seat swap
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New User
Joined: Oct 2013
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seat swap
hi everyone. i am new to the site. need some opinions and help for a seat swap of a 1983 ford f100 from old bench to bucket seats. i have some seat out of a geo prism i believe it is, looks the same as the toyota corolla. they sit really low in the cab as compared to the bench seat. not sure if this is a good set of seats to use since the geo seats are low to the floorboard. any ideas and opinions are much appreciated. i can take pics and whatever i need to do to help others understand what i am doing so that way you guys and gals can help me. thanks in advance.
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From: Virginia
Being low may be a good thing. You can then build a metal frame that will line up with the original Ford bench seat bolt holes, and then bolt the other seats to the frame. The floorboard is re-inforced where the seat bolts down, putting any type of seat in there and drilling holes just anywhere won't last long, they will crack the floor and pull through.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
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Hi guys,
Thought I'd jump in on this one, I've got an 81 model with the flat bench, whilst the fabric was covered from new and is in top nic, the drivers seat has flattened/sagged a bit and I'm also not comfortable with the lack of headrests in case I get in a prang.
What other years seats swap straight in?
I know some have the fold down armrest/cupholders etc. Do any have headrests?
Do the "Bronco" buckets have different floor mounts?
Failing a swap I will look at stripping down the bench and re-springing, building in headrests and custom foam bolstering to make semi-buckets.
Any info greatly appreciated. Cheers Brad.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Delhi, Iowa
i always recommend using a set of bucket seat brackets from a F-series or Bronco, and fitting whatever seats you have to them. That way, they will bolt to the factory floorboard, and most everything lines up well as far as seating position.
also, keep in mind 87-96 f series and bronco's had very similar floorpans. my 81 actually has a bench from a 95, all bolt in.
also, keep in mind 87-96 f series and bronco's had very similar floorpans. my 81 actually has a bench from a 95, all bolt in.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
The seats from Ford trucks for the next several years are said to bolt in, and some of those had fold-down center sections as well as head rests.
And, the bucket seats from the extended cabs or Broncos sorta bolt in. On the driver's bucket the outer bracket fits the existing holes but the inner bracket doesn't since the standard cab trucks don't have the inside holes. Further, while the outside holes are reinforced with a rib on the underside of the floor, the spot for the inner holes isn't reinforced but must be. I'm doing that with heavy plates on the inside and glued to the floor since the force is down.
As for the passenger's side bucket, many of those came with the base that tilts the seat forward. This base is HEAVY, eliminates the storage space below the seat, and only the outside rear hole lines up with the existing holes. I'm ditching that base for another one like on the driver's side, so will need to reinforce the inside holes on it as well.
And, the bucket seats from the extended cabs or Broncos sorta bolt in. On the driver's bucket the outer bracket fits the existing holes but the inner bracket doesn't since the standard cab trucks don't have the inside holes. Further, while the outside holes are reinforced with a rib on the underside of the floor, the spot for the inner holes isn't reinforced but must be. I'm doing that with heavy plates on the inside and glued to the floor since the force is down.
As for the passenger's side bucket, many of those came with the base that tilts the seat forward. This base is HEAVY, eliminates the storage space below the seat, and only the outside rear hole lines up with the existing holes. I'm ditching that base for another one like on the driver's side, so will need to reinforce the inside holes on it as well.
Last edited by Gary Lewis; Oct 9, 2013 at 09:10 PM. Reason: Clarity
Elder User
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Thanks guys,
That really helps, just gotta look for tan interior later models in the wreckers now !
Gary, not sure on your theory regarding the doublers on the floor pan, the reinforcement is there for resisting the pull-through forces during an accident, your doublers should be underneath. Here in Aus we put them underneath, usually weld the nut to the doubler plate and then bolt it up using some sikaflex or similar to bond and seal it to the floor pan. You can go nuts and rivet the doubler plate in place as well.
That really helps, just gotta look for tan interior later models in the wreckers now !
Gary, not sure on your theory regarding the doublers on the floor pan, the reinforcement is there for resisting the pull-through forces during an accident, your doublers should be underneath. Here in Aus we put them underneath, usually weld the nut to the doubler plate and then bolt it up using some sikaflex or similar to bond and seal it to the floor pan. You can go nuts and rivet the doubler plate in place as well.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
The seatbelts do bolt into a plate that is below the floor, and they would take the strain in an accident. But the seats exert a downward force from the occupants, especially us overweight Americans. 
But, I have another cab for scrap and have considered pulling the reinforcing ribs off of it to see it they will fit the contour of the floor where the inner bolts go. I don't think they will, but am going to study it. That way I'd have the best of both worlds.
But, I have another cab for scrap and have considered pulling the reinforcing ribs off of it to see it they will fit the contour of the floor where the inner bolts go. I don't think they will, but am going to study it. That way I'd have the best of both worlds.
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From: Balt. Co, MD
This won't answer the bucket seat question but will answer anything about bench seat compatibility: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - 1985 f350 seat options
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You'd be amazed at the amount of biodiesel you can get from a crispy creme doughnut! Like Dr Nick says- its your window to weight gain.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 551
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This won't answer the bucket seat question but will answer anything about bench seat compatibility: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - 1985 f350 seat options
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
The seatbelts do bolt into a plate that is below the floor, and they would take the strain in an accident. But the seats exert a downward force from the occupants, especially us overweight Americans.
But, I have another cab for scrap and have considered pulling the reinforcing ribs off of it to see it they will fit the contour of the floor where the inner bolts go. I don't think they will, but am going to study it. That way I'd have the best of both worlds.
But, I have another cab for scrap and have considered pulling the reinforcing ribs off of it to see it they will fit the contour of the floor where the inner bolts go. I don't think they will, but am going to study it. That way I'd have the best of both worlds.
FTE Legend
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From: Northeast, OK
Does a full-roller 400 with Edelbrock heads, intake, and carb, with 9.5:1 CR qualify as "decent"? But, wouldn't the upward force be on the front bolts, with downward on the rear? I'll be posting some pictures later on how the buckets mount. I don't think there will be a problem, but want the expert opinions.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
Well, bolting Bronco buckets into a standard cab isn't as easy as I thought. The ones I got had the tilt base, aka "ejector seat", on the passenger's side but I don't like that and planned to use another set of rails like on the driver's side to replace it. Turns out that won't work, as described in my new post in Dad's Truck Build thread.
So, I'm asking if there are simple rails available like those that were used on the driver's side in the Bronco, but reversed?
So, I'm asking if there are simple rails available like those that were used on the driver's side in the Bronco, but reversed?