The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Bucket Seats UPDATE INSTALLED

Finally found a set of bucket seats like I want. They are out of a '03 Chevy extended cab. Driver side is electric.

I have "pre-fitted" both of them and will bolt them down next week. They are just the right height since they sit on top of the seat riser. I've checked with the insurance company to insure it so after getting the seats bolted in and a day or two for upholstery I can insure it and take it on some shake down runs.

Here are a couple pics

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/PanelSeats002.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/PanelSeats003.jpg

I may finish this thing yet!

Very nice seats Alvin, now you can drive in comfort to Kansas City. They looks to be identical to the seats in my 2003 GMC van. Just curious, where will you mount the shoulder strap bracket? I have mine just behind the door with a big thick flat washer as a backer.

Alvin,the color of those seats are going to look fabulous with your body color.It would be cool to modify the base of the passenger seat to flip forward to access the rear cargo area.Of coarse you would want some type of mechanism to lock it into place while driving.




Tim

Leo, the seat belts/shoulder straps are all contained in the seat. Thats one reason I wanted this style. As for the seats themselves the 1999-2006 bucket seats are all about the same in the Tahoe's,Yukons,suburban's and some GMC and Chevy pickups if bucket seats. I will BOLT them to the floor this week and in doing I will either use BIG washers or maybe a metal strip underneath to give the seats more re-inforcement in case of an accident. I was also able to position them to where I can get the cover's off the "storage areas" under the seats. The driver side is electric and works real good.
I'll let you know how the shake down run goes by the end of next week....I hope.

Will there be any room in the between them, like console room or will it be pretty tight?

Unclebuck, there is a little room but I have not measured it. Probably about 8 inches. I think I mentioned I am not using the old emergency brake but will put a "pull up handle" that I got out of a dodge colt, beside the driver seat. I'll run a cable straight from the cross piece up the center of the panel and come through the floor. My old knee's and legs are not what they use to be so it'll be easier on me.
And, I'm hoping its enough room for my "little short wife" to get between the seats and get me a drink so I don't have to stop and open the back doors!!!
If you need to know precisely I'll measure them tonight. I've left them just "sitting" in the panel to get use to the look and see if I have them "exactly" where I want them...so maybe today I'll bolt them down.

...this may be of interest to some. I moved the seats around to where I like them and I can still put the "covers" in and out that fit on top of the seat riser. Its a good place to store something that you don't need often.

Edit: I'll try get a shot from the back side so you can see more....and to think about it there may not be but about 5 or 6 inches!

Well, the bucket seats are bolted in permanently. I messed with them several days to be sure I had them where I wanted them.

UncleBuck06, there is about 8" at the seat bottoms but only about 6" between the seat backs.

Tim, I never fixed them to flip forward but maybe a project down the road for the passenger side.

Here are a couple pics of them bolted where they go...... I started to bolt them to only the top of the seat riser but decided it was not enough. So, I drilled a hole through the top and bottom and bolted them in using big 2" fender washers under the bottom with 3/8" bolts. Here's the pics....

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Panelseatsect097.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Panelseatsect098.jpg

and a picture from the rear of the panel.
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Panelseatsect099.jpg

A day at the upholstery shop (maybe around Christmas) and install the E-Brake I want to use and I'm ready to put tags on it. Closer and closer.....to a 6 year ending

Oh no,it's a six year beginning !!!!
Great progress !!!!


Tim

Good going Alvin!



Weeds

The more I see of your seats, the better they look. Get those tags, Alvin!

Alvin keep after it as the end is in sight!!
i also used 2001 Chevy bucket seats w internal seat belts and recommend to those modifying front seats. I moved seats back a couple inches to gain leg room travel so rear bracket sits on the steel ledge of the rear floorboard which gives great anchoring point for the seats.

Alvin;

The seats look great. Someday I might put something like that in my Suburban.

Good idea about checking with the insurance company before you proceded. How exactly did you word the question to your insurer?

I never would have thought of that. Makes me wonder what other common modifications should be cleared with the insurance company first.

Just to keep this post about panels, I just put in the "pull up" e-brake handle and have run the wire up through the floor. I need about an hour and I'll be done with it. I'll post some pics later.


Now, about insurance. Larry, first ask and be sure they insure antique vehicles and then tell them you want an agreed upon value for insuring it. If you do not get agreed upon value then if it gets totaled you'll get just a few hundred dollars for it.....that being said they will not insure it unless you have it appraised. I have dealt with State Farm for over 40 years. In my town they had a guy approved by S.F. to do the appraising. Then take a pic of inside, outside, under hood ect for their files....then every 4 or 5 years take some more as an update and give them.

Long story short is I do pay a little more for my coverage but I drive my vehicles when, where and as much as I want to. Here in S.C. I put an antique tag on it and I don't have to pay county taxes, the tag is permanent and I don't pay the $25 a year road use fee. So I put that money toward my insurance which comes out to be about $275 per year. I'm happy. I tried to deal with a few of the antique insurers and finally gave up. Something about it being "modified" or mileage restriction so I just said to heck with it.
I did ask why my 52 panel is about 40 per year more than my 37 and was told its just the way it was listed in their book. Still, with the overall coverage, liability,collison/comp and the values for personal injury to me and others, depending on who is at fault, I feel I'm doing OK and I can look my agent of many years in the eye on most any given day.

Alvin;

Hooah. Thanks for the tips!