late model seats
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late model seats
I have looked through lots of threads and found that up to 96-97 seats will work in our trucks using the original seat tracks. With that said, I am going to look for seats Saturday and need help before then.
My 73 cab did not have shoulder harnesses. I would like to have them. I have found some Dodge seats that have them built into the seats themselves. Is this the way to go, or some late ford seats and find a way to mount shoulder harnesses to the older pillars?
What have you done or would you do?
Thanks to all for any advise.
Doug
My 73 cab did not have shoulder harnesses. I would like to have them. I have found some Dodge seats that have them built into the seats themselves. Is this the way to go, or some late ford seats and find a way to mount shoulder harnesses to the older pillars?
What have you done or would you do?
Thanks to all for any advise.
Doug
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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From: Costa Mesa, CA
Some of the newer Ford seats also have the belts built into the seat like the dodge ones. While these won't bolt in per say they can be made to fit with some fabrication. Once concern with using seats with belts like this you need to be REALLY sure that the methods used to attach them to the truck are safe and strong. If you get in an accident like this all of the force will be acting on the seat mount - trying to rip it from the truck.
If you mount your belts to the cab (this can be done with a bit of fabrication too) the force is applied to where the belt mounts.
If you mount your belts to the cab (this can be done with a bit of fabrication too) the force is applied to where the belt mounts.
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Thanks
Thanks, I understand the force issues and I am no small guy so I want this to be safe. I was unaware Ford had shoulder belts in the seats. I will look for them too. I was hoping for something that could use my old tracks, but would like electric seats as well. Like I have mentioned in other posts this truck will get lots of cross country miles.
Doug
Doug
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Costa Mesa, CA
It's either gonna be use your old tracks or belts in the seats themsevles. There isn't a combo I know of that fills both requirements.
Personally I'd go for the seats that bolt in and add the bold for the shoulder belt to the truck.
Then again I put 2002 or so full power seats in mine. Lots of fabrication required but I like them. I'm debating on whether or not I will add shoulder belts to the thing.
Personally I'd go for the seats that bolt in and add the bold for the shoulder belt to the truck.
Then again I put 2002 or so full power seats in mine. Lots of fabrication required but I like them. I'm debating on whether or not I will add shoulder belts to the thing.
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I am just getting used to this 73 350 and I didn't think the cab is double skinned for the shoulder bracket. The 62 chev I just finished had the double skin in the cab to thru bolt the shoulder bracket. What fabrication do people do to add that.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 868
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From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
I just put a 2002 seat in my 78, I bolted the 78 factory mounts to the floor, removed the 2002 mounts from the seats, I used 1 inch square tubing and with some mild grinding and fitting, I welded the tubing to the bottom of the seat, put the seat in the truck and got it centered in the truck and set front to rear and then welded the tubing to the 78 seat mounts. This was one of those jobs that took more time to figure out how to do it than it did to actually do it. Took about 2 hours start to finish and well worth it .
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thanks
I just put a 2002 seat in my 78, I bolted the 78 factory mounts to the floor, removed the 2002 mounts from the seats, I used 1 inch square tubing and with some mild grinding and fitting, I welded the tubing to the bottom of the seat, put the seat in the truck and got it centered in the truck and set front to rear and then welded the tubing to the 78 seat mounts. This was one of those jobs that took more time to figure out how to do it than it did to actually do it. Took about 2 hours start to finish and well worth it .
Doug
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
I used a 60/40 with center console, the hardest part was making the seat move forward and back, it took some modifying and bending of the 2002 seat adjustment handle but once you see what you need to do it gets pretty easy. This was a mod that I overthought the process, once I took a step back it was stupidly clear how this could be done easily , fast and right.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Doug,
My seats are out of a 97 F350 and are full 6 way power driver and passenger so I couldnt bolt my tracks to them and retain the power function, the center section bolted directly to the 79 cab the outer passenger and driver sections required a plate bolted to factory floor holes and extended out so the power tracks have a spot to set on, the plates are painted the same as my interior and actually helped me flatten and tighten my carpet kit up when I installed it, the power feature is really nice to raise and lower the seat, I'm quite a bit shorter than my son so that helps me quite a bit this will be my sons truck when I'm all done with it. I also got a great deal on this power set with matching rear super cab seat 280.00 for the set out of a low mile truck
My seats are out of a 97 F350 and are full 6 way power driver and passenger so I couldnt bolt my tracks to them and retain the power function, the center section bolted directly to the 79 cab the outer passenger and driver sections required a plate bolted to factory floor holes and extended out so the power tracks have a spot to set on, the plates are painted the same as my interior and actually helped me flatten and tighten my carpet kit up when I installed it, the power feature is really nice to raise and lower the seat, I'm quite a bit shorter than my son so that helps me quite a bit this will be my sons truck when I'm all done with it. I also got a great deal on this power set with matching rear super cab seat 280.00 for the set out of a low mile truck
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From: Costa Mesa, CA
I've put an '99 or so 60/40 split bench in my '74 (see gallery for pics/write up) and then the '02 or so 40/20/40. Link for a build on that is here.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...t-install.html
As I said - it can be done, it just takes some fabrication. Some people do that more cleanly than others...
As for the "double skinned" cab - depending on year some cabs are - even if they didn't come with shoulder belts.
I've seen guys cut the section out of a cab that had shoulder belts and weld it into a cab that didn't, and then I've also seen guys weld a nut to a 4" x 4" or so plate and weld that to the corner of the cab.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...t-install.html
As I said - it can be done, it just takes some fabrication. Some people do that more cleanly than others...
As for the "double skinned" cab - depending on year some cabs are - even if they didn't come with shoulder belts.
I've seen guys cut the section out of a cab that had shoulder belts and weld it into a cab that didn't, and then I've also seen guys weld a nut to a 4" x 4" or so plate and weld that to the corner of the cab.
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2004 up
I read that 2004 up have the seat belts integrated into the seats. They are hard to reach, but would work. I will look there first and then go back 99-03 seats then to 97 and earlier using shoulder straps added to my pillars. Would really like power, but that is one more thing to break.
Thanks for the price guidance. I will use that if it matters at this junk yard. Never been there and it is 60 miles away.
Doug
Thanks for the price guidance. I will use that if it matters at this junk yard. Never been there and it is 60 miles away.
Doug
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Montgomery, IL
my seats came out of a 200? truck that was in the junkyard. I had to fab up some brackets for mounting them to the floor but as mentioned before, it took longer to properly measure for and then engineer the brackets than it did to get the seats in.
here is a pic of the finished product:
here is a pic of the finished product: