Bucket Seat Mounting - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

drummin89 · 09-03-2008, 12:18 PM

Don't know if this is the right place, I guess since I don't see a Interior forum this is the place, but anyways I was wondering, If you put in bucket seats/captains chairs/whatever, how did you mount them. Did cut out that metal frame thing that the stock seat frame bolts to or did you leave it. If you bolted them down to the floor, how and where did you strengthen the floor. Did you cut out the drain pan (as I call it) on the floor thats under the stock seat. Pics are always a plus. Im just trying to get an idea of which is the best way to go about this.

Im asking because Im looking for ideas, ways to mount bucket seats in my 52. Currently I have a cheap set of captains chairs out of a ford windstar for the time being until I find a nice set of seats to go in. For now I just bolted down 4 pieces of c channel to the metal frame (not the stock seat frame) and then bolt the seats down to the c channel.

Thanks!

mr48chev · 09-03-2008, 01:16 PM

I took that frame out of my truck years ago and I think most guys who don't use the stock seats do.

If the truck isn't chopped it is hard to beat the comfort of a well upholstered stock seat as far as I am concerned. I had that setup when I first put the truck together in 1973 and after Bobby Russel of Waco Tx redid the seat one could put a lot of miles on it in relative comfort.

My favorite seat after I chopped the truck was a 67/68 Olds Toranado That fit the truck well and looked pretty good in it. The seat backs were thin enough to let the seat go way back and give decent leg room. I had it mounted on some square or rectangular tubing or channel if memory serves right.

I keep eyeballing the front seats in my Dodge Mini Ram van. They came out of a late 80's early 90's Dodge Mini van and are captains chair style with a base that bolts to the floor flat with four bolts. The passenger side has a stash drawer that slides out so you can keep some stuff out of sight easily.
They would be easy to build a decent looking base for if the stock bases didn't fit right. Also they have thin backs with the back side pretty straight up and down.

joeys66pickup · 09-03-2008, 02:15 PM

sorry to get off topic, but what are you guys using for buckets? the bench in my 66' is to wide for my 57' so i was thinking factory buckets out of a CST or something short like those and along those lines of cheapness(i just dont want the seats you see in EVERY honda civic)

mr48chev · 09-03-2008, 11:05 PM

Those will probably look the best or some low back van or minivan buckets.
I have an ugly set of captains chairs in my 71 GMC simply because I had them and they were in fair shape.

All I would suggest is try to find a set of seats that tend to look like they belong in the truck and not something that is too small or too tall.

My 48 is what you call a "reacher" in that it will be set up to be able to make miles on the highway to places and events several hundred miles away in relative comfort for a 48 Chev pickup that is chopped 4 inches and sits just above the scrub line with no air bags. I don't get to make many events anymore but often the ones I really want to go to are several hundred miles away. I don't want to crawl out of the truck all done in when I get there so really good and comfortable seats are a must

09-03-2008, 12:18 PM	#1
drummin89 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wapwallopen Pa Posts: 412	Bucket Seat Mounting Don't know if this is the right place, I guess since I don't see a Interior forum this is the place, but anyways I was wondering, If you put in bucket seats/captains chairs/whatever, how did you mount them. Did cut out that metal frame thing that the stock seat frame bolts to or did you leave it. If you bolted them down to the floor, how and where did you strengthen the floor. Did you cut out the drain pan (as I call it) on the floor thats under the stock seat. Pics are always a plus. Im just trying to get an idea of which is the best way to go about this. Im asking because Im looking for ideas, ways to mount bucket seats in my 52. Currently I have a cheap set of captains chairs out of a ford windstar for the time being until I find a nice set of seats to go in. For now I just bolted down 4 pieces of c channel to the metal frame (not the stock seat frame) and then bolt the seats down to the c channel. Thanks! __________________ Chris 52 Chevy 3600 (3/4 ton) 5 window pickup -54 235 Inline 6 w/ Fuel Injection Conversion -Clifford 2/4bbl Aluminum Intake and Headers -1/2 ton front axle swap w/ 5lug disc brake kit -CPP Power Steering Kit Various pictures of my 52 Chevy 3600

09-03-2008, 01:16 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,314	Re: Bucket Seat Mounting I took that frame out of my truck years ago and I think most guys who don't use the stock seats do. If the truck isn't chopped it is hard to beat the comfort of a well upholstered stock seat as far as I am concerned. I had that setup when I first put the truck together in 1973 and after Bobby Russel of Waco Tx redid the seat one could put a lot of miles on it in relative comfort. My favorite seat after I chopped the truck was a 67/68 Olds Toranado That fit the truck well and looked pretty good in it. The seat backs were thin enough to let the seat go way back and give decent leg room. I had it mounted on some square or rectangular tubing or channel if memory serves right. I keep eyeballing the front seats in my Dodge Mini Ram van. They came out of a late 80's early 90's Dodge Mini van and are captains chair style with a base that bolts to the floor flat with four bolts. The passenger side has a stash drawer that slides out so you can keep some stuff out of sight easily. They would be easy to build a decent looking base for if the stock bases didn't fit right. Also they have thin backs with the back side pretty straight up and down.

09-03-2008, 02:15 PM	#3
joeys66pickup Dr. Frankenstein Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: beaverton,Or Posts: 458	Re: Bucket Seat Mounting sorry to get off topic, but what are you guys using for buckets? the bench in my 66' is to wide for my 57' so i was thinking factory buckets out of a CST or something short like those and along those lines of cheapness(i just dont want the seats you see in EVERY honda civic) __________________ I Wanna Go Fast!!

09-03-2008, 11:05 PM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,314	Re: Bucket Seat Mounting Those will probably look the best or some low back van or minivan buckets. I have an ugly set of captains chairs in my 71 GMC simply because I had them and they were in fair shape. All I would suggest is try to find a set of seats that tend to look like they belong in the truck and not something that is too small or too tall. My 48 is what you call a "reacher" in that it will be set up to be able to make miles on the highway to places and events several hundred miles away in relative comfort for a 48 Chev pickup that is chopped 4 inches and sits just above the scrub line with no air bags. I don't get to make many events anymore but often the ones I really want to go to are several hundred miles away. I don't want to crawl out of the truck all done in when I get there so really good and comfortable seats are a must



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