73-87 bench designs - how many are there?

[TKCR]

Too bad your clear down in Texas. We need to make a trade, sounds like you need the frame I have, that way your foam & covers will get used. And I would like to have the 81-87 seat.

[3drburb]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the information and detailed pictures in this thread.
Thanks

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by KrazyRay

That C60 seat uses the 67-72 seat tracks because it has a flat floor. If the tracks are good, they are worth a good amount compared to 73-87 tracks. That seat will not work with the 73-76 tracks and you will need to do some fab work for 77-80 and 81-87 tracks to work on it. The medium duty trucks, vans and motorhomes from 73-87 use a lot of "leftover" parts from 67-72. Here's some pictures of 73-76 tracks:

So should that C60 seat be the same or similar to the 67-72 style seat as well? Or should it take a '73-'80 style cover?

[TKCR]

A few more seats. This one is a 74 and it tilts. I will update pics of the frame and foam, once I get them torn down.

[TKCR]

This one is a 67-72. Once I have it torn down, I will update pics of the frame & foam.

[TKCR]

81-87 I got also. It came out of an 84.

[KrazyRay]

Originally Posted by USSkoval

So should that C60 seat be the same or similar to the 67-72 style seat as well? Or should it take a '73-'80 style cover?

If we can see it side to side with a 72 seat, we can verify. A lot of those medium duty trucks used 67-72 parts including seats, seat belts, steering wheels, etc.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by KrazyRay

If we can see it side to side with a 72 seat, we can verify. A lot of those medium duty trucks used 67-72 parts including seats, seat belts, steering wheels, etc.

Side by side view

[54Caddy]

67-68 have a different seat than 69-72. Also both had full foam or poor mans truck foam options as well. 67 68 are only years that fold forward.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

67-68 have a different seat than 69-72. Also both had full foam or poor mans truck foam options as well. 67 68 are only years that fold forward.

Thanks for the info. I did get a positive ID on the seat, it is a 69-70. The seat tracks also were year & seat specific, 67-68 & 69-70 & 71-72.

[TKCR]

Here's the 74, it tilts and it take the 73-76 "shorter" tracks. This is the seat bottom and frame.

[TKCR]

And then the seat back.

[rgunlock]

There is getting to be a nice collection of benches here. I still haven't seen a 77-80 full foam bench, but I assume it exists.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

There is getting to be a nice collection of benches here. I still haven't seen a 77-80 full foam bench, but I assume it exists.

I might be confused on what you mean by "full foam", but these that have all been posted, are full foam.

The previous generation, 67-72, had 2 types of foam. The full foam, which is highly sought after. And then the "poor mans" foam, which is just a sheet of a few inches of foam over springs. The 69-70 seat that I posted, was a poor mans foam. Unfortunately it was too far gone to save. The track were the only thing salvageable from that seat.

[rgunlock]

Mainly just wondering whether they offered both "full foam" and "poor man's foam" all the way through 1980. The 79 bench I have is also the thin foam. I meant that I assume they also had "full foam" through 80 because I doubt they'd do away with the higher end seat.

[USSkoval]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Mainly just wondering whether they offered both "full foam" and "poor man's foam" all the way through 1980. The 79 bench I have is also the thin foam. I meant that I assume they also had "full foam" through 80 because I doubt they'd do away with the higher end seat.

Looking through all the brochures, as late as '80 the base models have front seats described as foam padded. Then going one step up to the Scottsdale, they say it has a "full depth foam" bench and a folding back. The folding back was optional on the Custom Deluxe though.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Here's the 74, it tilts and it take the 73-76 "shorter" tracks. This is the seat bottom and frame.

Dude you need a flow chart. My head is spinning from all the possibilities.

Since you have or have had so many of these 73-87 seats, which do you feel is the most comfortable? I am getting ready to have me 77 seat reupholstered. I also have an 80s seat with the inertia latch. The 77 bench isnt that comfortable so I planned to have the shop form the foam a bit. Do you feel there is a more comfortable option with any stock foam kit?

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

So, my wife found me a bench from a 79 GMC at a pick-n-pull for $50. Totally different from the 1st bench. The back is fixed. It has springs for the bench and just a thin foam that has lips that wrap around the top of the springs. Foam for the back sits in front of the frame, but is formed so that it wraps around the frame at the edges. Pics are after I restored the frame and replaced broken springs.

I think I found a seat that is a match to your 78 GMC. This is the 74 C60, I finally got it torn. It has the thin wrap around foam on the zig zag springs.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Dude you need a flow chart. My head is spinning from all the possibilities.

Since you have or have had so many of these 73-87 seats, which do you feel is the most comfortable? I am getting ready to have me 77 seat reupholstered. I also have an 80s seat with the inertia latch. The 77 bench isnt that comfortable so I planned to have the shop form the foam a bit. Do you feel there is a more comfortable option with any stock foam kit?

I do need to make one. I'm still in the learning stages and since this thread was started, I'm finding out myself that there are actually different styles of seats and tracks. When I have time on a boring rainy day, I will have to sit down and create a flow chart.

I mainly have just restored the 81-87 seats, I have just recently acquired a few 70's seats. But I am getting ready to do a 74 and a 77-80's style, so I will know better after they are done and I sit in them.

[rgunlock]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I think I found a seat that is a match to your 78 GMC. This is the 74 C60, I finally got it torn. It has the thin wrap around foam on the zig zag springs.

Yep, looks just like it. Apparently it is common for the side springs in the seat to break. Mine had 2 broken on the driver side. usa1industries sells the side springs but I didn't see any of the others (didn't need them though), nor have I found the foam for sale.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Yep, looks just like it. Apparently it is common for the side springs in the seat to break. Mine had 2 broken on the driver side. usa1industries sells the side springs but I didn't see any of the others (didn't need them though), nor have I found the foam for sale.

I believe the foam used for this seat is the foam for the 67-72, But I'm not 100% certain of this. USA1 Industries has the bottom only:

http://www.usa1industries.com/1967-6...ttom-only.html

I would call them and ask them if they can show you better pics of it, especially the underside. They are very helpful, I have called and talked to them a lot.

The other option, is to use a big flat piece of foam, and you form it around the edges. Anchor it down with hog rings to the springs on the underside of the frame.

http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...rts/sf119.html

[TKCR]

Do you actually have to have new foam? I reuse most of my foam when I restore my seats. The only time I use NEW FOAM, is when it's beyond repair. You can you a rebuild kit, which will firm it up. And there are several options for that.

http://www.stockinteriors.com/jute.a...=31&ModelId=88

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=74

[rgunlock]

Well, I ended up going with the seat from the 79 that has the springs and thin foam. Mainly because I had the seat cover and haven't run across a full foam seat yet and I'm at a point in my build where I'm ready for a bench. I think it turned out pretty well. It is reasonably comfortable, but you can tell it has the springs particularly when climbing in or out.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Well, I ended up going with the seat from the 79 that has the springs and thin foam. Mainly because I had the seat cover and haven't run across a full foam seat yet and I'm at a point in my build where I'm ready for a bench. I think it turned out pretty well. It is reasonably comfortable, but you can tell it has the springs particularly when climbing in or out.

I like it, it turned out great. Did you get the cover from Classic Industries too?.

Did you have to replace or add any "end support springs"? So far, all the 70's seats I have, need to have these springs. I guess there are supposed to be 3 on each end of the seat.

[rgunlock]

Thanks! Yes the cover is from Classic Industries, and I had to replace 2 of those springs on the driver side.