I was just wondering...
I have a 15 passenger van with bench seats, I took all but the first bench out (now a 5 passenger). But was wondering if there are other seats that would work with the existing mounting points?

If you have pictures or links, please share.

thanks.

 

Any ideas what you'd hope to acheive in the end?

I'm guessing your removed seats are the bench type, each seating 2 or 3 people each with just two mounting legs located outboard of the seat frame?

 

I was thinking some sort of OE bucket seats and yes I had the OE bench seats with the legs on the ends.

 

Don't have 2000 Econoline sales brochure, but do have 1999 & 2001. They both show FORD's 12 & 15 passenger seating configuration for extended Club Wagons. That is, 2 front buckets followed by either 3 or 4 rows of bench seats. For 12 passengers that's a pair of 3 passenger bench seats & a 4 passenger bench behind them, leaving a cargo area. For 15 passengers, three 3 passenger bench seats & a 4 passenger bench at rear, in each case shorter 3 passenger benches provide aisle on right side.

To replace OE bench seats w/"some sort of OE buckets" you would need to install the correct/matching OE "mounting points". Since '92 each bucket has a special wide "quick-release" floor bracket. You may be lucky & find floor is already reinforced underneath to accept 2nd row buckets, making it easy to add the dedicated brackets. If you need more buckets behind you'd want to fabricate reinforcements to attach bucket seat brackets, b/c the floor alone is thin for the task. Alternatively you could use front buckets & deal w/nonrelease pedestals.

If you look underneath you'll find it's hard to even see where the seat bracket bolts are b/c of components mounted in the way. Not NHTSA/DOT standard, but you could spread the load via plates on top of floor & wink at seat belts.

Recently saw pics of Club Wagon for sale w/all bucket seats & aisle in center all the way back. Five rows of 2 bucket seats makes a 10 passenger, or 4 rows 8 passenger & easy enough to do. Presume it was custom, never saw this configuration from FORD.

 

Flex Steel makes a lot of replacement seats, no doubt the larger converters have other sources too but they'd be someone to consult (online) about their recommended installation parts and/or techinques. Potential passenger injury liability will have driven them to at least equal OEM seat mounting strengths in collisions of course that's assuming seat belt attachment points are reinforced as would be tyical in your Club Wagon version.

You might look under the front seats for an idea what Ford has done and perhaps replicate it? The floors thin sheet metal would be prone to ripping apart in a collision which is NOT what you want!

Hope this starts you in the right direction!

 

IHMO Bbasso is going "in the right direction" by "thinking some sort of OE bucket seats...seats that would work with the existing mounting points". Sticking w/FORD's unique "quick-release" floor brackets & XLT or Chateau seats is the way to go. He can find/install bucket seats matching OE front seats by emulating how FORD mounts seats.

While "Potential passenger injury liability" might've "driven" makers of conversion van seats, I've yet to see any "replacement seats" that can equal FORD stock seats for strength or durability.

IHMO posting "larger converters" seats "at least equal OEM seat mounting strengths" implies general superiority to OE, which defies a lot of evidence. Some conversion seats are so poorly mounted it's as if there were no NHTSA/DOT standards, especially many common swivel mounts. Trying to adapt FORD "quick-release" seats to random converter's seat "installation parts and/or techinques" may be a losing proposition.

IHMO conversion company profits are in part due to installing cheap seats of inferior quality in cargo vans. Have seen lots of conversion seats that felt flimsy, were mounted wobbly & wearing out fast. Never saw conversion seats I'd prefer over XLT/Chateau seats. Make no mistake, FORD's "seat mounting strengths" are tough to equal.

I'm assuming OE seat belt buckle attachments points that are integral parts of the seats themselves & matching OE 'wall' mounted belt retractors "as would be tyical in your Club Wagon version" & not found in cargo vans most converters typically start with.

 

I was thinking if I could find seats like this...

 

Yup, "seats like this..." are what I was talking about too.

They require their own "quick-release" brackets bolted on floor, which are different than those for bench seats.

Note that there are leather Captain's Chairs "like this".

Not sure if the simpler XL front Bucket Seats, even vinyl cargo van seats, might bolt on to "quick-release" seat bases. Also the earlier '92-'99 see thru headrest style seats might be used.

 

So in simple terms...
I'd have to buy everything and drill additional holes.

Ok, got it and not very important As I don't sit in the other seats

thank you.