock

Picture show a large washer I used for the wheel arches as my van is lowered I didn’t want a bolt sticking down though the arch so reversed the bolt and had the nut inside the van.



Bolt down and repeat for the other side and if your anything like me do a much better job second time around

And the finished project

So comfy

[Graham81]

Good effort, I've got these in mine too but I fitted mine using the existing runners and modded the seat instead.
Out of interest, what gap have you now got between seat base and steering wheel?

[bicolour]

well im only 5 8 and can get away with the seat pumped all the way up but only require it half to drive

i will take a measurement

i was looking to put onto runners but decided the seats will stay for now and the nr future as they are so comfy

i had the thoughts of keeping the van origanal but then its been lowered with merc alloys added so not so original so seats are here to stay

i did like the old ones charater but they will make nice seats for my shed lol

[Dazco]

Put these in my van but to give me adequate space between seat and steering wheel I had to cut the seat Base off and weld a new sub frame. With the height adjustment there was no way I was gonna fit .

[Graham81]

Good stuff, my originals were far too 80s for me with the autosleeper trim, really good condition though and now residing in the loft! also I notice that your headrests are all the way down onto the seat, how have you managed that? Lol
Mine won't go right down so I thought that's how they were meant to be

[bicolour]

there is a button on both sides kind hard to push in but its there

i like them all the way down dont look so out place that way

[Bigjcc55]

This is the same method I used to fit my Saab chairs, only problem is they are a bit higher than the old ones, takes a bit of getting used to. But it's a good trade for the comfort.
The only thing I did different from you're self was use a spot weld drill, it left the seat boxes a bit neater after the runners were removed.