Late Model Seats 60 to 66 Chevy Trucks legroom question

[par4tom]

I am looking to install some aftermarket seats or late model Ford or GM seats in my 61 Chevy C10, and I hear a lot of different complaints/comments about leg room, or lack of leg room. I'm looking at the seats with the shoulder belts built in.

Would a few of our friends here on the forum, mind showing their seats and the actual leg room they have? Either a tape measure from the edge of the seat to the dash or a picture of them sitting in the truck along with how tall they are?

A picture is worth a thousand words...

I'm 6-3, 235 lbs and don't want to end up with a "knee sandwich" everytime I take off for a drive...

Thank you Gentleman (and ladies)...
T

[brokenspoke]

I installed late 80's early 90's 60/40 chevy truck seat and a 70's camero steering wheel ....I'm 6 ft and 280 lbs....plenty of leg and belly room

[luvbowties]

...don't have pics, but ones that offer both built-in shoulder/seat belts AND max leg and belly room would prolly be 3rd row seats from Suburbans, Avalanches, Yukons. They come in leather and cloth and seem to be plentiful, including an extra pair I have kept for my growing body--guess which part!!!
Sam

[Clyde65]

I have the newer seats in my 65, I like them, i am a bit bigger than you and I dont have much issue with the knee-wich.

[weinerdog]

I'm in the middle of a 65 c10 and I put a rear seat out of a 05 a Avalanche
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[weinerdog]

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[tincan1966]

The '88-'98 Chev/GMC trucks off bench seats with a thinner back, so you can gain a little more room there. Also, S-10 bucket seats are similiar.

IF you decide to relocate the fuel tank, that helps, as well.

Don't have pics, but in our '65 daily driver project, wemoved the fuel tank, raised the seat 1" which allowed us to move it back almost 3". I also installed the steering column about 2" closer to the dash. I am 6'1" a ROUND 245, so this works good for me. The challenge was to get enough room for me and enough adjustment for my 5'5" 110 lbb daughter!

[verdell]

For what its worth, my brother has a practically new set of '02 silverado seats
that he decided against using in his '65 because of leg room issues and the acutual height of the seat as it sits in the cab.He ended up going with a mid 90's Tahoe rear leather seat... he's 6'2'' 240lbs. My younger brother owns a '71 with early 70's Camaro buckets and it looks good but a bit tight on leg room...he's 6'4" 260 lbs. I went with a '95 silverado split bench with a center armrest in my '60 Apache and I have more leg and head room than both of them..Im 6'3" 245 lbs..I'm really pleased with my choice and both my brothers wish they found the same seat that I have..

[par4tom]

I like the seats with the seatbelts built into the seat...I pulled the gas tank. Just hate to drop $500 to $1000 in a set of late model seats only to find my legs don't fit...

Does anybody have any measurements with the newer seats in a 60 to 66 cab?

T

[70inline6]

Originally Posted by verdell

I went with a '95 silverado split bench with a center armrest in my '60 Apache and I have more leg and head room than both of them..Im 6'3" 245 lbs...

Thanks for the info (6'6" 245 here). Great thread. Let's see some pics and measuring tape.

[verdell]

Originally Posted by 70inline6

Thanks for the info (6'6" 245 here). Great thread. Let's see some pics and measuring tape.

Hope this helps. I have my original column with this aftermarket steering wheel and my tank has been relocated. The seat was mounted so that it reclines a little using the factory lever. It also tilts all the way forward to access the area behind the seat for storage, speakers, etc.

[Bomp]

Im 6'3" 245 and left the stock seat in.
I did do a 5" cab stretch so I don't think my seat answer is valid.

[jesseo]

I asked the same basic question. Check out the great answers I got here as well. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=578306

[bmur66]

I can appreciate your questions. I have a sweet set of all power Denali leather buckets with built in seatbelts sitting in the bed of my '65 GMC project. I paid $800 for them. I also have a new tilt column too that I plan to put where I want. I am committed to using the in cab tank and I am really hoping that it all works together. I just haven't got to the interior yet.
If it doesn't then I'll be looking for a nice bench seat

[rustbucket66]

I have seats out of an 02 Siverado extended cab with no electrical anything in them. The extended cabs and regular cabs allow the seat to fold all the way forward which is nice for access to behind the seat. The 4 door trucks and Suburbans only fold forward a little. Also, with no electric seats, the seat can be moved all the way forward (8-10 inches) in a second by lifting the lever, giving even better access to behind the seat. The gas tank behind the seat is taken out to have some room for storage and speakers. I cut the headrests off, because they stick up too far and hit the back of the cab, and take up a portion of the rear window. I also cut the framing that holds the seat belt thing that is built into the seat, and welded it so it is lowered to flush with the top of the seat. The seat belt thing previously hits the back of the cab on the corner. The headrest and seat belt thing touches the back of the cab long before the back of the seat touches it. By doing this, the seat will go back another inch and a half, which makes quite a difference. The one picture with the masking tape line shows how high the seatbelt thing used to be. I had to cut the upholstery apart to get access, but it is the wrong color and will be reupholstered anyway. With the stock wheel and steering column, these seats might not be the best if you are over six feet and have a bit of a waistline. After sitting in the seat a while with the seat belt on, I will raise it up maybe another inch, but I am really pleased by how much more room it made, and how much cleaner it is without headrests and seat belt opening sticking up so far.

[Thumper's '65]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

I have seats out of an 02 Siverado extended cab with no electrical anything in them. The extended cabs and regular cabs allow the seat to fold all the way forward which is nice for access to behind the seat. The 4 door trucks and Suburbans only fold forward a little. Also, with no electric seats, the seat can be moved all the way forward (8-10 inches) in a second by lifting the lever, giving even better access to behind the seat. The gas tank behind the seat is taken out to have some room for storage and speakers. I cut the headrests off, because they stick up too far and hit the back of the cab, and take up a portion of the rear window. I also cut the framing that holds the seat belt thing that is built into the seat, and welded it so it is lowered to flush with the top of the seat. The seat belt thing previously hits the back of the cab on the corner. The headrest and seat belt thing touches the back of the cab long before the back of the seat touches it. By doing this, the seat will go back another inch and a half, which makes quite a difference. The one picture with the masking tape line shows how high the seatbelt thing used to be. I had to cut the upholstery apart to get access, but it is the wrong color and will be reupholstered anyway. With the stock wheel and steering column, these seats might not be the best if you are over six feet and have a bit of a waistline. After sitting in the seat a while with the seat belt on, I will raise it up maybe another inch, but I am really pleased by how much more room it made, and how much cleaner it is without headrests and seat belt opening sticking up so far.

I have the same seats. Are you using the center jump seat? If so, did you modify the seat bracket or did you use a spacer on the front holes?

[rustbucket66]

I used spacers for under the front mounting brackets. I went to a place called Metal Supermarket that has a big selection that you can buy as little as you need of anything. I used 2 inch aluminum round stock, and had them cut it off I think about 2 1/2 inches. Then drilled a hole through the middle to put the bolt through. I also trimmed some of the bracket off so it didn't stick out so far from the spacer. The spacer can't be too big a diameter because the floor hump is right beside it. It needs to be spaced up in the front so it lines up with the seats, and it makes the fold down console the right height to rest your arm on. Here are some pics of it, and of the fibreglass storage compartment and speaker box I built for behind the seat. I can take a picture of the spacers under the centre section of the seat if you like.

[Thumper's '65]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

I used spacers for under the front mounting brackets. I went to a place called Metal Supermarket that has a big selection that you can buy as little as you need of anything. I used 2 inch aluminum round stock, and had them cut it off I think about 2 1/2 inches. Then drilled a hole through the middle to put the bolt through. I also trimmed some of the bracket off so it didn't stick out so far from the spacer. The spacer can't be too big a diameter because the floor hump is right beside it. It needs to be spaced up in the front so it lines up with the seats, and it makes the fold down console the right height to rest your arm on. Here are some pics of it, and of the fibreglass storage compartment and speaker box I built for behind the seat. I can take a picture of the spacers under the centre section of the seat if you like.

That would be great! Here's a photo of my spacers (3/4" iron pipe):

[hanly2]

Originally Posted by rustbucket66

I used spacers for under the front mounting brackets. I went to a place called Metal Supermarket that has a big selection that you can buy as little as you need of anything. I used 2 inch aluminum round stock, and had them cut it off I think about 2 1/2 inches. Then drilled a hole through the middle to put the bolt through. I also trimmed some of the bracket off so it didn't stick out so far from the spacer. The spacer can't be too big a diameter because the floor hump is right beside it. It needs to be spaced up in the front so it lines up with the seats, and it makes the fold down console the right height to rest your arm on. Here are some pics of it, and of the fibreglass storage compartment and speaker box I built for behind the seat. I can take a picture of the spacers under the centre section of the seat if you like.

Can you please share some pictures of the mounting locations did you use spacers on the back side of the brackets?

[BigDan3131]

6'5" 265 and I plan to keep the stock bench but I'm removing the stock tank and switching to power steering, both of which will give me the added leg room I might want for those extra long trips.

[Clyde65]

Removing the stock tank with a stock seat wont give you any more room, even with MOST swap seats ( I have the power 40/20/40 seats from a 02 Silvi) the removed fuel tank doesnt give you any more room for your legs, it only gives you room for storage.

Just saying....

[bmur66]

Hey Rustbucket. Would you believe I found the matching center jump seat for your bucket seat at the dump last night? Darn near perfect condition. The guy working there told me to take it. I recently sold a set of identical seats to a friend of mine. He is going to be happy when I show him what I found.

[Clyde65]

I love those dude!!!