Factory Bucket Seats

[FORDification]

No, a factory center console was never offered for our trucks. However, I have seen a number of bumpsides with a similar padded jumpseat...and I've never been able to figure out where they came from, though I know these aren't factory either.

[FORDification]

Can you tell/show how those seats bolt to the mounting brackets and how the mounting brackets bolt to the floor? I had mocked up some 68 mustang seats directly out of a mustang and when they are centered behind the wheel, it looks like the seat tracks are 3-4 inches away from the original bench seat bolt holes. I reread an article on mustang seats into a truck, and the writer had to fabricate some tabs to extend to the factory bolt holes from the seat tracks. Boy, wouldn't it be unbelievably helpful if someone with factory buckets could somehow make a diagram or drawing of the seat brackets for those of us wishing for bucket seats but never having them originally. Might be willing to pay for that!

No kidding! I've been looking for something like that to post to the site for some time now.

Anyway, I'll bet the article you're referring to where the owner used tabs to line up with the factory holes is the Bumpside Build-off at Classic Trucks magazine. And the reason he had to use the tabs is because he fabricated his own mounting brackets...he didn't use factory bucket brackets.

[mike68merc]

This is a link to the article you're talking about.
http://classictrucks.automotive.com/623 ... index.html

The article relates how he located & drilled out the pre existing "dimples" in the floor. I believe he used the same mounting holes as FACTORY bucket seat brackets use.

Also, to keep things simple, the OUTER bucket seat bracket mounts to the same points that your existing bench seats use.

FordHam - The pic below shows why the bucket seats you mocked up didn't seem to fit right....The Factory bracket leans forward several inches & also raises the front of the seat up so you sit at a more comfortable angle. Also, I believe the tracks for truck bucket seats are different than Mustang tracks, & they locate the seat even farther forward.

.....So ultimately the bolts in the bottom of the seat are no where near the floor dimples.


Hope it helps.

[FordHam]

No takes on a schematic for the factory bucket seat brackets for those of us less fortunate bench seat owners so we could fab up a nice set of brackets? We really want to belong to the bucket seat niche! Seriously though,I am trying to find someone from whom I can get the measurements. I'll let you know.

[ezernut9mm]

someone was asking about the seat brackets and where else to get a set. there is a guy over on slick60's named jim that makes and sells them. he goes by the screen name "slickcollector". people that have bought them seen to be happy with them.

[70_F100]

I still have the seats that I bought (at the start of the thread) sitting in my basement. When I get a chance, I'll take the brackedts off and draw them in CAD.

To duplicate, you'd have to have a stamping press and build a die, which could (and probably would!!) cost thousands of dollars. But, someone who's a good metalworker could fab them up without a lot of trouble.

[FordHam]

Sweet! I'm meeting a guy tonight with a 69 with factory buckets, completely original. I'll get some pics. Has an original factory 390 for all the FE guys. Any specific pic requests?

[427blackpearl]

just a thought but ford made some trucks in the early 90s that had factory buckets.like the bronco it was a eddie bower edition for trucks
it might be worth looking for one of those too. but i havent seen one in a wile.

[mike68merc]

The thread with all the pics of FORD seats says the benches will interchange all the way up till the mid '90's. If the newer buckets use the same OUTER mounting as the bench does (like my 68 does) I'd put money on the INNER brackets fitting also. So..I'll bet that the BRONCO buckets WOULD FIT. I've stumbled across several sets in wrecking yards here locally. (Though they'd need new upholstery).
I've seen them used in Extra Cab models also...Usually with the funky (but functional) Tupperware console like mine.

[mike68merc]

For FORDHAM. Pics of bucket seat brackets. These are ALL pics of the PASSENGER seat.

This is the front of the passenger seat.

Sitting on a flat surface the seat lists inward as the inner bracket is quite a bit shorter.

Pic of the BACK of the PASSENGER seat.


PASSENGER seat brackets...(Pic taken from Drivers side.)

This is how they'd look with the seat removed.


PASSENGER seat brackets...(Pic taken from Passenger side.) **The big rusty chisel is just to keep the bracket from falling over in the pic.**


I should have used the 2x4 in all of the pics instead of the frozen apple juice thingy....probably would have made it look more consistent.
Do my ramblings make sense? ....Hope it helps.

[FordHam]

Found a guy with a set. We have a friend in common who owns a metal fabricating business. We are going to see if he can/will reproduce a set. Thanks for the pics, they do help.

[hotrod ford]

If my information is correct...in 67, the seats were from '65-'66 Mustang (horizontal pleats):



In '68 they went to buckets from '67 Mustang (vertical pleats).

Keith, in the picture of the red truck, there is carpet on the gas tank. this is a good idea as to hide it, but would a person have to get an upolstery shop to make one peice carpaet or can you but this from a catalog? also, how will it attach to the tank?

[FORDification]

I'm not entirely sure how the carpet is attached....but I'm pretty sure it's not attached to the tank. See that chrome strip along the top edge of the carpet? The carpet is attached to the back wall of the cab and basically just drapes down over the tank, and probably attached at the bottom with Velcro or snaps. I'll bet an upholstery shop could come up with something similar, though that chrome strip is going to be pretty difficult to find. I've only seen two listings on E-bay over the years for the set, and it got big bucks the first time (don't recall how much), the second set only made it to $60 (after I offered the guy $75 for it before he listed it).

Here's a picture of the trim:

[mike68merc]

Cruising the Junk Yard last month I found a Dodge 1 ton window van. It was the extended version with like eight rows of seats (OK not quite eight)...Anyway, I noticed there was stainless trim inside about 10" under the windows, running the length of the van & across the back doors. I pulled the 2 rear most side pieces thinking I might get 'em to fit like the bucket seat trim does. My cab is still at the paint shop (sitting in his showroom), so I haven't been able to see how close it is to the right shape & length.
I know I can tweak it a bit if the bend isn't right, & since it's stainless steel, I can cut it to length & reshape the ends. I think I can butt the 2 pieces together & make a "slip" piece (like the one in Keith's pic above) to cover the joint. The trim attaches with prongs that bend over, instead of screws. But I'm hoping the effect will be the same. So unless I stumble across some original FORD trim, Ill try to make these work.
I don't have the in-cab fuel tank, & plan to build a storage unit/amp enclosure/speaker box/solenoid housing & disguise it (loosely) as the factory tank.