installing aftermarket seats. Weld in or bolt in?

[lyrikz]

Putting a set of seats in my blazer that I had to make custom brackets for. Can I weld in the brackets to the floor or do I have to bolt them in? Is one better then the other.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Best of both... Weld support plates with welded on nuts under the floor so you can bolt them in.

If you ever change your mind you just unbolt them.

[davepl]

For crash safety they should be into the reinforced area, with through-bolts and washers. Wouldn't hurt to weld them too, but I wouldn't go with a weld alone. Unless you're a pro and can x-ray it, or are sure you'll never be in an accident...

[brad_man_72]

Bolt in.. unless you can weld through carpet.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

Bolt in.. unless you can weld through carpet.

Well no carpet.

So a bolt and washer is better then a full weld.
Welp fun fun.

[truckster]

I welded my brackets so they fit my original reinforced mounting points. I used grade 8 hardware to bolt them in.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by truckster

I welded my brackets so they fit my original reinforced mounting points. I used grade 8 hardware to bolt them in.

I plan on tacking them in, then running a bolt through the whole assembly with a plate on the bottom if i can access it..

I will find out tomorrow.

[Grumpy old man]

Don't ever weld seat tracks to the floor with or without bolts . The constant fretting from the seat rocking forward and back will eventually crack/tear the sheet metal and it's just not safe in any type of crash . Bolts and reinforcement plates NOT just a few washers ! are the way to go . You have to remember these are trucks with 50 year old technology and I can't even begin to count the number of people I know of who had serious face/head injuries from just a lap belt and no headrest that WERE installed correctly . Sit in your truck and get belted in then lean forward as far as you can and then you'll understand what I'm saying ! It's also one of the reasons seats were bolted together so they wouldn't fold forward and windshields stopped being gasketed in ,People where getting launched thru the windsheild in a serious crash .My brother in law died sitting at a stop light and was hit from behind ,His face hit the steering wheel and resulted in massive facial injuries and instantaneous death

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretting

This is also why it's better to use real gaskets rather than rtv sealants alone that will eventually leak

I can't stress enough how important these things are . I see guys daily drop their truck and add 1,000's of dollars of suspension work and a 500 hp ls engines and not consider they are bolting all of that to a 50 year old frame that already has the familiar "Chevy twist" then jump into the bench seat with a lap belt and Turn it loose ?

[cypressbog]

I wish this site had a like button like facebook. Grumpy old man is spot-on!

[Mduma72]

Absolutely he is right bolt only.
On an other note can you use bench seat brackets were bucket seats would go hard time finding bucket seat tracks wondering if bench tracks would bolt up. slider not an issue finding electric seats. If any one knows thanks .

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Don't ever weld seat tracks to the floor with or without bolts . The constant fretting from the seat rocking forward and back will eventually crack/tear the sheet metal and it's just not safe in any type of crash . Bolts and reinforcement plates NOT just a few washers ! are the way to go . You have to remember these are trucks with 50 year old technology and I can't even begin to count the number of people I know of who had serious face/head injuries from just a lap belt and no headrest that WERE installed correctly . Sit in your truck and get belted in then lean forward as far as you can and then you'll understand what I'm saying ! It's also one of the reasons seats were bolted together so they wouldn't fold forward and windshields stopped being gasketed in ,People where getting launched thru the windsheild in a serious crash .My brother in law died sitting at a stop light and was hit from behind ,His face hit the steering wheel and resulted in massive facial injuries and instantaneous death

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretting

This is also why it's better to use real gaskets rather than rtv sealants alone that will eventually leak

I can't stress enough how important these things are . I see guys daily drop their truck and add 1,000's of dollars of suspension work and a 500 hp ls engines and not consider they are bolting all of that to a 50 year old frame that already has the familiar "Chevy twist" then jump into the bench seat with a lap belt and Turn it loose ?

I was committed to the weld in and then i got in the truck and moved around a bit. The floor flexes a wee bit. After time that will definitely crack. They are just tacked right now. So im going to run bolts through the bracket/mount and then floor plates under the truck. Only issue i can see with that right now is my rocker box is DIRECTLY under the outside seat mounts. Do i have to cut a hole in that to mount the plates?
I was thinking cutting a hole in the rocker, welding in a plate with nuts, rust protect everything, then refill the hole on the rocker box and call it good. It would be similar to whats on there now, just way bigger nuts and base plate.

Any better ideas?

[Grumpy old man]

If your seat tracks are all the way out to the rockers somethings wrong ? Have you tried closing the doors with the seat in position yet ? what seat are you trying to mount ? Pictures ?

[Mduma72]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

If your seat tracks are all the way out to the rockers somethings wrong ? Have you tried closing the doors with the seat in position yet ? what seat are you trying to mount ? Pictures ?

I'm not sure if your reply was to me or not but was wondering if I can use bench tracks to fit in the spot were bucket seat tracks would fit . Wanting to put bucket seats in thanks

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

If your seat tracks are all the way out to the rockers somethings wrong ? Have you tried closing the doors with the seat in position yet ? what seat are you trying to mount ? Pictures ?

GOM, they are located above the rocker boxes, it's a blazer.
I have to remove the rockers to replace anyways. I will put the seat plates in at that time.

[Grumpy old man]

The distance from the center of the steering wheel should be the same for buckets and a bench seat so they should mount using the outer seat track mounts already in the floor . Easy way to do this with any buckets you want to mount is to take a center line down thru the center of your steering wheel and it should be in the center of your seat that your trying to mount . NOTHING is worse than trying to drive a truck with the drivers bucket seat not centered with the steering wheel .

[truckster]

Originally Posted by truckster

I welded my brackets so they fit my original reinforced mounting points. I used grade 8 hardware to bolt them in.

Maybe I should have been clearer. I fabricated brackets on the seats (that's the welding part) and then bolted those brackets to the original mounting points with grade 8 hardware.

[doo142]

Originally Posted by truckster

Maybe I should have been clearer. I fabricated brackets on the seats (that's the welding part) and then bolted those brackets to the original mounting points with grade 8 hardware.

This is the only way to go, any drilling and plating would be a hack, no insult intented, peace!!

[Mduma72]

Hey thanks. Makes life a lot easer now just get tracks perfect thanks again for the help.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by doo142

This is the only way to go, any drilling and plating would be a hack, no insult intented, peace!!

I am removing my floor panel, installing a new unit and then plating and running new bolts. Safer. Also, the amount of flex in those factory bolt holes now is scary. Stating that running a better mounting system/safer mounting area is hack job is ridiculous.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

The distance from the center of the steering wheel should be the same for buckets and a bench seat so they should mount using the outer seat track mounts already in the floor . Easy way to do this with any buckets you want to mount is to take a center line down thru the center of your steering wheel and it should be in the center of your seat that your trying to mount . NOTHING is worse than trying to drive a truck with the drivers bucket seat not centered with the steering wheel .

Thanks for the advice on not welding. Appreciate the response.