Homemade Bucket Seats

[outlaw70nova]

I am currently building an '82 GMC. I wanted bucket seats but couldn't find anything that I liked. I didn't want anything, even a headrest, sticking up into the back window. Blazer seats were an option but the whole forward tilt mechanism seemed more trouble than they were worth. Wanting to stay with a factory look I came up with the great idea of making my own. Since I had a pair of bench seats out of an '87 and my '82, I cut them down and made buckets. As soon as I figure out how to reduce the photo sizes I'll post some pics.

[slammed79]

Do you have Microsoft Photo Editor? That's the easiest way I know of to reduce pic sizes. Or get a photobucket account, you can link the images to the forum.

[outlaw70nova]

Figured it out I think. Here is the bucket seat from the '82.

[outlaw70nova]

Here they are stripped and ready to cut down.

[outlaw70nova]

I cut 36 1/4'' out of the centers. I used a metal chop saw to cut them and maintain a nice smooth edge for refitting.

[outlaw70nova]

Ready to weld back together...

[outlaw70nova]

Presto! Bucket Seats!

[outlaw70nova]

Had them powder coated.

[outlaw70nova]

Do you have Microsoft Photo Editor? That's the easiest way I know of to reduce pic sizes. Or get a photobucket account, you can link the images to the forum.

Thank you! That's what I used.

[Captkaos]

Interesting project, very inspiring.  What are you going to use for foam?

BTW, if you use 1967-1977 buckets, with the 73-81 (hard to find) or the 84-91 Suburban brackets, you can make them work.

[outlaw70nova]

Thanks. I used the original foam out of the '82 and just cut it down to fit. It was in perfect shape. I addded 1'' of foam under the seat cushions to give it a little extra firmness. I had them covered in black cloth / vinyl just like a factory bench seat. I used the original seat tracks from the bench seats to mount them. I just drilled a hole in the floor for the rear inside track mounting bolt. I had to fabricate a small spacer / bracket for the front of the inside seat rail.

[outlaw70nova]

Here are pictures of the brackets / spacers that I had to make for the front of the inside seat track

[outlaw70nova]

I didn't get pictures after they were upholstered but here they are installed in the truck.

[thirsty]

Those look nice!

[audrima]

vary nice, looks factory :>