1983 AMC Eagle

[shanebo]

That should be a fairly easy fix for about any uposterer...Especially since its black...If you have a color that is exclusivly amc like nutmeg, its a bit harder to get a good match. Other wise though the car looks great...I always love the blacked out sport package looks more aggresive.

[rollguy]

Repairing the upholstery is the easy part.  The problem with the seat frame seems to be common, as I had the same problem with mine.   The seat back adjusting mechanism is broken.  I think the only fix is to replace the entire frame.  I just bolted mine in a comfortable position, as there is no need to move the seat back forward (no rear seat passengers again).  If you can find a seat in a wrecking yard, it does not matter what color or condition of the upholstery, get it.   There also may be a 'nester that has a good seat frame for sale.   Also, both sides are not interchangeable, so you need to find a good driver side seat.

[shanebo]

Didnt the Spirits have those high back seats too?

[amc78concord]

Didnt the Spirits have those high back seats too?

They did, but they weren't "high." The SX/4's seats can be compared to an Eagle wagon's backseats, but they just fold down seperately.

[ammachine390]

Didnt the Spirits have those high back seats too?

They did, but they weren't "high." The SX/4's seats can be compared to an Eagle wagon's backseats, but they just fold down seperately.

I think he means high back as in the seat is tall, compared to wagon seats which are shorter. Not actual back seats.

[Pfista611]

My eagle is for sale   

[captspillane]

An Eagle SX4 has the exact same seat as a Spirit. Exact same.

A Spirit will have a different inboard seat slide rail than an SX4, but it takes about 20 seconds to swap them.
Four little 1/2" drive nuts hold the slide rails to the bottom of the seat. An SX4 uses the exact same slide rails as a station wagon.

A non-power Station Wagon wide body seat will bolt directly unto the slide rails of an SX4. They are totally interchangeable. The power seat frames are different and they have a different set of holes in the floor, but those can be easily installed as well.

A 1981 SX4 and a 1981 Spirit will have a seat that does not recline. Those frames are total junk. They are extremely weak and develop cracks in several places. A 1979 Spirit has the same frame, but different welting work in the fabric.

A 1982 or 1983 Spirit or SX4 got reclining seats that are considerably stronger than the earlier version. The handle and reclining mechanism is exactly the same as a Station Wagon seat, but it doesn't have as many teeth and doesn't recline as far back. It is also quite prone to cracks. They do not crack as severely as the early non-reclining seats, but nearly every drivers side frame in existance is cracked already.

If you see your drivers side sitting a few inches further back then the passenger side, the crack is already developed to the point of needing immediate attention and repair. Every SX4 I own has this problem in various stages of development. Its not a question of if your frame will break, but when. The reclining seats are certainly worth repairing and the repairs are relatively simple. I won't waste my time repairing the early non-reclining seats.