Changing to Bucket seats

[Heavy Evy]

Hey all I'm new to the group and just wanted to say hi with a question to my fellow 67/72 lovers. I have a 71 C20 and I want to put some bucket seats in it but I'am having trouble on which route to go and what kind of seats to use please give me some info,advice and tips on what you all have done with these conversions:ito.

[special-K]

WELCOME!!!You`ve now arrived,lol.

There are three types of (4,sort of) in these years,67/68,69/70,71/72,and utility seats found in Blazers,Panels,and a few rare Suburbans.
The 67/68s have been dubbed "Buddy Buckets".These are the frame-mounted ones with a stowage compartment in the center covered by a fold-up seat and a fold-down back that becomes an arm rest.
The 69/70 buckets were seperate and had a console.The backs have a taper compared to the later version.They all had a saddle-style scroll pattern embossed into them.
The 71/72 buckets had straighter sides on the back.The only difference in construction is the back foam.There is a pleat design with a different scroll design,same console.With both 69/70 & 71/72s there are differences in passenger seat mounting brackets.The trucks and Suburbans are stationary and the Blazers fold forward.The truck seats have no covers on the back and the Blazer/Suburban ones have plastic panels.
There`s more...

[msgross]

Big question is "how much do you want to spend"?

69-72 truck seats usually cost about $350 used (needing recovered)

69-72 blazer seats are a little cheaper,

73+ blazer seats are cheaper yet ($75?)

Buddy buckets are $350+ used...

some guys are even using 2nd and 3rd row newer Tahoe seats with built in seatbelts etc...

[Shyguy]

It really depends on what you want, original or custom. Also it depends on what size the driver is because head room and belly clearance can be a factor if you are going non original.

I bought a set of power bucket/captain seats out of a mini van for $25 that work good for my height of around 5'8" and 200#s. The arm rests can be folded up. My truck is used as a daily/driver farm truck so I was not concerned about the original look at this time.

Here is a picture of them installed I had to drill 3 extra holes per seat and put plates under the cab to strengthen the mounting areas. Hopefully others will post pictures of what they have in the way of seats.

As you can see in the pictures there are some major issues with rust in the floor that I hope to fix this winter when I am not using the truck as much.

Danny

[killer71]

This set came out of a 71. They are original!

[Classic Bowties]

Originally Posted by killer71

This set came out of a 71. They are original!

Killer, if original those look to be out of a 69/70.


Heavy Evy to the board! Here are a few pics to help you Id what to look for if you are planning on going with the original bucket seat look in your 71. The first two pics show a 71/72 truck setup w/separate console and the last two pic show a 67/68 truck buddy bucket setup which has both buckets and stowage compartment mounted atop a full width frame.

[killer71]

yea now that ya say it i think yur right, i believe it was a 70 if memory serves me right!

[Heavy Evy]

Thank you all for the welcome and reply's. I am not looking for the original look though it would be nice im just not doing that right now. Hight and width is my concern, I am a big guy 6'1 280. I looked at some seats of a 96 astro van but the brackets were shot and I don't want to run power stuff I like manual seats. My buddy has some seats out of a honda I was thinking of using with taller brackets also the reason im putting buckets in is to make room for a ratchet floor shifter and Nitrous bottle this is the go fast truck. I know crazy for a 3/4 ton but I will do it!

[ap2002]

i got seats out of a 2006 silverado, very comfortable plus i like that they have the seat belts in them... i have seen a few members use these seats also...

[clos69]

When mine get reupholstered I will be installing a set out of a 2004+ Dodge PU...I am also 6'1" and these fit pretty good when I test fitted them...maybe an inch taller than my original bench seat..http://s451.photobucket.com/albums/q...20chevy%20SWB/

[nvrsatisfied]

i use the seats out of a newer chevy with the seat belt built into the seat (up by the ear). it is a manual seat, with orignal seat brackets no mods. I sat the seat in there adjusted all the way back, marked my holes, drilled threw the cab, ran grade bolts and washers sucked'em down tight and have had no prob. i'm 6'1 240 and have no minor complaints.

[Heavy Evy]

I never thought to look into some dodge seats while I was at the bone yard the other day I just might have to do that tomorrow thanks clos69!

[RUSTY CHEVY]

Can anyone tell me where i can find a set of the 71-72 buckets, console not important, i already have a few.

[gator2511]

You can use many different seats but you will have to do a little mount and reinforcement work. Get some rough measurements for the seat height and the thickness of the seatback that you want. Do a little shopping and start altering them to fit. Here's mine out of a 2005 Caddy suv.



Hardest part was getting the 8 way power to work without a computer.

[Ackattack]

I have seats from a newer tahoe with the seat belts built in also. I just got them test fitted. They fit pretty good.

One thing to consider with these seats. The floor where the bolts go through need to be reinforced. Since the seat belts are built into the seat, the sheet metal floor has to withstand the force from the seat AND the seatbelts, so using bolts and just washers isn't really sufficient. I'm going to make some spreader plates that will go on the underside of the floor to distribute the load caused if I were in an accident. Shouldn't be too hard, but something I wouldn't want to overlook.

[RocketChevy56]

there's a pretty new thread about late model seats by luckyhenriksen, you should look through it if you want to see a few more ideas. I have Infiniti buckets in my truck with full 6 way adjust, lumbar, blah blah. The seats are pretty low-profile so theres plenty of room if your a big guy. I'm just tall-ish. (6'2") If your not looking for power seats, you could probably mount them solid and not hook them up. I would just pick the seat that suits you best and looks good with functionality. I wouldn't worry too much about fitment unless your lookin at 3rd row seats, which are too small. Besides that, everyone here with non-original seats has modified brackets and will be here to help you fab them when you find what you want. Good luck and looking forward to seeing them!!

[hollywood68]

Gator2511, those seats are gorgeous, makes me want to swap my stock recovered bench out right now. So I know exactly what you've got, are those the front seats or a rear bench? Could be a stupid question but you never know...

thanks

[68shortstep]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I'm going to make some spreader plates that will go on the underside of the floor to distribute the load caused if I were in an accident. Shouldn't be too hard, but something I wouldn't want to overlook.

It would seem to me that you'd need a re-inforcing-plate UNDER the floor for the bolts at the back of the seat, and another plate ON TOP OF the floor at the front bolts, to keep the front-loading torque from punching the front of the seats downward thru the (old, rusty & weakened) floor, & landing your face on the steering wheel (or the dash, if you were a passenger) regardless of being seat-belted into the seat.

Either way, I wouldn't want to be involved in a wreck bad enough to need the floor re-inforcing plates ......

But: Hope for the best & plan for the worst.

[gator2511]

Originally Posted by hollywood68

Gator2511, those seats are gorgeous, makes me want to swap my stock recovered bench out right now. So I know exactly what you've got, are those the front seats or a rear bench? Could be a stupid question but you never know...

thanks

Thanks a lot! They are leather 8 way power front bucket seats out of a 2005 Cadillac SRX Crossover. I found them on like page 900 on ebay. The guy had wrecked his Caddy and was selling of some of the parts. I stole them for around $250 for both! I drove down to Palm Beach and picked them up, If you go to my link you will see the 72 truck album and it shows the mount changes I made. I also added some 1/4 inch thick plates to the bottom of the floor board for added strength. I also removed the gas tank from the cab to get the room for the seats. I built a little console to go in between the seats and put a fuel cell in the bed.

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by 68shortstep

It would seem to me that you'd need a re-inforcing-plate UNDER the floor for the bolts at the back of the seat, and another plate ON TOP OF the floor at the front bolts, to keep the front-loading torque from punching the front of the seats downward thru the (old, rusty & weakened) floor, & landing your face on the steering wheel (or the dash, if you were a passenger) regardless of being seat-belted into the seat.

Either way, I wouldn't want to be involved in a wreck bad enough to need the floor re-inforcing plates ......

But: Hope for the best & plan for the worst.

The feet of the seats have a pretty large area, so I don't think a plate on top of the floor will be necessary.

[1969stepside]

jq-72 has a set for sale

[Riveted1]

Originally Posted by Heavy Evy

Thank you all for the welcome and reply's. I am not looking for the original look though it would be nice im just not doing that right now. Hight and width is my concern, I am a big guy 6'1 280.

FWIW, the factory seats leave LOTS of room. I pulled some van seats out of my truck b/c my thighs were in the steering wheel. (I'm 5'8") Put the factory ones in and now I have room for my beer belly to grow!

[chevy29267truck]

Welcome from Florida in my 1967 chevy truck is a bench seat for now i may add bucket seats latter im not sure yet if i do they will be 1967

[eseaton]

[IMG]http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff332/eseaton82-67/Picture028.jpg

[IMG]http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff332/eseaton82-67/Picture030.jpg

These are from an 89 chevy pu made the brackets from some 7in c-channel and am still finishing the console.

[eseaton]

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

sorry got the wrong links