The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors RPO 264 Unison seat option?

This has to be a very unusual option, I wonder just how many
of them we’ll ever get to see.
dg

I have a beautiful set re-upholstered and ready to go into my pickup (someday).

"Ride Control" seats (optional in pick-up trucks - standard equipment in Chevrolet COE cabs) - 1954/55 Advance-Design trucks

http://www.1954advance-design.com/Documents/SalesBooklet/slides/Page%2032.html

http://www.1954advance-design.com/Documents/EngineeringFeatures/slides/orig_Page25.html

Denny, start looking for a set and they get a whole lot harder to find. I have been involved in a few searches and just as Tim has, have collected a set for myself. I did though get to enjoy them awhile before I took the truck apart for paint. They are incredibly comfortable. The seat back follows the plane of the lower seat cushion that you sit on so that there is no "back rub" with normal bounce and rebound. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but ride on a set and you will appreciate the engineering.

I've only seen them in pictures. I doubt if I could afford the
option even if I could find one of them.
I just ran across some info in my books and was wondering if
anyone had ever seen it. Thought the biggest advantage would
have been the individual adjustment that the driver had over
the passengers.
dg

The benefit was supposed to be comfort. I think they were supposed to be standard in 54 Chevrolet COE trucks but I think I have seen COE's with standard seats. The pass side is not adjustable.

Floating on air . . .

(an air-damper "valve" is in the base, the semi-sealed bottom, of the seat cushion)

and, the seat back moves in "unison" with the seat cushion

When you put the set together, you get a better feel for the design. Think of the lower cushion as two planes separated by springs. There is the plane that supports the lower cushion and the upper plane which you sit on. The seat back is fastened to the upper plane so that when the springs compress, the back moves up and down with it. In essence, when you sink in to the lower cushion, the back follows. On a normal seat, you sink into the lower cushion while the back remains stationary essentially rubbing up and down on your back with every bounce. It really doesn't sound like much until you experience that seat. Then it will all be clear. In my mind, the vent is "fluff".

Rumor has it that the AD Panel truck seats came out of World War II B25 bombers.
They are not very comfortable, I guess you're not hitting to many bumps when your flying in a airplane.
They were engineered for that kind of application.

Hello Everyone, I just acquired a set of unison seats for a 1954 Chevy 3100 RPO 264. It does look like I'm missing one key component and that would be the frame for the passenger side seat cushions and the filler piece for the driver side base.

Could someone help me understand how the passenger side mounts and would a driver front seat for the suburban work as then frame?

Scott

The Factory Assembly Manual has good illustrations. I do not have access to my FAM.

The Unison (Ride-Control) seats/frames are unique - no parts are shared with other seats.

Tim, out of all of the posts and all of the information available on the unison seats no one really talks about how the passenger seat is mounted. I see that the passenger back rest attaches to the rear of the cab with two clips but nothing that indicates how the seat cushion attaches to the floor of the cab ...

Anyone have any photos of the bottom section springs before reupholstering? I need to find make or find a union seat bottom it was removed before I bought the truck.

Good morning Alan,
yes I have pictures of the seat springs before they’re mounted I️ also have pictures of the mounting hardware for the passenger side seat. when you get this message send me an email at [email protected] and I’ll send you some pictures.

Scott

Or you can just attach them here so we can all see what you are talking about ...;) I, for one, am interested in knowing more about the unison seat. But not enough that I want to email you for pictures ... if you know what I mean. Use the full editor and then use the attachment manager link below the text box.

I guess what I'm saying is that Paul and I busted our keisters to get the photos enabled so it would be nice if more of you used it ... just sayin'

Thanks,
John