Bench Seat Question

[Jcbsat]

Thinking about relocating the gas tank to the rear and was wondering about accessing the space behind the seat. I seem to remember that, back in the mid- to late '60s, in all of the trucks we had the seat backs could be moved forward like a bench seat in a 2 door car. This allowed a little extra space for storage. When did the seatbacks change to being rigid and upright?

[Greasey Harley]

'68 was the first year of seats that don't fold forward. '67 seats did fold, although you had to remove a nut, in order to release them. The nuts rarely got reinstalled. I'm not 100% sure if they switched back to folding seats in 73 or 74.

[907debow1234]

I got a 68 and no seat tilt. You can pull the seat out for more working room.

[68c10airstream]

I own a 68 and been exposed to another 68 and bought a complete seat and chassis frame for a trailer project with title from a 68 and all 3 lean forward. The 68 seat/frame deal still had the original cover on the seat, low miles with the bottom cushion only split open. I thought the seats were rigid from 69 and up as i had a 69 c20 in high school and i don't think it leaned forward but not 100 percent sure though.

[RodnRudy]

My 68 C10 has the folding seat back. The frame still has a tin tag with the 68 year stamped on it.

[Zeroman]

From what I have been told is that starting in 1968 the federal government required automobile manufacturers to adhere to certain safety issues in regards to trucks. Prior to 1968 cars had already had certain safety issues addressed.

The big back window in the 68 as compared to the small window in 67 is one example. The seat being non-hinged is another.

I know several people who have removed the second screw from their later seat to make the seat hinge.

To do this you have to have change the upholstery on the seat back to allow for this. The upholstery on a non-hinged seat covers the mounting points of the seat back to the seat bottom.

Some states check things like this during state inspections, some do not, so depending on where you live it might be an issue.