Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Legolas894 · 09-25-2011, 08:15 PM

I've been looking to replace my old tilting bench seat for some time now as it's shot ont he drivers side. As luck would have it, I found a beautiful bench seat sitting out for the garbage last week. It's in much better shape upholstery-wise and doesn't have that old-chinese-food odor that my current seat has. The only downside is that it's a fixed bench (no pivot).

My questions are-Would you go to a fixed bench? (What am I sacrificing) and can I convert the fixed to the tilt using hardware of the old one.

Thanks in advance.

Shyguy · 09-25-2011, 08:51 PM

Most 68 and all the following years had seats that the backs did not tilt. As long as you stay in the 67-72 years the seats should be a bolt in.

I put a '92 bench seat in a '72 years ago and it fit good, but I did have to drill some additional holes and put plates under the cab to add strength to the floor.

turp mcspray · 09-26-2011, 10:09 AM

They are easily converted so they will tilt. They went to the non tilt as a safety thing.

Legolas894 · 09-26-2011, 07:12 PM

The seat I found is correct for '67-72 and I don't mind just putting it in I just wanted to know if there's an issue later on with getting to the gas tank to replace the sending unit etc. Did they make the seat slide forward more than the tilter? With the in-cab tank, there really wasn't much room and I wondered why they put a tilting seat in when you really can't put much behind the seat.

57larry · 09-26-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

They are easily converted so they will tilt. They went to the non tilt as a safety thing.

how do you make them tilt?

turp mcspray · 09-26-2011, 09:20 PM

Seems like there is a couple of bolts in the side of the upper seat frame. I think I just removed the upper bolt, tilted the seat ahead, and then replaced the bolt while adding a nut to tighten it up against the seat frame, allowing the seat back to rest against it. I did this like 10 plus years ago, so this description is just from memory.

Legolas894 · 09-26-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

Seems like there is a couple of bolts in the side of the upper seat frame. I think I just removed the upper bolt, tilted the seat ahead, and then replaced the bolt while adding a nut to tighten it up against the seat frame, allowing the seat back to rest against it. I did this like 10 plus years ago, so this description is just from memory.

There's an old thread on here where someone recommended cutting a slot on the upper bolt so that it would rest on the bracket when upright but could be tilted forward as there was no stop for the bolt.

If most people have fixed seats, I can install as-is. The uphostery is good and the bracket is completely covered with the vinyl. On my tilt bench, the bracket is exposed.

bigbadchev72 · 09-26-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

Seems like there is a couple of bolts in the side of the upper seat frame. I think I just removed the upper bolt, tilted the seat ahead, and then replaced the bolt while adding a nut to tighten it up against the seat frame, allowing the seat back to rest against it. I did this like 10 plus years ago, so this description is just from memory.

X2 mine is the same way.

57larry · 09-27-2011, 12:15 AM

a pic would help my dumb ---

09-25-2011, 08:15 PM	#1
Legolas894 Chemist under the hood... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada Posts: 617	Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench I've been looking to replace my old tilting bench seat for some time now as it's shot ont he drivers side. As luck would have it, I found a beautiful bench seat sitting out for the garbage last week. It's in much better shape upholstery-wise and doesn't have that old-chinese-food odor that my current seat has. The only downside is that it's a fixed bench (no pivot). My questions are-Would you go to a fixed bench? (What am I sacrificing) and can I convert the fixed to the tilt using hardware of the old one. Thanks in advance. __________________ Current fleet: 2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4 1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8 1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L 2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L Stuff I wish I still had: 2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP] 1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD] 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD} 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD] 1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP) 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]

09-25-2011, 08:51 PM	#2
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench Most 68 and all the following years had seats that the backs did not tilt. As long as you stay in the 67-72 years the seats should be a bolt in. I put a '92 bench seat in a '72 years ago and it fit good, but I did have to drill some additional holes and put plates under the cab to add strength to the floor. __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

09-26-2011, 10:09 AM	#3
turp mcspray Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rapid City South Dakota Posts: 2,359	Re: Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench They are easily converted so they will tilt. They went to the non tilt as a safety thing. __________________ Turp Mcspray New life for an old 2wd, farm blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=505987 My Blazer build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342299

09-26-2011, 07:12 PM	#4
Legolas894 Chemist under the hood... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada Posts: 617	Re: Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench The seat I found is correct for '67-72 and I don't mind just putting it in I just wanted to know if there's an issue later on with getting to the gas tank to replace the sending unit etc. Did they make the seat slide forward more than the tilter? With the in-cab tank, there really wasn't much room and I wondered why they put a tilting seat in when you really can't put much behind the seat. __________________ Current fleet: 2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4 1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8 1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L 2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L Stuff I wish I still had: 2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP] 1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD] 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD} 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD] 1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP) 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]

09-26-2011, 09:20 PM	#6
turp mcspray Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rapid City South Dakota Posts: 2,359	Re: Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench Seems like there is a couple of bolts in the side of the upper seat frame. I think I just removed the upper bolt, tilted the seat ahead, and then replaced the bolt while adding a nut to tighten it up against the seat frame, allowing the seat back to rest against it. I did this like 10 plus years ago, so this description is just from memory. __________________ Turp Mcspray New life for an old 2wd, farm blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=505987 My Blazer build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342299

09-27-2011, 12:15 AM	#9
57larry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,162	Re: Fixed Bench to Tilt Bench a pic would help my dumb ---

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.