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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
I've always liked the look of factory buckets so I decided to gut the bench seat interior in favor of bucket seats. After no luck trying to track down a decent set of 1970 buckets seats $$$$, I decided to go another route by using my old 1970 bench seat brackets for the drivers seat and some old beat up bucket seats from a 73 and up truck which are cheaper and easier to find. I was pretty happy with the results.
Before & After 1970 C10 Here's what I started with: I found a local guy who had around 10 of these 73 and up seats lying around. Pretty sure they were out of a 1975 truck. Once the brown seat had the nasty cover off there was the little chrome square in the center. Here is the key to making bench seat brackets work on the drivers side bucket seat. 2 simple easy to make brackets |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Here's what the seat frames looked liked after tear down. I doubt GM painted these back in the day judging by the amount of rust that came off of mine. I had to get new back rest springs, they had completely rusted and broke.
and after being sandblasted and powder coated, mocked up in the truck: The passenger side seat brackets I just ordered from ECE (Early Classic Enterprises) They are direct bolt in. Here's a good link for bolt hole locations: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=516328 Restored pic after using the best parts from the 2 consoles I had. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
More to follow....
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Now for the driver' side. As you can see from the pic, the original 1970 bench seat brackets both required some light modification in order to work with the new bracket adaptors. The rear mounts were shortened and flipped "forward" and welded in place. Just use the original bench seat floor bolt holes for the driver's side seat bracket (one closest to the door) New floor holes will have to be drilled for the other bracket (closest to the console).
Pic of what a stock 1970 bench seat bracket looks like: Pretty good write up of the different types of bench seat brackets by year: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=5374820 This what the bracket adaptors look like once bolted to the drivers seat: I had to mess around to get the right height that's what the wood blocks are for and notched the rear bench seat bracket mounts for clearance issues. I also drilled a new bolt hole on the bench seat bracket mount closest to the center console, again for clearance issues. and what it looks like once everything is bolted in place. 5/16 holes were drilled and tapped into the bracket adaptors: Attachment 1276817 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
For my seat foam I contacted a board member Tim aka "Truckseats" awesome guy to deal with. Good' ol made in the USA seat foam:
I should have got my Truckworld seat covers from Truckseats as well but I made the mistake of going with Classic Parts of America. They assured me that they were sending Truckworld covers but they sent me PUI covers instead ![]() PUI Covers (left side) Truckworld Covers (right side) As far as I can tell the scrolling on the Truckworld seat cover is more crisp and they use more stitching where needed. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Final product, clean buckets with no hidden rust on seat frames
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#7 |
VA72C10
![]() Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 25,269
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
nice work!
__________________
Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA. ![]() |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Thanks VA72C10! After this little project I understand why buckets seats and consoles bring in the prices they do.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upland Ca
Posts: 4,143
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Looks very nice.
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1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703 |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Johnson City Tennessee
Posts: 1,188
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
can you tell me how and where you decided to drill your holes in the floor to go from bench to buckets? did u use the existing holes on the outside and then drill where the other ones would go?
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Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend. Members i Have met Earl Slick68 1969 Stepside Build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post4253546 ![]() ![]() |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Pedro River, SE Arizona
Posts: 734
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Lot of planning - lot of work - well done. Looks very nice.
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CCCC 67 Sting Ray Coupe 327 4sp; 68 K10 Suburban 327 4sp; 69 K20 Lifted 383 4sp; 69 C80 Fire Truck 478 V6 5sp/2sp; 69 C20 Longhorn 327 4sp; 70 C30 Wrecker 350 4sp; 70 C30 Flat Bed 350 4sp; 71 C20 LWB 350 4sp; 72 K5 Blazer 350 4sp; 72 C30 Flat Bed Gooseneck Hauler with sleeper 350/TH400; 72 C20 Longhorn 402 4sp; 52 Mack LTL Supercharged Cummins 5sp x 3sp; 01 Dodge 5.9 HO Cummins 6spd; 02 Safari Trek 2430 8.1 Vortec on Workhorse Chassis; 03 Silverado 2500 HD 4wd Duramax/Allison Moved but still in the family 70 C20 Custom Camper 350/TH350; 72 K5 Blazer CST Highlander 350/TH350 Recently sent to new homes 72 C30 MoHome 402 4sp; 72 K5 Blazer Conv 350 4sp; 75 GMC 6000 Aerial 350 w Allison; 72 GMC 3500 Utility 350 4sp; 70 GMC 3500, 350 4sp |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Quote:
For the passenger side just a little correction, it was not direct bolt in. 3 new holes had to be drilled. Only the existing outside front could be used. Here's a good link for bolt hole locations: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=516328 |
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#13 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
You've done something I have only pondered. Thanks for getting out there and doing it so I can see it can be done! That came out great
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Western Canada
Posts: 239
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Hey no worries special K, thought I'd give back a little since this site has helped me out so much already with my truck. Paying $200 for 2 used buckets and 2 consoles was a lot cheaper than the $600 + for used factory originals I was coming across.
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: 505
Posts: 447
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
Looks great!
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'68 SWB Fleetside '98 K1500 Silverado |
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#16 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: NH
Posts: 280
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Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
That is sweet!
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