The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Late model front seats in old trucks?

I've seen several solid-axle trucks in which later model seats (not as thick) had been installed - both with and without the gas tank, but I've never been able to find out exactly which seats they were using.

I'm really tired of having to drive with my legs in a semi-cramped position because the stock seat forces me too far forward (and I ain't fat). If I could get some thinner seats I'm hoping to get at least a couple of inches legroom. I have a rear fuel tank, but I prefer to keep the front tank as well because that gives me an extra 250 miles or so driving range.

Anybody out there installed a later model front seat in an old truck to gain leg-room?

Thanks

Go to the interior forum, see cribb66 post and others. I am using ford astrovan rear buckets in my 62

I used a bench seat from about a '90 or so full size Chevy pickup in my '49. Works great even with the in-cab gas tank. You'll have to a little engineering on the brackets because the seat will be too low. I made some brackets and brought the seat up about 1 to 1 1/2 inches.

Hey, Guys, Thanks!!

Pablos, may I assume the seat width for the '90 or later seats doesn't hang over too far right and left? Any idea what the actual width is? How much leg room did you gain?

Gazim, I'd never thought of Astrovan buckets. I'll have to take a look at that.

Regards,

I"m heading to the junkyard today to find just a seat back that is thinner than the stock one to move my seat back a little. A couple of inches is all I really want.

What I plan to do is look for something with less depth, the same height and same width, door to door, or something that is wider. If it is wider, I can cut out an inch of the metal seat frame and weld it back together.

I plan on pulling the upholstery and welding the upper and lower mount tabs from the original seat to the new seat back and then covering it with the same material the bottom of the seat is covered with.

This way I keep the stock look and only people familiar with the truck might notice that the seat back is thinner.

I've also been playing with the idea of moving my steering box an inch or two forward on the frame, which would move the settering wheel a bit closer to the dash. Havn't made up my mind on that one yet though since I'm also planning on switching to rack and pinion steering once I figure out how.

2000 and newer buick lesabre seats will work and they have built in shoulder belts they come in leather or cloth and a center console. they run about 125.00 here in indiana. ron

Apache Kid,
On my '49 the seat just fits, width wise. It touches the doors, but just barely. The seat is about 57" wide at the widest point. I gained a lot of leg room and also headroom. I have a friend that's about 6'3" and he had plenty of leg room in it. In fact he went out and got one to put in his '51.

Hey, Guys, I freakin' love all the feedback I'm getting!

NM51:
RE: Steering boxes moving forward - I put a mid- 70s steering wheel on my '59 Apache and it gave me considerably more lap room. I'd also rotated the stock steering box/steering column downward a couple of inches just by lengthening two of the three bolt holes a little bit. It worked out great! I didn't have to move the steering box forward at all, and the pitman arm could use moving a little forward anyway.

Thanks again!

Hey Kid: Putting Jeep Cherokee buckets in my 59 Heated to boot!!

popcorn The Truth is Out There (Also I am FAT) Pops

I have a six way power bench seat out of a 76 Monte Carlo that looks like it was made for this truck. I wish I could find a few more for a couple of other trucks that I have,
Scott

Chevy S10 bench seats work pretty well in the AD trucks.

You know, Folks, your rush to assist a fellow enthusiast reminds me of the good old days, when street rodders would do anything to help out a fellow gearhead. Does my heart good!