73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Seats and Restraints => Topic started by: 82Shortbed on January 16, 2009, 01:16:57 am
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How easy would it be to swap a 88-98 bodystyle seat into my 82? I found a super clean 96 Model Bench with folding center armrest in tan which i need! Would it be a simple swap?
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I had the seat out of a 93 in my truck it is narrower that the seat in your truck. You will have to use the sliders off of your seat and bolt them to the new seat. You will also have to raise the front of the seat for it to sit level and cut a little off of the slider to keep it from sticking out from under the seat. I will try to post pix of mine.
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This is a seat out of a 93 that was in my truck I replaced it with a seat from a 82.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/013.jpg)
You will use the slider off of your seat and bolt it to the new seat. I also used a piece of flat stock and a small block of steel for a spacer in the front, I had to raise the front 1 and5/8 inches. In the back use the outside threaded hole that is in the seat to bolt the slider to. Then make sure everything is level and drill another hole in the seat frame to bolt the other side of the rear bracket to. At this time I also bolted a piece of flat stock to the treaded hole in the front of the seat frame.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/014.jpg)
Now take the seat and bolt it in the truck to make sure it fits and is centered. Now take the spacer and put it between the slider and the flat stock bolted to the seat frame and mark where it is located on the flat stock and the slider, also mark how much of the upper part of the slider that needs to be cut off (be sure to not cut past the dimples that keep it from sliding apart). Take the seat back out and weld the spacer to the flat stock and the slider, cut off part of the upper, bolt it back to the seat and put it in the truck.
This is the flat stock I used I think it was 1/4 inch. It was something laying around the shop.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/015.jpg)
This is the spacer and how much I cut off the upper.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/017.jpg)
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/016.jpg)
Here it is in the truck.
(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/69byrd/truck006.jpg)
When I finished the seat fit good but it is narrower that the stock seat so that is why I took it out. I hope this helps.
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When you say narrower exactly how much marrower are we talking on each side?
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I dont have the seats here to measure them. It will fit in the truck and it will look fine but when you sit in the truck you can tell it is narrower.
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Probably about 6" If you want a guess.
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That sounds about right. It dont look like its that much narrower but when you sit in it, it feels like one of your butt cheeks is falling off the seat. I had my seat in for 1 summer(it was free) it was ok but I wanted an orginal seat. I am not saying dont put an 88-98 seat in your truck(I liked mine) but I would try to find a good 73-87 seat, I think you would be happier with it.
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I put one in my '80. easy to do in about 20 min. (I was taking my time). Just swapped brackets had to drill 2 holes in the front. it is comfy and looks good. mine doesn't feel or look like it is too narrow. it is very easy to understand when you look at the bottom of both seats side by side.
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You could probably "cheat" a little by offsetting it slighly to the driver's side.
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Ive got late 90s 60/40 in my 79 but was like that when I got it ???