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-   -   Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=655950)

Beaumont@ 07-11-2014 09:21 PM

Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
5 Attachment(s)
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

Attachment 1347677

Attachment 1347678
Attachment 1347679

Here's what I started with:
Attachment 1347680

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
Attachment 1347681

Beaumont@ 07-11-2014 09:45 PM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
3 Attachment(s)
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.
Attachment 1347682

and after being sandblasted and powder coated, mocked up in the truck:
Attachment 1347683

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.
Attachment 1347684

Beaumont@ 07-11-2014 09:47 PM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
More to follow....

Beaumont@ 07-12-2014 12:21 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
5 Attachment(s)
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).
Attachment 1347685

Pic of what a stock 1970 bench seat bracket looks like:
Attachment 1347686

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:
Attachment 1347687

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.
Attachment 1347688

and what it looks like once everything is bolted in place. 5/16 holes were drilled and tapped into the bracket adaptors:
Attachment 1276817

Beaumont@ 07-12-2014 01:31 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
5 Attachment(s)
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:
Attachment 1347690

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 :smoke:. Anyways after they tried to deny it I provided them a transcript of the conversation I had with the salesman when I ordered them online. So they finally agreed to take them back and send me the correct Truckworld seats covers. It took 4 months all said to finally get them but it was worth it. It also allowed me to compare both the PUI cover and Truckworld covers. Glad I held out.

PUI Covers (left side) Truckworld Covers (right side)
Attachment 1347691Attachment 1347693
Attachment 1347694Attachment 1347692

As far as I can tell the scrolling on the Truckworld seat cover is more crisp and they use more stitching where needed.

Beaumont@ 07-12-2014 01:36 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
2 Attachment(s)
Final product, clean buckets with no hidden rust on seat frames
Attachment 1347695
Attachment 1347696

VA72C10 07-12-2014 01:52 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
nice work!

Beaumont@ 07-12-2014 02:00 AM

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.

Lee H 07-12-2014 09:19 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
Looks very nice.

1969stepside 07-13-2014 12:25 AM

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?

CCCC 07-13-2014 01:02 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
Lot of planning - lot of work - well done. Looks very nice.

Beaumont@ 07-13-2014 05:55 PM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 1969stepside (Post 6758693)
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?

It wasn't bad at all. I just used the existing driver's side bench seat bracket holes. I had to drill 4 new holes for the drivers side bracket closest to the console. It was easy enough with the other bracket to reference from.
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

special-K 07-14-2014 10:22 AM

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

Beaumont@ 07-15-2014 10:45 PM

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.

tommyd241 07-16-2014 12:32 AM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
Looks great!

JonnyC10 07-17-2014 11:11 PM

Re: Bucket seat conversion using bench seat brackets how to
 
That is sweet!


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