The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors What Seat Do You Recommend?

I have a 55.1 which currently has single seats in it. I would like to go to a bench seat so my wife, daughter and I could all go for a ride.

What bench seats would you recommend?

Thanks,
Chris

Chris, the stock bench is good. You know they fit... And they always look at home in there!

Christian

I like the looks of the stock seat, but for comfort I really like the '48 Chevy sedan front seat in the '51 right now. Nice and cushiony, deeply padded. And the brown roll and pleat naugahyde doesn't hurt either!! It was an easy install, and all of the modifications were made to the seat, not the truck. Of course, I don't know how easy it would be to find a seat like that in your part of the country.

i looking to put a buick lesabre 60/40 bench with console and integrated seat belts it will fit but i have not found one yet. on my list for this year it also electric. another .02 ron

My truck has a split bench seat from a late-70s/early 80s Monte Carlo ... I want to put single seats in, with a console this summer, but the Monte Carlo bench is nice!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am sitting on the fence as to stock or modern.

-Chris

That fence is probably pretty uncomfortable Chris.
If you have moved the gas tank out of the cab then a modern set that folds forward will provide access to that new storage area. If your tank is still there and you have plans to leave it then the stock seat is a good choice but if the mounting frame has been removed for your buckets then you will have a challenge getting it mounted.

The modern buick seat is a good choice but it does not fold forward. The Monte Carlo (G-body) bench is a good choice and can be found pretty easily. Another option is the ford ranger bench seat. Any seat that is 55 inches wide can probably be made to work.

A modern seat may sit too low and may require you to fabricate a riser to attach it to the floor. I would also suggest you run a strip of steel under the cab floor to reinforce the seat to cab bolted connection.

That's it. I have decided the stock seat is the way to go.

Thanks gang.

-Chris

I have stock seat in my 54 but made a small mod to my back cushion to make it fold forward. Break off the three stakes that go down into the pockets at the bottom of the rear seat cushion.They will break off easily at the first spot welds leaving a nice flat area to drill holes for mounting new pieces. Replace ( by bolting in) three strips 9One for each pocket) of 1 inch by 1/8 by 8 inch long steel strips. The strips actuall replace the original stakes and make them longer. Bend the strips as a radius and make a sharp bend on the end like a claw. The strips will go down into the pockets just like before except they now go alot deeper. When the seats rocks forward the strips stay totally in the pockets and the claw end acts as a stop from pullin them out. The upper mounts are still used except I re tapped and use thumb screws for easy removal. Make sure the top loops fit good and snug as they go over the pipe frame. This gives a good tight feel as you slam her back into back position. The seat easily folds forward and I built a shelf on top of my stock gas tank and have gained tons of great storage. A side benefit, you can also put a dog leg bend at the top of the strips and actual reset the angle of the seat to be less straight up and down. I did this and my back enjoys the new angle alot better. This is an easy project with great rewards as well as keeping her stock. I will share photos if someone is interested

Great info..would love to see some pics of that [email protected] a lot

hartmte, could you post pictures or have someome do it for you? i am not very good at abstracts. your project sounds the way to go. i have ordered a new tank for under the bed and would like to make use of the space to end the clutter on the floor of the truck..ron

Sounds a neat trick hartmte. Like shooper I'd love to see pics as I might go that route with my 54. Christian

Pics, send me some pics and I can post them. It sounds like a great mod.

Thanks,
Chris

I will send pics to Chris 1955FirstSeries, he will post, I could not figure out how to attach pics to a post.

Okay gang here are the picture of the modifications that Hartmte forwarded along to me. This is a pretty slick set up that I will explore once I pick up my frame and seat.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/55chevy/Seatforward.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/55chevy/Extensions.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/55chevy/Extensionintoslot.jpg[/img]

Many thanks for the pic hosting Chris. Yup, that's a really nifty way to make some much-needed storage, Hartmte. Elegant simplicity. Nice job. And good to be able to stash stuff out of sight when parked. Or maybe I'll make it a bookshelf so I can pick out something to read when I'm waiting for my wife--she usually runs late :~)... Christian

hartmte, great pictures!!!!!! recieved email and read the post also. thanks ron

That's a sweet setup! Very creative. Looks like a good project for this weekend. Thanks for sharing.

i started on the seats yeaterday the only metal strips i could find was at tractor supply and they were 3/16 not 1/8 works but a little harder to bend. i tried heat but i only have a butane torch. still lke the results so far. thanks for the pictures i would have been lost without them. ron

WOW!!

WOW!!!! slick idea. gotta save that for reference for my '54 pick-up. Marty

old post but good idea about extra seat storage.