Different bench seat option - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

slow-1 · 07-29-2013, 10:25 AM

I bought a rear seat out of a Chevy/GMC 15 passenger van that I found on CL for $15.

Was able to make some simple brackets to mount it on the original seat tracks with little modification to the new seat and no modification to the original brackets or floor mounting holes.

Its hard to tell in the pictures but the seat does have some green in it so it looks decent and is very comfy.

It is just temporary until I have the original redone.

oklalawnboy · 07-29-2013, 10:55 AM

That looks good in there.

Steve Cole · 07-29-2013, 01:17 PM

Looks good! Can you post a pic from a side view so we can see how it's attached.

slow-1 · 07-29-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Cole

Looks good! Can you post a pic from a side view so we can see how it's attached.

I will tonight...I intended to take pics as I went but failed to do so.
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k_n_browning · 07-29-2013, 05:40 PM

What year van?

slow-1 · 07-29-2013, 07:13 PM

No clue on what year the van was...it wasnt there when I bought the seat but I will look at the seatbelts that were on it to see if they are dated.

But definately modern...from after y2k.
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Tinkermc · 07-29-2013, 08:36 PM

lookin gooood

Dnrice · 07-29-2013, 10:09 PM

That looks great!
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slow-1 · 07-29-2013, 10:51 PM

Thanks for the comments, I am more than pleased with it.

Ok, so I still don't know what year the van was that the seat came out of, but looking at google pictures it seems to be around 2002 or so.

Here are some pics of the brackets we made (my buddy Dave is the head fabricator).

Passenger side.

Passenger side from front.

Drivers side.

slow-1 · 07-29-2013, 11:04 PM

I removed the brackets that came on the "new" seat.

Then Dave cut some sheet metal that reached from the back of the seat frame to the front (the frame on the new seat is several inches deeper that the original).

I mounted the back of the old bracket right to the rear of the new seat frame and the front of the old bracket to the sheet metal I added.

To get the right angle on the seat I had to make spacers for the front of the bracket.

During trial fit, a 2x4 made it sit just slightly too high in the front so Dave cut 4 pieces of iron pipe straight on one end and 10 degrees on the other, about 3 3/8 inches long on the long side...ended up perfect.

Bolted it in and the original sliding bracket works better than ever.

slow-1 · 07-29-2013, 11:10 PM

The "new" seat actually has 4 seat belt positions attached to the seat. If a couple had 2 small kids it would work great, but no way 4 "mature" adults would fit.

And if you used the seat belts attached to the seat, you would have to mount the seat to the floor a lot better than what I did...my seatbelts are hooked to the original anchor points.

**Palf70Step** · 07-30-2013, 05:47 AM

Hmmmm might be time to roam the yards again.

Seat looks good!

Steve Cole · 07-30-2013, 08:38 AM

Looks real nice! Thanks for the good pics showing what you did.

slow-1 · 07-30-2013, 11:37 AM

No problem...drove it to work today...like riding in a Cadillac.

A couple things to consider if you are thinking about trying one of these seats:

1. Look under the seat to make sure the wires underneath that run front to back and hook to the springs in the back, are in good shape, I had to replace a few on mine that had broken.

2. Before you make the spacers, put the seat in and mock it up so it fits you...I set mine up to fit me (6'3) and my son (6'4), we have long legs.

Steve Cole · 07-30-2013, 01:26 PM

Will do, thanks for the tips.

67ChevyRedneck · 07-30-2013, 01:28 PM

Did you gain any leg room? (Is the back of the seat "thinner")

slow-1 · 07-30-2013, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Did you gain any leg room? (Is the back of the seat "thinner")

Maybe...its been so long since I drove the truck I'm not sure. But it is very comfortable and I don't feel cramped at all.

I certainly didn't lose any room.

67ChevyRedneck · 07-30-2013, 05:23 PM

I'm 5'-8" and feel cramped with my stock seat.

slow-1 · 07-30-2013, 11:20 PM

If you put a little less backwards lean on the seat, you could mount the stock tracks more forward on the seat bottom, probably giving you two or three inches more room between you and the steering wheel.

You would just have to build your bracket differently, but as you can see, it was not complicated at all.

I raised the front of the seat more than normal so the distance from the front edge of the seat to the pedals is the same as the distance from my knee to my foot.

I did the same thing with the drivers seat in my RV, raised the front of the seat about an inch making it just right for me.

slow-1 · 08-05-2013, 09:44 AM

I was in my church's van the other day, it was a 2001 and had the exact same seat as what I used...for those asking about year.
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07-29-2013, 10:25 AM	#1
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Different bench seat option I bought a rear seat out of a Chevy/GMC 15 passenger van that I found on CL for $15. Was able to make some simple brackets to mount it on the original seat tracks with little modification to the new seat and no modification to the original brackets or floor mounting holes. Its hard to tell in the pictures but the seat does have some green in it so it looks decent and is very comfy. It is just temporary until I have the original redone. __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

07-29-2013, 10:55 AM	#2
oklalawnboy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Glencoe Alabama Posts: 510	Re: Different bench seat option That looks good in there. __________________ 72 Cheyenne super 10 08 3500 HD 4dr dually 12 ford flex (wifes ride) 76 Monte Carlo 83 Chevy short wide Silverado 96 Mazda Miata, 2000 Allegro Bus

07-29-2013, 01:17 PM	#3
Steve Cole Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Faith,NC Posts: 1,626	Re: Different bench seat option Looks good! Can you post a pic from a side view so we can see how it's attached.

07-29-2013, 05:40 PM	#5
k_n_browning Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: McAlester Olahoma Posts: 114	Re: Different bench seat option What year van?

07-29-2013, 07:13 PM	#6
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option No clue on what year the van was...it wasnt there when I bought the seat but I will look at the seatbelts that were on it to see if they are dated. But definately modern...from after y2k. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

07-29-2013, 08:36 PM	#7
Tinkermc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Farmville, Va Posts: 3,026	Re: Different bench seat option lookin gooood

07-29-2013, 10:09 PM	#8
Dnrice Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Spartanburg SC Posts: 87	Re: Different bench seat option That looks great! Posted via Mobile Device

07-29-2013, 10:51 PM	#9
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option Thanks for the comments, I am more than pleased with it. Ok, so I still don't know what year the van was that the seat came out of, but looking at google pictures it seems to be around 2002 or so. Here are some pics of the brackets we made (my buddy Dave is the head fabricator). Passenger side. Passenger side from front. Drivers side. __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

07-29-2013, 11:04 PM	#10
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option I removed the brackets that came on the "new" seat. Then Dave cut some sheet metal that reached from the back of the seat frame to the front (the frame on the new seat is several inches deeper that the original). I mounted the back of the old bracket right to the rear of the new seat frame and the front of the old bracket to the sheet metal I added. To get the right angle on the seat I had to make spacers for the front of the bracket. During trial fit, a 2x4 made it sit just slightly too high in the front so Dave cut 4 pieces of iron pipe straight on one end and 10 degrees on the other, about 3 3/8 inches long on the long side...ended up perfect. Bolted it in and the original sliding bracket works better than ever. __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

07-29-2013, 11:10 PM	#11
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option The "new" seat actually has 4 seat belt positions attached to the seat. If a couple had 2 small kids it would work great, but no way 4 "mature" adults would fit. And if you used the seat belts attached to the seat, you would have to mount the seat to the floor a lot better than what I did...my seatbelts are hooked to the original anchor points. __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

07-30-2013, 05:47 AM	#12
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,249	Re: Different bench seat option Hmmmm might be time to roam the yards again. Seat looks good! __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

07-30-2013, 08:38 AM	#13
Steve Cole Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Faith,NC Posts: 1,626	Re: Different bench seat option Looks real nice! Thanks for the good pics showing what you did.

07-30-2013, 11:37 AM	#14
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option No problem...drove it to work today...like riding in a Cadillac. A couple things to consider if you are thinking about trying one of these seats: 1. Look under the seat to make sure the wires underneath that run front to back and hook to the springs in the back, are in good shape, I had to replace a few on mine that had broken. 2. Before you make the spacers, put the seat in and mock it up so it fits you...I set mine up to fit me (6'3) and my son (6'4), we have long legs. __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives Last edited by slow-1; 07-30-2013 at 11:43 AM.

07-30-2013, 01:26 PM	#15
Steve Cole Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Faith,NC Posts: 1,626	Re: Different bench seat option Will do, thanks for the tips.

07-30-2013, 01:28 PM	#16
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: Different bench seat option Did you gain any leg room? (Is the back of the seat "thinner") __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!



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07-30-2013, 05:23 PM	#18
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: Different bench seat option I'm 5'-8" and feel cramped with my stock seat. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

07-30-2013, 11:20 PM	#19
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option If you put a little less backwards lean on the seat, you could mount the stock tracks more forward on the seat bottom, probably giving you two or three inches more room between you and the steering wheel. You would just have to build your bracket differently, but as you can see, it was not complicated at all. I raised the front of the seat more than normal so the distance from the front edge of the seat to the pedals is the same as the distance from my knee to my foot. I did the same thing with the drivers seat in my RV, raised the front of the seat about an inch making it just right for me. __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

08-05-2013, 09:44 AM	#20
slow-1 Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 830	Re: Different bench seat option I was in my church's van the other day, it was a 2001 and had the exact same seat as what I used...for those asking about year. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1972 Cheyene C-10 "Ole Green" My Grandfathers truck (early 70's to 1983) My first vehicle (1983) Original 350 (3 rebuilds) 700R4 from Bowtie Overdrives

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