94 lighting buckets in 72 F100

[donwhis]

I went to the junk yard Monday looking for some car parts and saw an almost complete 94 lighting. Someone had stripped the dash, but the power bucket seats and console were intact. How much modification would I have to make to put them in my bumpside?

[basketcase0302]

Donwis,

http://www.fordification.com/tech/seats.htm

[fordman]

all you need is the brackets to put them in your truck. you can make some or you can buy them from someone who may have them. i doubt you can modify the bucket brackets to work in these years of trucks. the floor pan is different from then to now.

[donwhis]

Any idea what I should pay for the seats?

[BobbyFord]

Any idea what I should pay for the seats?

The price depends on how much you like them. Don't forget to get as much of the wire loom as possible.

[ezernut9mm]

those seats come on a frame that runs the width of the cab. all you would have to do is build some shims to get the mounting points to the angle you want and probably drill new holes. as for price, as little as possible. . i have seen them go as high as 400$.

[thunderbolt]

Where is it? I want the intake manifold setup!!

[67MercM100]

ezernut9mm,

Do you know anyone who's actually put the Lightining seats in a bump - and are there pictures available?
I've got the seats and the full width frame (and the console) just waiting.

As for the price: I'm sure I paid too much on ebay (close to $500 with shipping) But (1)I wanted them, (2)they're not easy to come by, (3)they're in excellent condition and (4)I had the money.

[ezernut9mm]

ezernut9mm,

Do you know anyone who's actually put the Lightining seats in a bump - and are there pictures available?
I've got the seats and the full width frame (and the console) just waiting.

As for the price: I'm sure I paid too much on ebay (close to $500 with shipping) But (1)I wanted them, (2)they're not easy to come by, (3)they're in excellent condition and (4)I had the money.

sorry no pics. most of what i posted was conjecture. i did put the exact same under seat frame in a 68, but the seats were different. i didn't like the way it sat. it needed shims to bring the front of the seat up, but since the seats were deeper (front to back) i sat too close to the wheel and pedals for my liking. i am right at 6' and have a 34" inseam just ot give you an idea on my build.
congrats on the purchase though. those seats are excellent. the fabric wears like iron and they are very comfortable. i would like to find a set as well. when i sold my 93 lightning it had over 100k miles on it and the drivers seat still looked like new.

[67MercM100]

The Lightning seats are in the Merc bump. Here are some photos:

Had to have 1/2 inch cut off of the back of the Lightning seat frame:



Next, my "welder guy" cut the seat frame where it was angled for the later model Ford. He made it "straight" and then welded in some washers for bolt holes 15 1/2 inches from the rear holes



The Lightning seat frame bolts right into 2 out of the 4 original bolt holes. So, it's your choice. You can have the seat an inch to the right or to the left. I opted for to the right, since the right side "foot well" is narrower than the left.


The seat seems to sit closer than the original seat. Plus I've added an aftemarket Grant steering wheel, as my original was literally in pieces. My wife thought there was no way I was going to be able to drive it due to the lack of foot room for gas and clutch. (I'm 6'00" 250 lbs) But I shoved the seat back as far as I could - that would still allow it have a "bit" of recline. After just driving it around the block...it fits fine and is WAY more comfortable for gas, clutch and shifting.
(Notice the old bench seat in the background next to my actual first car. No prize, but can you determine the make and model [keep in mind I have a Mercury pickup (and it's sad that Ford announced they're dropping Mercury)])



PS: I just love the console!!!! I put a "with A/C" glove box in mine since that's the ultimate goal. Those glove boxes have hardly any room. Now I have a nice big bin for my stuff!

So..the moral of the story is: If you have Gen 1 Lightning seats and really want to make them work in your bump...it is possible. But don't believe the the page that says they'll "bolt in". They will bolt in...with massaging to the seat frame.

And now you know...the rest of the story. (Seriously, though...many, many thanks to everyone here on fordification; Especially the ones who actually know stuff and help out those of us who are learning. It's probably not proper English...but everyone here is the best!!)

[ezernut9mm]

great looking install. as long as all the ergonomic stuff is right you will really like those seats. are you going to get power hooked up the the lumbar and side bolsters? another thing, you can pull the front of the lower seat out to extend the support of your legs between the knees and butt.
and halfway through 94 and all of 95 they had a third center seat with console. those are like the holy grail of lightning seats. mine had some crazy van center in it, but it worked and looked good in the seating position. you might look for one of those on your next junk yarding excursion.



ok, that looks better. .

[fordman]

i seen a setup like that in a 80-86 truck at the junkyard. they were in good shape. and they looked real easy to put in. they didnt need any angle brackets to install them either. i figured regular bench seat tracks could probably be swapped with the curved seat tracks to mount them in a bump.

[67MercM100]

great looking install. as long as all the ergonomic stuff is right you will really like those seats. are you going to get power hooked up the the lumbar and side bolsters? another thing, you can pull the front of the lower seat out to extend the support of your legs between the knees and butt.
and halfway through 94 and all of 95 they had a third center seat with console. those are like the holy grail of lightning seats. mine had some crazy van center in it, but it worked and looked good in the seating position. you might look for one of those on your next junk yarding excursion.

[ Image ]

ok, that looks better. .

[ Image ]

Yeah, I was aware that they had the Lightning seats with the middle seat option. I don't anticipate more that one person really wanting to ride in the ol' Merc at at time. So far, I haven't even gotten the ONE! There's tons of room in the console. So I like that - as there's really no place else to put stuff.

I am planning on hooking up the lumbar and side bolsters - in time. These seats remind me a lot of the ones in my (first new car) '89 Mustang LX 5.0. It had the extensions on the front too.