Bucket Seat conversion

[FlaresideGlenn]

I love my Flareside, but I really hate the bench seat. A friend of mine knows of a pair of bucket-style seats from a 1995 Explorer - some people tell me that these seats will bolt right onto the factory tracks in my pickup. Anyone else ever tried this? I can pick up the pair of seats for $150 and they are the same colour as my original bench seat - I'd really be interested in installing them if they will fit. Any input? Thanks, Glenn

[msautry]

I put 94 Explorer seats in my 89 Bronco - not quite a direct bolt-in
(there's a picture of them in my gallery). I'm pretty sure that the same will hold true for your 95. What follows is a compilation of a couple of different responses to people who asked me the same questions -


Explorer seats were pretty straightforward. Pulled the Bronco seats and mounts, used one of the Bronco holes for the Explorer front mounts, and lined up and drilled the rest of the holes. Couple of things are REAL important - you need to bend the front of the Explorer mounts down to match the angle of the Bronco floor pan, and the Bronco needs to be sitting level side to side, That lets you shim up the seat mounts level so there’s no binding on the rails. Then its just 3/8" bolts, nylocks, and fender washers to finish it up. I'm designing some aluminum rails to replace the factory mounts - I'll post photos when I get them done

Check out one of the other replies for installation details on the seats - pretty straight forward. The seats were $250.00 for the pair. I did get another set of switches for both sides - the spares have been a lifesaver. Make sure the electrics and the air pumps for the lumbar and bolsters work. I made up a set of leads and just checked them off my battery there in the parking lot.

Anyway, you're right re: the bolt holes. A couple of things to keep in mind if you want to install Explorer seats. You can either enlarge the front holes on the bracket, or use one of the Bronco holes for the front and drill a new on for the Explorer seat (there's lots of room under the Bronco to work). You will have to drill new holes for the rear's - no way to make it work with the Bronco mounts - I filled the original holes with silicon to keep any moisture out. You will also have to bend the front of the Explorer brackets down a bit to match up with the floor angle on the Bronco. You may also have to shim up one side or the other as the floorboards slope a bit on the Bronco and not on the Explorer.

Keep in mind one other option - if the seat mounts in your Bronco are still good, don't forget that you can unbolt the seat and mount another one to the mounts - regular Explorer seats (with or without power) will bolt up if you drill a couple of new holes in the seat rails or the Bronco brackets.


Sorry it's a little long winded. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me

msautry

[MIkeT150]

I've been contemplating doing a seat converson for some time now and had never thought of explorer seats! Would the explorer seats not be too low. I've got a '94 150 SC and I'd like to ditch the bench quick (but haven't for the last 9 years ). Next question would be about variability in Explorer seats (94- vs 95+). I've been holding out for a good set of seats and center box out of a similar truck but this Explorer idea sounds good - thanks for the insight! And msautry, not long winded at all! Time is appreciated.

Mike
'94 F150 SC 4x4 302

[White_Knight]

Great posts guys!

I'm doing something similar but different.
My '77 is getting a really posh power bench
out of a Cadillac. The black leather was in
mint condition, and all the motors work perfectly
and it dang near fits all the stock mounting holes!

Best of it all, it was free. It was in a garage with
boxes on it- I asked the person holding the
garage sale if it was for sale and to my surprise
they said haul it off. I did- rapidly.

Now, I'm looking for a column for a '73-79 F series
with a floor shifter. It'd be beyond sweet if I could
find one with tilt, but I doubt that'll happen.

Good luck!

white_knight

[2000EXPORT]

.

[2000EXPORT]

Originally posted by msautry
I put 94 Explorer seats in my 89 Bronco - not quite a direct bolt-in
(there's a picture of them in my gallery). I'm pretty sure that the same will hold true for your 95. What follows is a compilation of a couple of different responses to people who asked me the same questions -


Explorer seats were pretty straightforward. Pulled the Bronco seats and mounts, used one of the Bronco holes for the Explorer front mounts, and lined up and drilled the rest of the holes. Couple of things are REAL important - you need to bend the front of the Explorer mounts down to match the angle of the Bronco floor pan, and the Bronco needs to be sitting level side to side, That lets you shim up the seat mounts level so there’s no binding on the rails. Then its just 3/8" bolts, nylocks, and fender washers to finish it up. I'm designing some aluminum rails to replace the factory mounts - I'll post photos when I get them done

Check out one of the other replies for installation details on the seats - pretty straight forward. The seats were $250.00 for the pair. I did get another set of switches for both sides - the spares have been a lifesaver. Make sure the electrics and the air pumps for the lumbar and bolsters work. I made up a set of leads and just checked them off my battery there in the parking lot.

Anyway, you're right re: the bolt holes. A couple of things to keep in mind if you want to install Explorer seats. You can either enlarge the front holes on the bracket, or use one of the Bronco holes for the front and drill a new on for the Explorer seat (there's lots of room under the Bronco to work). You will have to drill new holes for the rear's - no way to make it work with the Bronco mounts - I filled the original holes with silicon to keep any moisture out. You will also have to bend the front of the Explorer brackets down a bit to match up with the floor angle on the Bronco. You may also have to shim up one side or the other as the floorboards slope a bit on the Bronco and not on the Explorer.

Keep in mind one other option - if the seat mounts in your Bronco are still good, don't forget that you can unbolt the seat and mount another one to the mounts - regular Explorer seats (with or without power) will bolt up if you drill a couple of new holes in the seat rails or the Bronco brackets.


Sorry it's a little long winded. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me


You seem pretty knowlegable with your seat swap. Just wondering if you know if I can swap SVT Lightning seats into my 2000 Explorer Sport. Will they fit and if there is alot of modification involved.

Thanks.

msautry