Hey everyone.

Going to figure out the seating stuff soon and was wondering what people ended up with if they used a bucket style seat. I know I might get, "whatever you're comfortable with" but thought I'd ask.

I'm about 5' 10" and just sitting on objects at certain heights seems like a tight area to use the pedals if the seats are lower.

 

That's a good observation, and has been my experience also. As you lower the seat you start to get scrunched up relative to the pedals.

For me the solution was to get seats that had relatively thin backs and then push them backwards as far as possible. And then furthermore to rework the firewall to push the pedals away from me. But for most folks this is probably excessive. And I'm a bit OCD about ergonomics to be honest.

At least you're thinking about this now, as opposed to after it's all built.

 

I set mine up to match stock height. I fabbed a steel frame to adapt the seat to the original mounting holes in the cab. I figured it's got to be real close if it's at stock height. Worked out fine.

 

I am using bucket seats from a 2003 VW Passat...they have 9 levels of height adjustability...many seats are available that will adjust which makes the installation a lot less critical.

 

What's stock height?

 

Seats I'm looking at dont adjust vertically.

 

Decisions decisions

 

High as you can for comfortable leg room. Low enough so your hair never touches the headliner. I've been in few rides like that and it is annoying. Definitely mock it up to calculate final height.

 

A friend of mine went to the junkyard and picked up some seat mounts from a van, then cut 2" off the bottom at a time until they felt right.

 

I'm doing the same thing. Stock height, at the very front of the seat is approx. 13 inches. However, that is misleading as most newer seats are not nearly as generous in the seating area. I have found about 10 inches, seat bottom to floor, is good.
Buying the buckets you have shown will require some kind of adjustable seat bracket. Speedway sells a universal one that looks pretty good. However, the total height is only 7 inches, (about the same as most modern buckets). You will still need to lift the seat some more. And if you are installing a console, you need to keep its height in mind too.
I am looking at what I am calling a "false floor". Take your lead from some of the examples in the various builds here in the forum. Box tube and heavy sheet steel seem to be the norm. Use the original mounting holes to mount the false floor then build your new floor to match your new seat brackets.
Don't forget, even with the original tank, once you get the seat above the bottom 4 inches, the tank starts to allow for more rearward adjustment.

 

look for an older post from John Niolon as far as I am concerned he has the best idea and a very good idea. He made a seat mount with drawers in them and if he doesn't care I might use his idea. Hope he won't shoot me.