Front Bench in a Blazer?

[GCncsuHD]

I recently picked up a 1969 K5 for my father in law as a project. It was bought as a family project, with the intentions to make a family cruiser to take to the beach, cruise ins, scenic rides, etc. The rear bench is intact, but the front buckets were missing and the original console is beyond trashed. So obviously since "family" was implied, we want to be able to fit the family in the Blazer, so we have considered a front bench seat from a truck.

From what I see it appears a truck bench seat (or Suburban) will fit up front just fine. I have only been able to find one picture of a front bench in a Blazer, I would like to see more. We intend to get one from a 67/68 truck that will still fold forward. For anyone with a front bench, how hard is it to get into the back? We don't intend to put the top on the blazer often at all, so it wouldn't be too hard to lift kids into the back and let adults climb the tire and step over the side we think?

Any pics and suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Oh and the obligatory pics of the K5



The current seating situation


And yes we have our hands full

[red71cheyenne]

Honestly doesn't look that bad! Not sure on how the front bench will mount, but you shouldn't have much difficulty lining up holes with the existing mounts. Chevy seemed to stay pretty standard on them. I'd run to the boneyard and take some measurements off a donor truck seat to see how much you'll have to fab.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by red71cheyenne

Honestly doesn't look that bad! Not sure on how the front bench will mount, but you shouldn't have much difficulty lining up holes with the existing mounts. Chevy seemed to stay pretty standard on them. I'd run to the boneyard and take some measurements off a donor truck seat to see how much you'll have to fab.

I have the seat out of my 67 currently, so after we get the inside of this one cleaned out, I will throw it in there and see how it lines up/fits etc. I was mainly looking for pictures, and experience getting in/out of the backseat with a folding bench. Thanks!

[red71cheyenne]

Sorry, I can't help you on that one. Mine has 2005 Tahoe seats in it and they don't fold, so you have to climb! I do need to figure out a way to flip the passenger forward to make it easier.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by red71cheyenne

Sorry, I can't help you on that one. Mine has 2005 Tahoe seats in it and they don't fold, so you have to climb! I do need to figure out a way to flip the passenger forward to make it easier.

I wouldn't mind seeing pics anyway. We considered putting later model seats in, the seats in my 2001 Silverado were quite comfy, and had plenty of room with the center jump seat, but from everything I've seen they sit noticeably higher than the older seats, and we want the front/rear to match nicely, so that is why we are considering the truck bench. As far as climbing, that is the backup plan, I don't see it being a big issue though, as the top will rarely be on this one

[orangek5]

I have re-upholstred my buckets and I had a bench setting in my jimmy for drive ability and if I remember correctlly it won't bolt across from passenger to drivers buckets outer holes they are to far apart

[1972k5blazer]

I had a 60/40 in my blazer for awhile from a 88 chevy truck it sit perfect i thought in the blazer not to high or to low , both seats slide forward and the seat backs folded up, was nt to bad getting in and out of the rear on the passenger side i couldnt slide it all the way forward cause it hit my twin stick shifter but you could still flip the seat back forward and squeeze through okay, if i had a stock shifter on the transfer case i think there would have been alot of room to slide the seat forward.

[BobbyK]

Front bench doesn't look like was ever a factory option.
The three configurations are here in this page of a blazer brochure.

[turp mcspray]

I ran a bench in my blazer for awhile. Even though the seat folded ahead, it was still a P.I.T.A. to access the back seat area. I went back to buckets after a month or so.

[YBNORML]

My uncle used to have a 70, it had a bench in it when he bought it. I do not remember if the bolt holes lined up but I do remember that it was a major pain to get in and out of the back. It only lasted a couple of weeks and he bought some factory buckets. I am not sure what year the bench was, although it was definitely a 67-72 seat.
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[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by 1972k5blazer

I had a 60/40 in my blazer for awhile from a 88 chevy truck it sit perfect i thought in the blazer not to high or to low , both seats slide forward and the seat backs folded up, was nt to bad getting in and out of the rear on the passenger side i couldnt slide it all the way forward cause it hit my twin stick shifter but you could still flip the seat back forward and squeeze through okay, if i had a stock shifter on the transfer case i think there would have been alot of room to slide the seat forward. Attachment 967356

Attachment 967357

Ah, I remember climbing over those seats as a kid, my dad had a 88 extended cab with the same blue 60/40 bench.

Originally Posted by BobbyK

Front bench doesn't look like was ever a factory option.
The three configurations are here in this page of a blazer brochure.

[IMG]http://images51.fotki.com/v628/photos/2/229137/823271/blazer7-vi.jpg[IMG]

No, the bench was never an option, I am not really concerned with what was available, but rather what we can do to maximize seating space.

Sounds like the bench was a pain to get over, I guess we'll just be climbing over the side worst case scenario.

[BobbyK]

How about a "buddy Bucket".

These pics are from another post.Not my pic's.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by BobbyK

How about a "buddy Bucket".

Buddy buckets would definitely fit the bill for seating space, but they may be hard to find/cost prohibitive.

[SAVAGE-RIDER]

Hey buddy, Love your one ton dually.

I realize it may not be the proper thread to ask you, however its the most recent.

I was just wondering what aftermarket rims you had put on that dually? Looks sweet ass and I'm wanting to find a set for me.

[1972CST]

I was considering putting the 1996-98 40/60 split seat out of a truck in mine. You can also get the 3rd row seat out of a burb of the same year and you are golden! Great looking seats that match, can be found easily and wont cost a fortune.

[viking427]

Originally Posted by 1972CST

I was considering putting the 1996-98 40/60 split seat out of a truck in mine. You can also get the 3rd row seat out of a burb of the same year and you are golden! Great looking seats that match, can be found easily and wont cost a fortune.

40/20/40 seats like these, that "tilt & slide" (preferrably in one motion) are a good option, normally found in extended cab 2 dr. pickups. Removable headrests to keep the period look are a bonus too. Late model (2005+) Dodge Rams have them with upper & lower center seat storage as well. Buddy buckets look great and some of them have seat backs that tilt fwd (2 pc seat), but you'll need to rig up a way to lock/unlock the center backrest to/from the upright position, since they were designed to flop back against the cab body in the old 2 dr pickups.

[raggedjim]

There was at least one of them! This is from a review in Popular Mechanics (or maybe Popular Science) in late 1968.

This may have been an early prototype.

Rg

[YBNORML]

Learn something new everyday on this site!!
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[raggedjim]

[quote=YBNORML;5580212]Learn something new everyday on this site!!
quote]

Whether you want to or not!

Rg

[truckster]

Originally Posted by 1972CST

I was considering putting the 1996-98 40/60 split seat out of a truck in mine. You can also get the 3rd row seat out of a burb of the same year and you are golden! Great looking seats that match, can be found easily and wont cost a fortune.

Hey, that Blazer looks familiar!

I was in the wrecking yard today and I think I'm going to go back and get a set of seats from a mid-90s Suburban. The middle seat has a latch that lets it fold down to the floor and the rear is just the right width for my Blazer. The seats you see in the pic came out of an extended cab, so the passenger side folds and slides, but it's only about 4-6 inches, which still isn't too convenient with the roll bar when the top is on. Besides, the seats are getting pretty worn, and I'd like to get something newer.