47-53 seats???

[jak254]

Building a 50 3100 5 window and need to purchase seats. I am hoping you guys can tell me what you used that worked and looked, great. I do not want to see any head rest above the bottoms of the rear windows. Also, integral 3 way seat belts would be a plus.Buckets or bench are OK.
Any recommendations?
Thanks,
Jeff

[OrrieG]

I used Yukon third row seats for my 59. They are narrow enough they will fit in an AD. My reasons were 1)built in shoulder belt with third lapbelt in middle 2)I built my frame so I could take advantage of pivot and easy removal 3)low enough to not fill the back window except at edges 4)I am relatively small so I do not need big over stuffed seats so I am not crowding the wheel. Here are a photo of seat similar to mine and shot of them in back window. Around post 99 in my build thread is more info on how I mounted them with an adjustable frame.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Those look good in there Patrick. And, by the looks of them, they would probably fit on top of the original AD seat box.

[buildinga55]

I am using a bench out of a 95 full size Chevy pickup. Took the headrests off and it fits really nice.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by buildinga55

I am using a bench out of a 95 full size Chevy pickup. Took the headrests off and it fits really nice.

Is your 55 a 1st series? I thought full size 88-98 pickup seats were too wide.

[britnjc]

no buildinga55 is actually building a 48

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

Those look good in there Patrick. And, by the looks of them, they would probably fit on top of the original AD seat box.

In the photo they are tucked into the 48" space between the wheel wells on a blazer.

[floridasteve]

I have a 49 5 window and bought a set from a full size truck with the seat belts in them. I am 6'2" and 225 lbs. Yes, I fit but they were way to BIG for a normal to larger size guy. They are really stuffed and I felt way to close to the wheel so I sold them. I am in the same boat as you right now. I keep thinking about the seats in my work car. I drive a taurus and they are smaller, buckets that has an arm rest that folds up and down to make a third passenger possible. I also plan on removing the headrests. Possible to use a dakota I think there was a set here on craigslist for 75. They also have the arm rest that moves out of the way. Good luck!

[mr48chev]

Along with the correct width you need to look for a seat with a fairly thin and upright lean back. I think that the seats out of standard cab later model trucks may work better then extended cab seats in that respect. The best fitting and most comfortable seat that I have had in my truck outside of the original seat that a friend in Texas redid for me in 1973 was a 66 Olds Toronado seat. But finding one of those or finding one in good enough condition to use or reupholster would be a real challenge. One reason I am stretching my cab is to be able to use different and more comfortable seats.

[winchster]

I have an original seat, beautifully recovered, and I hate it. Well, today I put a bench out of a full size 88-98 ( I think it is like an '88 or '89, that's what it looks like anyway) in the cab and all the sudden I like my truck again. It fits, I'm not all up in the steering wheel anymore, and it's only too wide if you are overly concerned about a little rubbing on the door panel, but the back fits nicely.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I guess I better pull that seat outa my donor truck. So, you don't have to sit sideways under the steering wheel? That was my big concern.

[Dan Bowles]

We used an 88 full size seat in my son's '54. We just used strap and angle iron to build a frame from the stock seat tracks up to it.

[eventytoo]

A seat out of a Tahoe the 2nd row works good and looks nice iv seen one in a 52 chevy. Or a seat out of a chevy truck 88-94 front bench. I gess if your looking to not pay an upholstery man to recover it that would be the way to go to find one in a u pull yard in good shape. Personal experence I used front leather bucket seats from a tahoe in my 72 chevy. I payed $160 total for the belts two seats and the console from a u pull yard thought that was a steal. If you dont care and get along with your upholstery man you could cut down a 72 chevy truck bench seat like I did and Iv seen a picture of someone else around here did the same thing.

[floridasteve]

Here you go, I just scoured two junkyards to find these seats. They are out of a 96 Olds Cierra. Power tilt but manual forward and reverse. They will get recovered in another material later. I was looking at another set from a taurus that were leather and power. The issues are the thicker the seat the closer you are to the wheel. My wheel is out about 2 inches further than it should be. Thes are much better than the Yucon seats prior. My son said they are too low for him as he is young. I like the feel sitting lower personally. The head rests may or may not come off. Doors clear no problem, headrest is not in the corner windows and only a small bit of the headrest is visible. I may lift them 2 inches or so and go without the headrest. My thought is at 44.50 this is what I look at this board for, help with good alternatives that don't break the bank!

[Dan Bowles]

88 in 54 with hand made mounts.

[Dan Bowles]

We added angle iron side to side and then a strap the goes from the lower side of one up to the center, tacked to the angle, and then back down. Like an upside down V that is VERY open!

No integral seatbelts in this one, though.

[smittys50]

I used olds Cierra seats also. I mounted a flat plate over the original seat base. works great for me & real confortable. I also used the seat belts out of the same car.