New seats WITH seatbelts for my old truck.

[Effie_70]

so, I am searching for a nice setup, prefer a 40/20/40 bench style seat, but would go buckets as well as long as its little modifications as possible to transplant to the 70 F1. I really like the newer F series seats, are there others that are easier to transplant? Does anyone have any first hand knowledge, opinions or advice for me on this? I really have to get a decent seat in there..its freaking killing my butt! Thanks folks!

[caseyj10]

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

[Effie_70]

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

read that...absolutely no useful info there other than photo reference... let me clarify...I am looking for SPECIFIC info regarding seat transplant, model, year and what had to be done to make them work...thanks!

[caseyj10]

Taken from the link i just posted

"One of the very first areas of improvement for many '67-'72 Ford pickup owners is in the area where you plant your butt....the seating. While the factory bench is adequate, upgrading to a later-model bench, split bench or even buckets from a later-model Ford pickup is a pretty painless procedure.

If you weren't aware, all factory Ford bench seats up through '96 are pretty much a bolt-in procedure into your vintage truck, if you use your original seat tracks. After removing the tracks from your donor seat you'll have to drill out the threads on the seat frame so the studs on the older tracks can go up into the holes and be secured with a nut.

So it's pretty much a matter of...what's your fancy? Factory seats from '97-on will require you to fabricate custom mounting brackets. I present here a small collection of images borrowed from E-bay listings with some of the different styles of Ford pickup seats you can use. It's possible the seats shown here were also used in other model years in addition to what's listed, but this will at least give you an idea of what's available.

NOTE: Low-back Mustang bucket seats were an available factory option in 1967-1972 trucks, which used special mounting brackets. To view CAD schematics of these brackets,"

[Effie_70]

OK more clarification....I am looking for someone who has first hand experience doing this with SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL seats..
What was done/needs to be done to make them work in our trucks. I got the idea regarding years/models/tracks etc...looking for more granular info on what to look for, how or what to utilize to make it more painless when using say a Dodge seat from a 2002<<just an example... etc...

I hope that makes more sense..?

Capisce?

[Dirty Offio]

I put a set of Captains Chairs in my old 70 shortbox. I had to shorten the pedastal/pillar/whatever-ya-call-it to get the seat height I wanted, then reweld the base plate. Set it in place, mark holes, pull out, drill holes, put seat back in, bolt it down.

Depending on your height, you might not have to cut and weld the pillars. I am 6'3", and leaving them stock height put my hair against the headliner.

I don't think I took pictures, and I sold the truck 10 years ago, so I cannot help there.

Cheers!

[shortstack]

I ran across a guy at a Good Guys swap meet and he had a contract with a company that took new mini-vans and converted them into handicapped vans. He had all types of different colors, materials, and even built brackets for bumpsides and some other brands. I cannot for the life of me find his card, but he travelled around all over selling seats, consoles, and the custom brackets. just bolted my old bench brackets down, and used two pieces of strap, 1/4" thick to mock it up. I think I have a stack of washers in the front of the seats to tilt them back some. I'll try to get better pictures of my initial mock up. They are the second row seats and feel nice, but I havent put any real road time on them yet.

[sargentrs]

OK more clarification....I am looking for someone who has first hand experience doing this with SPECIFIC MAKE/MODEL seats..
What was done/needs to be done to make them work in our trucks. I got the idea regarding years/models/tracks etc...looking for more granular info on what to look for, how or what to utilize to make it more painless when using say a Dodge seat from a 2002<<just an example... etc...

I hope that makes more sense..?

Capisce?

I put a set of 1979 Dodge LWB Van captain's chairs (front driver and passenger seats) in mine. I built a full width frame to mount them on and cut off the pedestal tubes to the right height for me and welded them back together. Then just bolted the base plate to the frame. Built a box to house my 6x9 speakers and mounted it in between the seats. It was nice having the armrests. Eventually pulled 'em out and put the bench back in so 3 people could ride in the front.

[shortstack]

Sorry I just realized you wanted info. on seats with belts attached. Here are some better pics. of my current mock up if it can help someone else down the line.

seat 1.jpg

seat 3.jpg

I am 6'4" and fit suprisingly well in them. I have about a 1/2" spacer under the front of them, and my head is about in the center of the windshield.

[Effie_70]

thanks that looks interesting, but I prefer a 40/20/40 armrest setup as I do not want to loose the center seat space if needed.

Anyone done a late model 40-20-40 bench conversion from a late model with belts?

[wndsofchng06]

I know I am coming in late on this.... Did you find some seats Effie? I was thinking chevy trailblazers for bucket or the Dodge ram for the 60/40 bench in mine.... both have built-in belts. Also thought any bench with a folding armrest and just tap out the holes already in the cab for the shoulder belt and put in aftermarket belts....

[Effie_70]

No I haven't yet...you mean the NEW Trailblazer?

[wndsofchng06]

new? I think its cancelled at this point... but yea the one after they ditched the blazer. I had some caddy seats with built in belts but they were a 60-40 bench that was 6 inches to short (width of cab) so it would look dumb. Plus figuring out the wiring harness looked like a nightmare so I sold em'

[toddspeed]

If you're putting in seat(s) with integrated belt attachments, make sure you beef up the mounting to the floor. The OE seat mounts in these old trucks were not designed to carry the additional load of the belt in a crash.

I too am looking to install a better split bench with armrest/console...hopefully something turns up.

[Effie_70]

Thanks for your reply but I have decided to sell the old girl. Look in classifieds listing! Thanks.