I stumbled across an easy seat swap for my 78 Supercab. I have 4 children so the two little jump seats just weren't going to cut it. I did a little research, mostly here, and I was certain that I was on my own as far as finding a solution.

My father-in-law had a 1986 ford extended cab truck that he was parting out that had really nice seats in it. I decided to give the swap a try, thinking I would be fabricating brackets, mounts, and drilling new holes to mount the seats to. The price was right, and the trucks were in the same yard, so we got to work.

Pulled the seats out of the two trucks, and started on the rear seat mounting first. I was in a hurry and didn't want to cut the vinyl floor out of the 78 till I knew exactly what to cut so we placed the seat back in place on top of the vinyl and traced where to cut. My father-in-law recommended that I center punch the bolt hole locations right through the vinyl. Imagine my surprise when the center punch went through the floor. Pulled up the vinyl and there were the holes, threaded, for mounting the seat back. Piece of cake!

Then it was time for the seat bottom. Same story. Only trouble was that the seat bottom rotates 180 degrees on it's mount so that you have a hard surface to act as the bottom when the seat is folded. This is nice, but it would lay on the floor, which meant the back of the seat bottom was well below the bottom of the seat back. I fabricated an angle iron seat bottom rest that bolted to the old jump seat holes to support the seat bottom and the rear seat was done. It even folds down and works just like it did in the 86 Ford. The only trouble is that the seat back is 1.5" lower that is should be, but that will be fixed with a couple of spacers that I'll fabricate in the next couple of weeks.

I installed the front seat out of the same pickup as well. The seat that was in the 78 when I purchased it was in terrible shape, and it wasn't a split bench. The front seat required drilling 4 new mount holes but it was a fast install as well. Here's some pictures, and I hope it helps someone out.

 

nice work, but I'm confused. I've had 2 supercabs with the little jump seats and one with a bench like yours,, all factory. That's why all the holes were there. Did you not know they came with either? or am I missing something?

 

Nope....I didn't know, and was quite surprised to find the holes where they needed to be.

 

Super Cabs came with either jump seats or full width seat. Try sitting back there on the bench seat, you...not your kiddies.

People complained from the get-go that the rear bench seat was too low. Some people were so crunched, that their knees were inches from their chests.

So Ford came out with the "Hi-Setter Kit" as a dealer installed accessory, raised the rear seat 4 inches. At the same time Ford came out with a lockable: tool box and a gun safe (I kid you not). Both fit under the bench seat.

It was a different time back then, I doubt Ford will offer a gun safe any time soon. Ever see a Super Cab w/a power rear window? Ford offered this kit at one time, also.

It's not like the new piles (like the tub in my sig pic) that power slide back and forth, the glass was on rails, went up and down.

 

ahh, cool beans. I like my rear bench and am making it into a speaker box/seat. I kept a set of the jump seats too for an in bed seat project.

 

Agree, nice work, the raised seat makes all the diff even for the kids, I pack (3) 8-10 year olds in the back all the time and another (2) up front! Got to admit it is cool when all the kids want to go in the "old" truck and yeah you are right different time but I am thinking about a gun rack for the back window just to keep 'em guessing!

 

I love having the bench in my 77 supercab. Most of the time its down flat so I can put "stuff" in the back. When I was a little one I used to sit back there on cross country trips with no problem. I dont think I could sit back there now for that long.......

 

Hey Snowymountainman, Could you PM me a pic or 2 of the mounting brackets and latch for the back part of the seat? If you could, thatd be great. Im wantin to put in a folding rear bench in mine, someone before me put some weird not optional bench in the back. Looks homemade to me.

 

Anyone got a picture of the 4" riser kit parts?

 

I remember that. A friend of mines dad had that installed when he bought his truck way-back-when. Never really thought anything about it, not like today that's for sure.

 

I've got a rear bench in my Supercab and I agree that it sits too low! The riser kit is a really good idea! I think I'm gonna fab up my own. As for front seats I have some lightning buckets! They were in the truck when I bought it. I really like them, they are really comfortable but the take away space from the rear bench. Ill post pics soon.

 

Could you send me instructions and a picture on how you mounted the rear bracket for the back part of the rear seat? I have a 77 supercab and want to install the same rear bench seat. Thanks. Email address is gustavog2006@icloud.com

Thank you in advance!

 

Any information on these Part# pics and so forth! be curious to see them.

 

So now what, I just got a 2008 V10 Cargo to make a camper van and when I saw GriffenF post about Sienna seats I thought it was a gift from heaven as I've been trying to figure out where to go....then i went to Base Fab site and poof, I'm too late to the party. Any other sources that you guys know of for Sienna to Ford seats, bases etc. Thanks

Steve

Base Fab

Attention: Due to recent changes to our business, effective immediately, we will be moving to wholesale only distribution. Our adapter products for Scheel-Mann seats will now be sold directly through Scheel-Mann.

Additionally, Sienna seats have become increasingly difficult to source, causing prices to skyrocket. We no longer feel that producing adapters for these seats is worth the time commitments and costs so the following products will no longer be available:
-Sienna universal short mounting bases
-Sienna universal tall mounting bases
-E-Series van front seat adapters for Sienna seats.
We have also discontinued sales of L-track kits and hardware.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

 

great info. thanks for the help