Okay all you GUYS tell me what seats will fit in my ole 52.. I have no seat for it and was gonna start looking so I could get it covered and ready for install. HELP!!!
Stock fits pretty well. The frames can be found all over the place. Grab one from that rusting relic in the field and have the cushion rebuilt with good dense foam.
Well... If I was starting all over, I would go with these. They are seats out of a 2000 (?) Chevy truck. The belts are already in them, front to back adjustable, easy bolt down. "All" you have to do is get rid of the mounting base from the original seat. IIRC a van seat fits well too. Just don't remember the year. Actually, there was a similar thread not that far back in time. Good luck with your search.
I find that thicker modern seats tend to take up precious space in these trucks. If you have a 5 window, the high backed seats cover the windows and block the views. As small as these truck cabs are, a bench works out just right. Interior wise, I find it hard to beat what the general did....seats, gauges, trim, etc. Some hotrod interior companies make some really nice bench seats with sculpted foam and thin backs.
Good Seats What Russ said ~ Beware of installing " cool " modern or bucket seats and then never liking driving your truck . Also , never , EVER use seat mounted safety belts unless you want to die horribly in a minor collision .
A bit dramatic don't you think? If they were that dangerous I don't think they would be passing the safety tests done on modern vehicles.
Not really. New trucks have engineered plates that the seat bolts to. Much more substantial than a hole with a big fender washer and a nut. I have seen seatbelts rip out of a 66 Nova, pulling up the floor and depositing my friend's sister into the dash and windsheild. If people installed the seats with the belts similar to the factory mounts, yes they would be safe. When I install seatbelts, I run a strip of flat stock, at least 3/8" across the bottom of the cab (underneath), then bolt all belts through this. The floor may rip up, but the belts won't come out.
So what you are saying isn't "don't use them they'll kill you" its "if you use them reinforce the floor and make a sturdy mount"?
How about they CAN kill you, if not installed correctly. It's up to you to figure out 'correctly'. It's not about over or under dramatic. It's about finding out what is correct BEFORE just thinking that since they're correct in one installation, they're correct in all.
Nothing dramatic, mount the seats and belts however you feel safe. If you trust the safety tests done on modern vehicles then that is the method and safety margin for you.
I strongly believe in over engineering things like this. NEVER anchor seatbelts to the frame, as if the cab tears free from it's mounts you will be cut in half. Check the integrity of the metal in your cab floor.....strong mounts in rotten metal cancel each other out. Lots of rodders don't think about all the engineering that goes into factory parts, just bolt in and go, then wonder why they fail. It is not like we are driving the safest vehicles on the road anyway. This is one reason we tend to be better drivers. I only have lap belts so far.....I will kiss the steering wheel, but I shouldn't fly out of the truck..... Like anything, use a little thought process, especially on safety items. Speaking of, does everyone have a fire extingisher on board?
Thanks Zig looked back and found the ole tread and cked it out looks like a lot of good information. The inside is getting painted this saturday and then we're off getting her put back together after a very long 6 yrs. I am so happy I could cry.... Yeah...
Karen, I was kinda' wondering where you went as we haven't heard much from you lately... Good to see you making progress.
Yeah I was pretty busy working on the ole girl. I got my Brother in law to come over and paint the inside as he paints cars for a living and could do a much better job than I could. It looks awsome the inside painted a gray metalic. The cab to be painted a dark cherry metalic in the next couple weeks when ever he gets some extra time. Still looking for the seat, I wanted to get a bench seat with a pull down arm rest in it. Lots of junk yards around so should hv no problem finding one.
Ya know I'm all about visuals. I am looking forward to seeing how Karen's is turning out, too! Sounds downright awesome! How did you mount your that seat to the cab, Skeeter?
SAFETY , Belts & Seats Nothing is quite so dramatic as working on vehicles after people have DIED IN THEM . That funky looking brown stuff used to be someone's Family Member . never forget that even with the upgraded door latches Russ suggests and everyone likes , these old trucks are 100 % DEATH TRAPS so drive and ride accordingly . Skeeter , your seat looks pretty good . the lower cushion looks a bit thin , does it have ' Z ' springs or just a big block of firm foam in it ? .
