Father/Son SN95 upgrade thread.

SN95_Project

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Using this to document the upgrades we're doing to my son's 1996 GT Convertible. Happy to share experiences if you run across this thread and are looking to do something we've already done.

Links:
Intro thread: https://www.sn95forums.com/threads/new-member-intro-96gt-convertible-cleveland-oh-area.77881/
Power Passenger Seat (still looking for an answer here if you have one!): https://www.sn95forums.com/threads/1996-gt-power-seat-switch-mount.77886/
Power Windows Not Rolling Up (NOT the motor): https://www.sn95forums.com/threads/window-wont-roll-up.78112/
ABS Sensors Missing, and Steering Rack Repair/Replace (Not sure which yet): https://www.sn95forums.com/threads/abs-sensors-missing.78515/
1st - 2nd shift issue repair: https://www.sn95forums.com/threads/96gt-1st-2nd-shift-issue.79043/

So far, we've done:
MM Bilstein coil-over upgrade (finished that on 7/24/22)
Installing new head unit and integrating with the previous owner's aftermarket system
New front sway bar links and bushings
New rotor dust covers
MM Camber/Caster plates
New front lower control arms (had to literally cut the passenger side one apart to get it out since the inner sleeve on the front bushing froze to the bolt - very frustrating 2 hours!)

Need to:
MM rear panhard bar install w/ new lower control arms and springs
Adjust convertible top to stop seal leaks and bring top forward a bit to make it easier to close - MAYBE new top if I can't fix it
MM Steering shaft
Figure out the ABS thing
Probably replace the rest of the motors in the power seats

Invaluable thread on replacing rack and pinion regarding removing front LCAs: https://www.sn95forums.com/threads/front-control-arm-removal.76176/#post-1468588
 
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07GtS197

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Are the seat bottoms side specific? If not, you could use a drivers side bottom on the passenger side seat track so it should have the cutout and maybe bracket for the seat controls.

Also, I know you aren’t stupid but I thought I’d ask anyway, are you sure yours had abs? Not all sn95s had it.
 
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SN95_Project

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Are the seat bottoms side specific? If not, you could use a drivers side bottom on the passenger side seat track so it should have the cutout and maybe bracket for the seat controls.

Also, I know you aren’t stupid but I thought I’d ask anyway, are you sure yours had abs? Not all sn95s had it.

Oddly enough, they are. The passenger seat doesn’t have a bracket for the power seat control.

As far as the abs, I won’t claim that it DID have it, but it would be odd if it didn’t as the ABS light is on. It has it in the rear. At this point, I think when it was wrecked, there was probably some damage in the front and maybe they got a front harness from a car that didn’t have it? Not sure why they would cut the connectors out if it had them.
 

07GtS197

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Oddly enough, they are. The passenger seat doesn’t have a bracket for the power seat control.

As far as the abs, I won’t claim that it DID have it, but it would be odd if it didn’t as the ABS light is on. It has it in the rear. At this point, I think when it was wrecked, there was probably some damage in the front and maybe they got a front harness from a car that didn’t have it? Not sure why they would cut the connectors out if it had them.
Ok so they can’t be swapped from one side to the other. I’ve thought about doing such a swap myself. An alternative would be to swap in a set of power s197 or s550 seats. It would be more work though.

Ah ok so it did. Yeah that is strange. I guess it could have a different harness I guess. Do you have a service manual? It might be worthwhile so you can trace some wires.
 
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SN95_Project

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Ok so they can’t be swapped from one side to the other. I’ve thought about doing such a swap myself. An alternative would be to swap in a set of power s197 or s550 seats. It would be more work though.

Ah ok so it did. Yeah that is strange. I guess it could have a different harness I guess. Do you have a service manual? It might be worthwhile so you can trace some wires.
You can put a drivers seat on the passenger side. Just have to move the seat belt holder thing. I think it would be cleaner (if you could do it) to just get a donor drivers seat and pull the lower frame and just swap those. Haven’t tried it but seems right after looking at it.
 

07GtS197

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You can put a drivers seat on the passenger side. Just have to move the seat belt holder thing. I think it would be cleaner (if you could do it) to just get a donor drivers seat and pull the lower frame and just swap those. Haven’t tried it but seems right after looking at it.
That would be interesting, keep us in the loop if you decide to try it.
 

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