Zagato Junior seat recliners

I've been told they were unobtainium since long before I bought my Jr. Z. in 2005. Actually that was the first thing anybody ever told me about the uniqueness of our cars! If you find some, I'm certain there are a few owners who would be interested.

I had the dreaded seat back problem with my Jr Z when I purchased it. Maybe I was lucky but all I did was take the hinges totally apart, clean them very, very well, relubricate them, and put them back together. They've worked perfectly for the last seven years. I think the problem was the result of old sticky grease in the latch mechanism and the gears/levers/springs which control it. Some of the parts are small and if they get stuck in the wrong position, the latch doesn't work properly.

I hope you're as lucky as I was.

Seat mechanisms are tricky and they are pretty crappy. My driver side one gave up before I got the car and a previous owner "welded" the mechanism in position - Thank God a very comofortable position.

Mechanisms are the same than other Italian cars, especially the Fulvia Sport, though all of them seem to come available rarely.

Somebody told me that the ones from the Porsche 356 (B and C models) come close and you might be able to substitute though I have no clue about this.

Thank you all. Mike, I enjoyed seeing your car in Hemmings and liked the write up.

I have found a renovator in the Lancia world called Micron in the UK which does a lot of reparis on these becasue they are just as unreliable in Fulvias as they were in Zag Juniors.

Omicron said that the reasons that they fail are because they have become glued up with old grease, they have become twisted etc.

I will report back on success.

I ma also hunting in the wold of Lancias and will report back if I get any success from our Italian friends.

SNowy

i had the same with my Zagato 1600 on the drivers site! As far as I know the problem occures due to the powerfull spring mechanismen that letts the back of the chair move forward automaticly and because of that the mechanismen gets damaged.
First I repared it by removing the spring mechanismen and welding again at fixed position.

Later I found a new mechanismen from indeed a Lancia Fulvia (both Zagato or normal). Here in the Netherlands at ; (www.martinwillems.nl) only in Dutch !
The Lancia's were fitted with exactly the same system but without the powerfull spring and all chromed.

rgds,
ZZ_jr.

Replace or repair the mechanisms

Hi All,

I had the same problem with the mechanisms on my seats. At first, the seat on the driverside could not be adjusted. We took the mechanism apart and found out that the previous owner had welded the cogs solid.
A simple solution was replacing the brass bushing that takes up the slack from these cogs that make the seat adjustable. This will work but the mechanism is still vulnarable because just one side (one hinge) is locked.
A friend of mine is looking at a more solid solution, where both sides of the seat (both hinges) are locked in place in stead of just the outer side.

Ciao! Olaf

I'm supporting my cousin restoring his Zagato Junior 1300 (white), the bodywork is complete and assembly started.
Now we are having the same problem with the seat recliner, as usual driver side.
Comparing the 2 mechanisms, driver vs. passenger, I noticed that the distance between the upper and lower part (or outer and inner) of the mechanism is about 10 mm larger on the damaged mechanism, so I suppose something twisted.
I want to try to repare this part, but somebody wrote about a strong spring...
Before I get confronted with this mechanism and might have problems to reassemble I would like to have suggestions from somebody who disassembled it.

The mechanism is the same as the Fulvia Sport only with a matt black outer cover. I have several sets of Fulvia recliners, if you send me a picture of the exact bit you need I will see what parts I have and what condition they are in.

You know, my driver seat mechanism is welded into position to cure the failing mechanism.

Not sure what I need but would love to have a complete spare one. Feel free to PM me or email ([email protected]) or call at 949.338.4591.

Thanks,

Mike

Redisgn of the support of the back of the seats

mbaum said:

You know, my driver seat mechanism is welded into position to cure the failing mechanism.

Not sure what I need but would love to have a complete spare one. Feel free to PM me or email ([email protected]) or call at 949.338.4591.

Thanks,

Mike

Click to expand...

Hello members,

An Alfafriend of mine has just finished the restauration of his GT 1300 JZ. He had the supports of the back of the seats modified so that the back is supported on both sides in stead of the original one sided support. That's the radical approach. Time will tell if this is the final solution to this problem.

Welding the cogs is a crude but effective solution in my opinion, repairing the seat adjustment with a new bronze bushing that takes up the slack in the mechanism will help too and will keep the mechanism doing his job.

Ciao, Olaf

Moicron Engineering in UK 44 1508 570 351 refurb the Alfa Junior Zagato seat recliners.

They are a Lancia specialist and the part is used also on the Fulvia Zagato.

I have sent two away and will report back on what they have done and how they last.

The most important thing about caring for the mechanism is to ensure that no one leans into the back and bends the brackets.

Snowy

Well the recl;iners are back from Omicron. They have repaired them, straightened them and, in the case of the chrome ones cleaned and sprayed black, look gfood, albeint not powder coated.......would loce zto fit to car but...seat has failed in a more major way, presuem frame so will have to take cover off and get frame welded before testingf out the repair. will report back on success.

SNowy

As you will all see, typing is not a skill i list on my cv....

In case you need the real deal ...

SEDILE ANTERIORE ALFA ROMEO JUNIOR ZAGATO su eBay.it Alfa Romeo, Ricambi Auto d'Epoca, Auto ricambi e accessori

Seats for Junior Zagato

mbaum said:

In case you need the real deal ...

SEDILE ANTERIORE ALFA ROMEO JUNIOR ZAGATO su eBay.it Alfa Romeo, Ricambi Auto d'Epoca, Auto ricambi e accessori

Click to expand...

Hello Michael and other members,

800,- Euro's is what an earlier mentioned friend of mine paid for his set in similar condition about 2,5 years ago. You might have heard of it, it was a topic here in post #80 at http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/limited-production-1960-1977/25792-my-new-junior-z-6.html a couple of months ago because of the askingprice after a complete renovation. That set went to Japan for the askingprice.
So 799,- USD doesn't seem that strange. It is a lot of money though!!

Ciao, Olaf

Hey Olaf,

it is all relative: I am looking for original Recaro sport seats for my 911S and they go for around $4000 a pair. Unrestored!!! Junior Z seats are rarer and cheaper!!!

Mike

Wauw!

mbaum said:

Hey Olaf,

it is all relative: I am looking for original Recaro sport seats for my 911S and they go for around $4000 a pair. Unrestored!!! Junior Z seats are rarer and cheaper!!!

Mike

Click to expand...

Hello Mike,

4000,- USD for a set? Wauw!! We are lucky to own a JZ in that respect.
Good luck on hunting down your Porsche seats!

Ciao, Olaf